As a first-generation American and the son of two Mexican immigrants, volunteer work at the border and helping fellow immigrants has long been a cause near and dear to my heart. When I most recently volunteered at the border earlier this year, I witnessed a true humanitarian crisis that shook me to the core. Families, escaping economic hardships, violence, and persecution in their homelands, arrived with hope in their eyes, seeking safety and a chance at a better life. Instead, they found a broken system that denied them even the most basic human rights. As they legally tried to enter the United States, they faced months of delays, waiting in deplorable conditions in Mexico, crammed into overcrowded camps with limited access to clean water, food, and sanitation, all the while being in constant fear of organized crime violence. I urge you to watch the
video I made attached here to learn more about this crisis and how to contribute to the solution.
I met Rosangela, Nico, and Mia, a family who had embarked on a treacherous journey from Venezuela. They braved the brutal jungle, crossed Central America, and clung to the top of "La Bestia", a dangerous train that carried them through Mexico. Their determination and resilience were nothing short of inspiring, but the hardships they endured were unimaginable. They reached the border only to be met with a flawed app called CBPOne, which is used by Homeland Security to process immigrants from certain countries as they apply for asylum in the USA.
The app, riddled with glitches and errors, became a cruel game of chance. Every morning, they woke up before dawn desperately hoping for a slot, only to be met with system errors and messages of "time slot full." Their lives hung in the balance as they waited in terrible conditions, their dreams of safety slipping further away with each passing day.
These families deserve our support, our empathy, and our urgent action. They are not seeking handouts; they are seeking an opportunity to contribute, to work, and to build a better future for their children just like most of our ancestors did, all within a legal framework. They are fleeing violence, economic turmoil, and political instability, seeking refuge in a country built on the principles of compassion and justice.
Without resources, without our help, their hopes quickly fade away. We shouldn’t turn a blind eye to their suffering, to the forced separation of parents and children, to their daily struggle for survival. We must act, and we must act now.
With this in mind, I would like to humbly ask you to join me in financing this effort to meet the most basic of human rights. Your donation can make a tangible difference in the lives of these families. It can provide food, clean water, sanitation and basic shelter. It can fund legal assistance to guide immigrant parents and children through the complex process of family reunification for families that are separated at the border. It can offer them a chance to learn English, regain their footing, and rebuild their lives with dignity.
You can help by contributing to Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (CCRGV), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing essential humanitarian and social services to individuals and families in need along the United States-Mexico border. With a strong commitment to serving the most vulnerable populations, they work tirelessly to address the urgent needs of migrants and refugees who arrive seeking safety and protection. At the crux of their work is Sister Norma Pimentel, the head of CCRGV, whose compassionate leadership has become synonymous with providing support to those in crisis. Under her guidance, the organization has become a vital lifeline for individuals and families facing the challenges of migration and the complex immigration system. Please join me in supporting CCRGV, an organization at the forefront of this crisis, providing vital aid and support to these vulnerable families. Together, we can restore their faith in humanity, showing them that they are not alone in this struggle. Together, we can be the lifeline they so desperately need.
Donate now and be a part of the solution. Your contribution will be tax deductible and make an immediate and lasting impact, sending a powerful message of compassion, solidarity, and hope. Let us stand united, hand in hand, as we restore dignity to these brave individuals and families who have sacrificed so much for a chance at a better life.
