Rusty Nelson's Video Reflection: Building Relationships in Boquillas and Beyond
Boquillas and Beyond Mexico Mission, Inc is the driving force behind bringing solar power to rural areas. They have installed one solar system in the school at Jaboncillos, one in the Military Base at Boquillas and one for the water pump at La Union. BBMM is currently building the solar works and the High School at Jaboncillos.
Rusty and Connie Nelson are the founders and devoted leaders of BBMM. Working with The Rev. Mike Wallens, they hope to attract groups to join their work in these rural areas. Rusty recently sat down with Mike to talk about the relationships he’s built in our border community. To learn more about Boquillas and Beyond and contribute this ministry, visit our partners page.
Session 2 of the Sin Fronteras Reading Group
Led by The Rev. David Chavez and The Rev. Mike Wallens
We will move through the book Cruelty as Citizenship: How Migrant Suffering Sustains White Supremacy, by LatinX Cristina Beltran. Our schedule will follow the following chapter breakdown & we will meet on Wednesdays from 2:30pm-4:00pm MST starting on:
Feb. 10- Week One: Introduction
Feb. 17- Week Two: Chapter 1
Feb. 24- Week Three: Chapter 2
March 3- Week Four: Chapter 3
March 10- Week Five: Conclusion
March 17- Week Six: Open Forum: Connecting the dots, mobilizing action.
Please feel free to forward this invitation to friends, colleagues, and associates interested in reading, discussing, and critiquing this important text . Zoom info below.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84481427404?pwd=ODI1RDBydmVWUGpkblpWY1JrUG8wQT09
Meeting ID: 844 8142 7404
Passcode: borders
SAVE THE DATE and CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Rio Grande Borderland Ministries Presents: Canvas of Hope
In the hopes of spreading awareness and building our network of supporters, Rio Grande Borderland Ministries is hosting an online community art fundraiser titled Canvas of Hope. The event will feature artists passionate about issues surrounding migration, including musical performances, poetry readings, artists talks, and more. Canvas of Hope is open for paintings, printmaking, photography, drawings, prints, mixed media, and sculpture. All entries must be an original work. We encourage artists to reflect on the theme of immigration and border issues. However, work by the artist unrelated to the theme is also eagerly accepted.
Donated art will be auctioned during the event to raise money to support shelters in Juárez and Ojinaga, Mexico. The art donations will be displayed online both on our website and during an online media event on May 1st, 2021. 100% of the proceeds will go towards supporting the work of RGBM in helping to feed, shelter, and care for our migrant and indigenous neighbors. We are currently accepting entries through Friday March,19th. For more information and the full Call for Submissions, please contact RGBM Project Coordinator, Nellie Fagan (admin@riograndeborderland.org). Please save the date so you can be a part of what is sure to be a special event!
Advocacy Opportunities from Episcopal Migration Ministries
Below are comprehensive updates on Biden's Immigration/Refugee Executive Orders. More executive actions around refugees and asylum are expected this Friday, January 29th.
For a summary of the Biden/Harris administration's proposed immigration reform bill and the executive actions this first week (from the National Partnership for New Americans), please check out this factsheet in English and Spanish.
Rescission of the Muslim and African bans: This EO rescinds the Trump bans that restricted travel from majority Muslim and African countries, and requires the Department of State to provide a report within 45 days ensuring a process for expeditious adjudication of visas for applicants who were pending a waiver, and ensure that all those whose visa applications were denied on the basis of the bans may have their applications reconsidered without prejudice.
Rescission of the Trump interior enforcement EO: This EO rescinds the sweeping EO on interior enforcement that Trump issued his first week in office, and states the administration’s intent to “reset the policies and practices for enforcing civil immigration laws to align enforcement” with a set of values and priorities articulated as including protecting national and border security, addressing humanitarian challenges at the southern border, and ensuring public health and safety.
Restoring proper census count: Ensuring that the census includes all people regardless of immigration or citizenship status.
Affirming DACA protections: This EO instructs the DHS Secretary to take all actions consistent with law to “preserve and fortify” DACA.
Liberian DED: This EO reinstates Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians, extending to June 30, 2022 protections and employment authorization for those who were under a DED grant as of January 10, 2021.
Halting border wall construction: This EO terminates the national emergency declaration that allowed the Trump administration to grab money from other departments to fund the wall; pauses wall construction and the obligation of funds for construction projects; and directs all relevant agencies to develop a plan for the redirection of the $1+ billion funds already appropriated for 2021 for border wall construction.
Whole-government approach to racial equity: This EO requires a full review of ways in which structural barriers to access to federal benefits and programming prevent historically under-served and marginalized communities from gaining access.
Asylum: DHS is announcing the suspension of new enrollments in the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program. Effective January 21, the Department will cease adding individuals into the program. However, current COVID-19 non-essential travel restrictions, both at the border and in the region, remain in place at this time.
Opportunities & Resources
EMM hosts an Asylum and Detention Ministry Network that in 2021 will meet virtually on the fourth Wednesday of every month from 12 - 1:15 PM Eastern. The Ministry Network’s collaborative work and conversation focus on best practice-sharing in areas of direct service, organizing, advocacy actions, Christian formation and worship resources, and community education to protect asylum, promote humane and dignified alternatives to detention, and to support asylum seekers and those harmed by the immigration detention system. Join the network.
Stay tuned for an upcoming Lenten Devotions series from EMM, featuring reflections from a wide range of authors throughout EMM's network of supporters and friends. Request the daily devotions here.
Give Us Hearts
God of love and compassion: may we always recognize your spirit:
in the refugee family, seeking safety from violence;
in the migrant worker, bringing food to our tables;
in the asylum-seekers, seeking justice for their families;
in the unaccompanied child, traveling in a dangerous world.
Give us hearts that break open whenever our brothers and sisters turn to us.
Give us hearts that no longer turn deaf to their voices in times of need;
Give us eyes to recognize a moment for grace instead of a threat.
Give us voices that fail to remain silent but which decide instead to advocate
prophetically.
Give us hands that reach out in welcome, but also in work, for a world of justice until all
homelands are safe and secure.
Bless us, O Lord...