The US-Mexican Border:
Where Two Worlds Collide

These members the parishes of St. John Neuman and St. Joan of Arc saw immigration problems up close on a visit to El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico.
Arranged by the Maryknolls, a group from the Twin Cities went to the twin cities of El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. They went to see for themselves the face of poverty due to immigration issues on the Mexican border. The group found that the two cities, while in different countries, are so intertwined that it’s often hard to tell where the border is. A chain link fence is visible in places, but it’s just one and a half miles long; in other places the Rio Grande demarcates the two cities. Elsewhere there is little to mark the boundaries between these twins. But with or without visible barriers, there is little doubt about the economic disparity between these conjoined cities. El Paso, while being the third poorest city in the United States, is a rich and prosperous city, a paradise compared to its twin Juarez. The best streets and houses in Juarez are similar to the worst ones in El Paso.

The group found that workers in the factories, Maquilladores, in Juarez make on average $5 to $10 per day. The low pay is partially a result of the effects of NAFTA, whether intended or not. Adding to the burden of low wages, the basic necessities in Juarez cost 25% more than they do in El Paso. Six members of the group were able to buy only enough food for a light lunch, a skimpy lunch really, for $5.

We heard the stories of Christina, Kirsten, Esmeralda and Janette – brave and energetic women who in various ways were making positive contributions to the lives of the people of Juarez and Mexico.

Rose Grengs(right), leader of the discussion and long time immigration attorney, explained the basic mechanism to become a permanent resident of the United States. The process is so complex, with quotas set so low and with a bias toward keeping immigrants out, that becoming a permanent residence is almost impossible.

Future trips to the Mexican border are being considered.

This is a poor house in Anapra, a colony of factory workers on the western edge of Juarez.This is one of the better houses in Anapra.

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Ron Eldred , for the past six years, has been involved in editing and publishing a national liturgical newsletter supporting positive liturgical reform. Retired since 2000, Ron has also volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, Courage Center and the Wilder Foundation. He is married to Pat Eldred, who teaches English at St. Kates. They have two children, Sheila and David, who are both married, and one amazing grandson. Both Pat and Ron were in parish ministry in the 1960's. They are now members of St. Joan's, experiencing and helping move forward the reforms begun at Vatican II forty years ago.
The group helped remove sand threatening to bury this house. They then shored up the house with tires.


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