Culpable.

I start writing tonight in the space where we ended. With a full moon over head, standing in solidarity small semicircle of solidarity to hold vigil around those who have died in the desert. We started by introducing ourselves. The woman who spoke last choked back tears as she shared, "I was lucky to be born on this side of the border." Since 1998, there have been thousands of deaths of economic migrants crossing the Sonoran desert. 

People holding candles represented groups like La Coalición de Derechos Humanos, Latina Leadership Institute at the Tucson YWCA, the Loretto Community from three states, and our Welcome the Stranger group from Minneapolis. As we said our good-byes, we whispered thoughts and prayers for the migrants we know are walking under a full moon tonight. 

Before our dinner at El Minuto Cafe, we visited Southside Presbyterian Church and heard from Amy Beth Willis, organizer for the National Sanctuary Movement. For a young soul, Amy Beth holds a wealth of information on the history of the sanctuary movement. She gave us a history lesson going all the way back to the text of Leviticus in the Hebrew Bible where the belief in cities of refuge were carried from Judaic tradition into Christianity. She walked us through each decade of the 1900's and referenced the role of the faith community with the underground railroad. The very church we were sitting in became one of the first

stops on the "modern underground railroad," also known as the sanctuary movement. The sanctuary movement of the 80's when thousands of people slept on the floor of the church looks different than it did in 2014 with the public sanctuary of Rosa Imelda Loretta. Rosa's kids were the same age as mine, 8 and 5, when she went into sanctuary. I can't even imagine.

And today the sanctuary movement is still alive and well with around 1100 sanctuary churches and synagogues nationwide. There is so much history and mission that I'm living out. If you're interest and/or you're in Tucson, look up Southside Presbyterian. Entering the small intimate space feel like you are walking on holy ground. 

I'm finishing up my blog today where our day began, at the Tucson Federal Courthouse, witnessing

Three of our fearless leaders.
Passionate women on a mission.

Operation Streamline in all its glory. For me, this was the most emotional and thought-provoking part of my day. Lois, from No More Deaths, met us at the entrance and gave us a history lesson on immigration policy, NAFTA, and her private prisons. She is extremely passionate about border issues and comes to these hearings often to stand in solidarity with the deportees as well as document any trouble-spots in the proceedings.

Thankfully, Operation Streamline was recently challenged in the 9th circuit court and for the time being, defendants do not have their arms and legs shackled when they enter the courtroom. They are also sent in seven people at a time rather than 70 all at once. We watched group after group get brought in front of a seemingly engaging judge. Women and men walked in quietly and lined up before the judge. Most looked exhausted and some looked young enough to be my high school students. In just a few minutes, these people went from migrants seeking reconnections with family or financial stability became migrants with a criminal history. One after the next, voices declared in Spanish, "Culpable." Over and over. The script never changed.

The judge never asked, "WHY." Why are you here? Why did you risk your life to cross this border? Where did you come from?" I can only imagine their answers. Their truth. What would push you to flee your country or origin?

Any personalization was left out of the proceedings. And for two hours we watched more than 70 people come before us. Culpable. Culpable. Culpable. These are mothers, brothers, daughters, sons, fathers, and grandfathers willing to risk their lives for a chance at a better future and/or reunification with family. Guilty as charged. Pleading guilty while one lawyer falls asleep and is awoke by a US Marshal. Guilty while one lawyer plays a game on her phone. Guilty while the judge reads his script over and over again. Guilty while the future law student sitting behind me states, "I think we can go after this batch is done." We must ask ourselves, who is truly guilty. All the money spent in that courtroom in one day to declare these migrants culpable and make sure they now have a criminal record. 

As we exited the courtroom, a few of us were able to ask a public defender a few questions and we learned even more about how quickly these men and women would be deposited in Mexico...as soon as tonight or tomorrow morning. They will be dropped off in a place far from where they crossed and likely separated from family they may have been with when they were picked up. 

Lee Mun Wah taught me that curiosity leads to compassion. It is this curiosity that pushes me to learn more. To do more. To fight for those who are tricked into a system where they are culpable.

Are you curious? Do you want to know more? Do you have personal connections to migrants crossing the southern U.S. border? 

We will cross the border tomorrow (Friday) at the Mariposa crossing and spend time with a women's shelter, HEPAC, and El Comedor. Stay tuned.

*My apologies for all the strange color formatting. I am way too tired to problem-solve this!