Members of a tour to the Mexico-United States border pray at the wall dividing the two countries.
Ryan Miller
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

TUCSON, Ariz. (Mennonite Mission Network and Mennonite Central Committee) — An 11-day tour along the United States-Mexico border was designed to educate about immigration and trade issues. The experience changed one participant’s entire worldview.

From his Salem, Ore., farm, Stan Steffen had watched the immigrants come for years. Many came from the south, working for low wages for the local agriculture industry, allowing large farms to drive up area land prices higher than family farmers could afford.

“I had my own feelings about immigrants that weren’t very positive,” Steffen said.

The third day of the November migration and trade learning tour in southern Arizona and northern Mexico found Steffen and nine other Anabaptists on the south side of a steel wall marking the border between Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, and Douglas, Ariz. In his hand were slips of paper with the names of migrants who had died crossing the border. For 30 minutes after reading a litany, they stood silently, thought about what they had learned about trade imbalances and injustices and prayed.

“The more I read and get involved and get interested in the subject, I see we had the wool pulled over our eyes,” Steffen said. “Our agriculture programs here in the U.S., our subsidies, have a lot to do with why (migrants) are coming up here.”

Since Steffen's return to Oregon, he has spoken out in support of immigrant workers and educated those around him about the reasons for the increase in immigration from the south.

The border tour was co-sponsored by Mennonite Mission Network’s Peace and Justice Support Network, West Coast Mennonite Central Committee, and MCC Great LakesBorderLinks, a 21-year-old experiential education ministry operating out of Tucson, Ariz, also provided staff and other resources.

MCC’s Jodi Read, planned the itinerary in conjunction with Borderlinks, which included meetings with fair-trade merchants and experiential learning about how trade agreements have crippled parts of the Mexican economy by sending cheap, subsidized produce south. Read also helped to promote and lead the tour.

At Casa Misericordia (House of Mercy), the BorderLinks office in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, BorderLinks-Mexico director Francisco Trujillo told the group that the imports and agreements with the U.S. government have forced Mexican farmers to grow crops like coffee for export instead of producing goods that could feed Mexican families. The resulting imbalances create a need for jobs, making northward immigration and the low-paying jobs in local U.S.-owned maquilas (factories) attractive.

Leo Hartshorn, Mennonite Mission Network’s minister of peace and justice, was struck by the view from atop a Nogales hill overlooking the maquilas. To the north, the group watched workers mingle among small shacks on winding dirt roads. On the south side of the maquilas stood a row of expensive homes built for the company managers. Hartshorn said the contrast between the two neighborhoods mirrors the economic interactions between the United States and Mexico.

“Economic issues, which are linked to U.S. benefits from trade agreements, are a major force driving the migration of people to the U.S.,” Hartshorn said. “These interconnections are shaped by trade agreements and government policies. It is incumbent upon the people of God living in cities that reflect these economic interconnections to learn about immigration, border issues and trade.”

Hartshorn said U.S. Mennonites need to understand that immigration and trade issues often are more complicated than found in headlines or sound bites. The PJSN Web site (peace.mennolink.org/immigration.html) offers a variety of resources for individuals and congregations seeking to learn more about immigration issues.

Hartshorn said Mennonites also should consider:
• Buying fair trade goods from various merchants;
• Writing government representatives and local newspapers in support of trade and immigration legislation that supports fairness and justice;
• Discovering and connecting with local groups working on immigration issues.

After spending time at the border, the group traveled to Washington D.C. to share their experiences and observations with policymakers. The group met with senators and representatives from their home states and encouraged them to acknowledge the connections between trade and immigration and to work at these issues together.

For many policymakers, these conversations offered a new and different lens through which to see immigration issues.

"I think the most remarkable thing for me was to see how Stan [Steffen] could articulate his experience in a very different way than he could have at the beginning," said Read.

As a ministry of Mennonite Mission Network, PJSN is committed to informing Mennonite Church USA about the realities of immigration, both at the border and elsewhere in North America.

“In spite of the seemingly intractable problems along the border, and the economics of the poor campesinos (farmers), there were signs of God’s presence,” Hartshorn said.

Steffen’s transformation perhaps was one of the more remarkable signs. He went on the tour only after a push from his pastor, Jack Knox of Salem Mennonite Church. He has returned speaking the language of reconciliation, initiating conversations among members of his small group, Sunday school class, congregation, family and farming community.

“We (must) practice forgiveness, not only to the immigrant but to the people who have created this problem, and get on with fixing it,” Steffen said. “There needs to be a working together to try to help our neighbors.”

More information is available at the PJSN Web site. Other resources, including Mennonite Media’s documentary “Beyond the News: Immigration,” are available through Third Way Café or through Mennonite Central Committee. PJSN and MCC US will soon jointly release a brochure on the recent Listening Report on immigration conducted among Anabaptist communities.

 

 

 Related

 

 

Harmony: A compendium of peace storiesInternational Day of Peacehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4985/HarmonyHarmony: A compendium of peace storiesGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
First memorial signage of Bodewadmi Myaamia Trail to be installed September 29Press releasehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4979/First-memorial-signage-of-Bodewadmi-Myaamia-Trail-to-be-installedFirst memorial signage of Bodewadmi Myaamia Trail to be installed September 29GP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Indiana
Service Adventure units welcome new participantsService Adventurehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4974/Service-Adventure-units-welcome-new-participantsService Adventure units welcome new participantsGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Apache Stronghold continues prayerful struggle to protect sacred placesPeace and justicehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4973/Apache-Stronghold-continues-prayerful-struggleApache Stronghold continues prayerful struggle to protect sacred placesGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Arizona
Greening the faith: students plant avocado trees in GuatemalaStewardshiphttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4962/Greening-the-faithGreening the faith: students plant avocado trees in GuatemalaGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Chamelco, Alta Verapaz
Celebration of life in community carries on Service Adventure lifestyleCycles of Lifehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4961/Celebration-of-life-in-community-carries-on-Service-Adventure-lifestyleCelebration of life in community carries on Service Adventure lifestyleGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
New MVS participants join units across the countryMENNONITE VOLUNTARY SERVICEhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4959/New-MVS-participants-join-units-across-the-countryNew MVS participants join units across the countryGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Youth Venture Benin in photosYouth Venturehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4954/Youth-Venture-Benin-in-photosYouth Venture Benin in photosGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Allada
Third peace conference brings faith and peace togetherPeace conferencehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4953/Third-peace-conferenceThird peace conference brings faith and peace togetherGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Mennonite Church USA to unveil sculpture August 2Sculpture unveilinghttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4951/unveil-sculpture-August-2Mennonite Church USA to unveil sculpture August 2GP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Elkhart, Indiana
Peacebuilding efforts continue in EcuadorPeacebuildinghttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4931/Peacebuilding-in-EcuadorPeacebuilding efforts continue in EcuadorGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Couple experiences shalom and community across the United StatesSOOPhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4928/Couple-experiences-shalom-and-communityCouple experiences shalom and community across the United StatesGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
Peacemaking agency director challenges U.S. churches to uphold democracy by creating space for dialogMENNOCON23Videohttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4930/Peacemaking-agency-director-challenges-U-S--churchesPeacemaking agency director challenges U.S. churches to uphold democracy by creating space for dialogGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Cape Town
Seminar calls church to serve people experiencing migration and disappearanceMennoCon23Videohttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4929/Seminar-calls-church-to-serve-people-experiencing-migration-and-disappearanceSeminar calls church to serve people experiencing migration and disappearanceGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476
MennoCon seminar discusses options for students after high schoolMennoCon23https://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4926/MennoCon-Seminar-discusses-options-for-students-after-high-schoolMennoCon seminar discusses options for students after high schoolGP0|#52c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1;L0|#052c46992-a072-4af3-b006-834f7e8b9cb1|News;GTSet|#544fcc8d-5de2-49c8-9d51-afee09323476Kansas City, Missouri

 

 

 

 

Harmony: A compendium of peace storieshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4985/HarmonyHarmony: A compendium of peace stories
First memorial signage of Bodewadmi Myaamia Trail to be installed September 29https://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4979/First-memorial-signage-of-Bodewadmi-Myaamia-Trail-to-be-installedFirst memorial signage of Bodewadmi Myaamia Trail to be installed September 29
Service Adventure units welcome new participantshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4974/Service-Adventure-units-welcome-new-participantsService Adventure units welcome new participants
Apache Stronghold continues prayerful struggle to protect sacred placeshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4973/Apache-Stronghold-continues-prayerful-struggleApache Stronghold continues prayerful struggle to protect sacred places
Greening the faith: students plant avocado trees in Guatemalahttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4962/Greening-the-faithGreening the faith: students plant avocado trees in Guatemala
Celebration of life in community carries on Service Adventure lifestylehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4961/Celebration-of-life-in-community-carries-on-Service-Adventure-lifestyleCelebration of life in community carries on Service Adventure lifestyle



 

 

Women and Peace workshop in Colombia inspires hope in time of crisishttps://www.mennonitemission.net/blog/4989/Women-and-Peace-workshop-in-Colombia-inspires-hope-in-time-of-crisisWomen and Peace workshop in Colombia inspires hope in time of crisisWomen and Peace
The secret to living simply? It’s complicated!https://www.mennonitemission.net/video/4967/The-secret-to-living-simply-It’s-complicatedThe secret to living simply? It’s complicated!MVS
Harmony: A compendium of peace storieshttps://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4985/HarmonyHarmony: A compendium of peace storiesInternational Day of Peace
I have felt welcomed herehttps://www.mennonitemission.net/blog/4988/I-have-felt-welcomed-hereI have felt welcomed hereHispanic Heritage Month
First memorial signage of Bodewadmi Myaamia Trail to be installed September 29https://www.mennonitemission.net/news/4979/First-memorial-signage-of-Bodewadmi-Myaamia-Trail-to-be-installedFirst memorial signage of Bodewadmi Myaamia Trail to be installed September 29Press release
Here with purpose: Naomi Learyhttps://www.mennonitemission.net/blog/4980/Here-with-purpose-Naomi-LearyHere with purpose: Naomi LearyQ&A