Written by: Sister Elaine Betoncourt, CSJ
June 7, 2013
We have now arrived in the great state of Texas, where we
hope to garner a huge tsunami of support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
(CIR). Our first Texas event was held at the Dominican Center for Spirituality,
where we were warmly welcomed by our Dominican Sisters for supper, for our
friendraiser, and for our overnight stay. Texans need to raise their voices for
CIR, and our Texas Senators need to listen to those voices. Issues of
importance in Texas are border security and economic growth. CIR will assure
both.
One immigrant spoke of his journey from the age of four when
he was brought to Texas by his parents to this present day when he is now
working as a community organizer. Another immigrant shared his story of having
been injured in a fall at his tree cutting job and how, now confined to a
wheelchair, he is working with Living Hope Wheelchair Association helping
others in need. And what touched our hearts deeply was hearing of the
incredible work that has been done to identify the remains of those who have
died as they attempted to cross the border to obtain a better life in the U.S. Here
in South Texas are the “killing fields” where last year alone, 271 immigrants
died, revealing the horror of what our current U.S. policy evokes.
