Mexico border tour enlightening

Church World Service has been one of several groups that visited the Rio Grande Valley and northern Mexico this summer to learn about issues that face the U.S.-Mexico border.
Howard Hartman and Kevin Murphy led the small group of interested people. They heard from Dr. Chad Richardson, a sociology professor from the University of Texas-Pan American and author of Batos, Bolillos, Pochos and Pelados. They were also addressed by Terri Drefke, executive director of the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley; and Pearl Lozano, executive director of Faith Communities for Disaster Recovery.
Representatives from the United Farm Workers Union, Department of Homeland Security/CIS, Border Patrol, coordinators of CWS/Religious Services Program at the Bayview Detention Center and others made presentations as well. The group toured areas around the maquiladoras in Matamoros and visited with workers in these factories.
Another group visited from Island in the Son UMC, Corpus Christi. This group joined the Church World Service group in a discussion of the issues surrounding the Border Patrol and Immigration and Naturalization Service.
The Corpus Christi group visited several Methodist churches and ministries of the church around Reynosa.
Other groups have also come, most recently to visit areas along the coast affected by Hurricane Emily.
If your church would like to learn about various issues affecting our border, how the church is working to address some of them, and how you can help, please contact Susan Hellums (956) 661-9771 or shellums@mcfirst.com.