Tuesday, June 21, 2016

El Paso--Day 3, June 21

On our third day in El Paso, we started off the day with a visit from the founder of the Annunciation house, Ruben Garcia. Ruben Garcia has been working at the Annunciation house for 38 years (since 1978), and has never once questioned his work, even though it is in the grey area.  During the talk with Mr. Garcia, he compared “the hero’s” of the September eleventh attacks to the victims of the El Salvadorian civil war. Garcia mentioned that one particular listener (not from this group) was shocked and offended that Garcia compared the victims of the civil war to the victims of the September Eleventh attacks. Standing true to his beliefs, Garcia told the person that whether the people are from America, Latin America, or anywhere else in the world, that everyone is a person with a story. Ruben Garcia was an example of what a leader looks like, as he was passionate in his beliefs, stern in his ideas, and willing to do whatever it took to serve those who come to the Annunciation house.



Following lunch at the Annunciation house, we had the privilege to hear the tale of an immigrant journey from El Salvador.  She told us the story of how she traveled from her home country, through Mexico with her three children, hoping to find safety and asylum inside of the United States. She fled due horrific gang violence that the government cannot control. The trigger to her and her family fleeing the country was when her son was given the ultimatum to join a gang or be killed by them. She then travelled through both El Salvador and Mexico and then finally to the El Paso Juarez border. Upon arrival, she was interrogated by U.S Border Patrol for five hours until she was finally placed in a small, cold room with her children. Today she is so grateful to be a part of the Annunciation house community and that her and her children are in such a great place. She knows that there still is a possibility of deportation, yet she remains hopeful for her court date in July, which will determine whether or not she will get asylum in the United States.







During Ruben Garcia’s talk, he told us a story about a nineteen-year-old gentlemen that was shot and killed by the U.S Border Patrol in February 2003.

Juan Patricio was taking out the trash when two Border Patrol cars pulled up on the private property of the Annunciation house. Knowing that he was undocumented, after being interrogated by the Border Patrol, Juan fled only to be chased by the Border Patrol. After a brief pursuit, Juan was against six Border Patrol officers. Prior, Juan had been struck in the head by a metal baton, which is supposed to be used on the suspect’s legs only. He was frustrated after this, and held a metal pole for defense. The officers were frightened by the pole, and so one of the officers shot and killed Juan. This all took place right below the Annunciation house, and so there were many witnesses that watched the events unfold from a top the roof. This case is only one of hundreds of tragic borderland stories. Below is a picture of the group reflecting over the memorial of Juan.



Happy Birthday Hannah Blackwell!
From,
The El Paso group