SEND: Reflections on El Paso

Sophia Patrizi

Guest Writer

Attending the SEND trip to El Paso, Texas, was an experience I will never forget. Although I knew ahead of time that we would be attending meetings and presentations led by volunteers specializing in immigration issues, I learned so much more than I thought I would.

While I gained valuable knowledge from professionals such as lawyers and border patrol agents, the people who impacted me the most were the immigrants I had the blessing to meet.

On my first day (and my first time at a shelter), I met an Afghan family-a mother, a father, and their lovely 15-year-old daughter. As we spoke, my heart was deeply touched by something the daughter said.

She shared that despite the dangers they faced during their three-year journey to America, she was never afraid because she knew God would protect them.

Her strong faith and surrendering to God inspired me. Even though she had every reason to be fearful, she chose to trust in God, allowing faith to be her shield. Through her, I gained a deeper understanding of faith over fear; an experience that the SEND trip granted me.

As a pro-life advocate, this trip grew my commitment to defending life at every stage from conception to natural death. Witnessing the struggles of these immigrants reinforced my belief that every life is precious and worth protecting. Though the SEND trip has ended, my mission has not. I will continue to advocate for the most precious gift given by God-life.

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Maya Couloras

Guest Writer

At first, I wasn’t sure about whether I should go on the SEND trip or not because of the controversy of the area that I would be going to. But sooner or later, I made up my mind. I realized it would have been my biggest regret not to go.

I knew that I wanted to go on a trip where I could get out of the bubble that I live in and see how other people (who aren’t as fortunate as me) live.

That’s definitely what I got to experience when I went on this trip. I learned a lot about the truth of migration across the border.

Most of what we know about migrants tends to come from sources such as politics, but it’s hard to know the truth of the situation until you see it first- hand.

Migrants typically choose to come to America from countries in Central and South America where they aren’t given the same opportunities that they would get here. Migrants who cross the border aren’t dangerous, but they are actually fleeing from violence and poverty in search for a better life for themselves and their families.

From the stories I have heard on the trip, my eyes have been opened to the truth of the situation, and I have even more empathy for the migrants than I did before.

Many of them lack the necessities that we too often take for granted. What inspired me the most about the migrants is their persistence to never give up. Many parents who are migrants walk through different countries for miles on miles just to make sure their children are safe. After this experience, I can truly see Assumption’s mission statement, ‘the pursuit of truth in the company of friends’ in a new light.