Day Two: Immigration Law Along the Border

 


Hola Familias de Menlo! 

We have been off to a great start in El Paso, and really Las Cruces too. Our day began bright and early as some of us woke up to go on a run at 6:30. The rest of us woke up at around 7:30 for a delicious breakfast burrito at 8. 

After breakfast, we headed to  a vista point on a nearby mountain and were able to see the border towns of El Paso and its Mexican counterpart, Ciudad Juárez. Then, the group got in our vans and departed for a fascinating chat and snack with humanitarian Sigrid Gonzalez. We discussed the humanitarian aspect of immigration and its evolution over the last few Presidential administrations, as well as the consequences of different policy approaches made by different administrations. 

After our chat, we hopped into our vans and headed over to the border wall where we saw various construction projects and waved at some friendly CBP agents. 

We then drove to the Chamizal National Memorial to have lunch. When we finished our picnic, we explored the museum there and learned about how the border shifts and the impacts it has on the local residents. 

Lastly, we returned to Las Cruces and met with a public attorney who shared her expertise and stories about her experience with immigration court. She discussed the various challenges and scenarios she encounters, and what our government could do to try and create a more sustainable and just immigration system from a legal perspective. 

At the time of writing this blog, we just reflected on our day and learned about what we are doing tomorrow (going to federal court where we will likely see many immigration cases). We are going to end the day with a sunset walk where we can enjoy time together before going to bed.

¡Buenas noches!

Jake, Asher, Neyum

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