El Otro Lado - Justice Trip Explores 'The Other Side'

Jackie Carroll, Junior Student, Trip Participant
February 7, 2017

At night, in the desert between Douglas and Tucson, there is darkness. Only the occasional city in the distance breaks up the dusk; orange lights illuminate the horizon near it to a light gray. For many undocumented immigrants coming to the U.S. from Mexico, this scene is one of hope and opportunity.

This January, I was one of a group of CDH upperclassmen who attended a Justice Education Trip in Arizona called El Otro Lado. We were hosted by another Lasallian community, San Miguel High School, which is located in Tucson just over an hour away from the U.S.-Mexico border. We were excited and grateful for the opportunity to directly experience various aspects of life on the border, immigration included. A lot of us were previously interested in the topic of immigration, but for some, this trip was their first encounter with the subject.

I enjoyed this trip immensely, and I will never forget the wonderful people I met and invaluable experience I gained. Everything that we did was unforgettable, but the most memorable part for me was the desert walk. Laurie Jurs, a Green Valley Samaritan, led us through the cacti and rocks to three different grave sites where migrant remains have been found. We prayed, read poems, and honored the "Desconocidos," the unknown migrants.

One of the best reasons to go on this trip is to experience this very relevant topic from multiple perspectives. For example, we met with Border Patrol to take a tour of their station in Nogales and learn more about what services they provide. On the other hand, a local Tucson migrant-led organizing group called Casa Mariposa agreed to talk with us about their perspective. And last but not least, we were able to sit in on a U.S. District Court hearing, Operation Streamline, as well as speak with the judge who must rule on immigration issues.

 As I look back on the things that we did, I find that this experience gave me insights that are impossible to simply explain to someone who hasn't gone (on this experience to gain exposure to the issue) and have them understand. I notice a slight shift in the image of an "undocumented immigrant" inside my head. Before, it was abstract (and was) focused on the desert, with indistinguishable faces fleeing Border Patrol in the heat of the day.

Now, I can see the details of their faces, the story of a teenager lured by the cartels, bringing water bottles, candy, and a blanket for the night, and of a father desperate for work, bringing shaving cream and a small mirror with him for the long journey. I no longer saw them as statistics or a group of marginalized people, but as individuals with their own stories and unique perspectives. There is no learning without experience. That is why I wish every person who wants to learn more about immigration could attend this trip.