asylum seekers

The Front Lines

by Mark Redwine


My wife, Marilyn, and I live on the front lines of the “Border Wars” in Brownsville, TX. We are just across the Rio Grande River from Matamoros, Mexico. We are roughly twenty-five miles from where the Rio Grande empties into the Gulf of America, or Gulf of Mexico, or whatever it is called now; and, about twenty miles from where Elon Musk launches Starships. We can see the launches from our back yard. I am the pastor of a Hispanic American church. We are a snapshot of similar communities spread all across the nation.

Tales From the Border: Elephants And Grass

by Mark Redwine


In the context of immigration at the southern border, the elephants are the powers and principalities that control immigration policies. The grass represents the immigrants and the people who provide assistance.
The most obvious problem we face with solving the immigration crisis at the border is the politically venomous rhetoric spewing from Republicans and Democrats.

Tales From the Border: Unicorns and Rainbows

by Mark Redwine


Back in March, when I wrote my last article, I was much younger and excitedly expecting our new administration to snap its fingers or wave a magic wand, and instantly materialize a new immigration system that would be fair and compassionate for all. At first, the immigration changes (especially those concerning asylum seekers) appeared to be all unicorns and rainbows. But reality raised its ugly head, and my illusions and hopes were flung to the ground. It is funny how disappointment can age you.

Tales From the Border: Bagamoyo, Texas

by Mark Redwine


The refugee camp for asylum-seekers is no more. Two weeks ago, the first busload of refugees legally crossed the bridge that spans the Rio Grande River between Matamoros, Mexico and Brownsville, Texas. When they arrived at the Brownsville bus station, a crowd greeted them with applause, cheers, tears, hugs, handshakes, and exuberant joy expressing the start of the end of two long years of suffering in the camp. I was not able to greet that bus, but have been able to greet several since then. Yesterday, the last bus from the camp crossed into Brownsville. Today, the few people left in the camp were taken to a shelter in Mexico and the camp is now empty.

Tales From the Border: Andreita’s Lullaby

by Mark Redwine


The Space-X spaceport is about twenty minutes from our home. We drove out there today to see the latest prototype of the starship that will take humans to Mars. Her name is SN-9. She could fly next week. They have been test firing her engines and doing pressure tests on her for several days. Many of her predecessors did not survive the tests leading up to a launch. One reason is that some of the tests were designed to find out how much pressure the ship could handle.

Tales From the Border: The Wedge

by Mark Redwine


In the summer of my youth, my kid brother, Allen, and I would hitchhike to Newport Beach from our home in Orange, California. We hung out with our friends at the south side of the pier long before the lifeguard station was built, 15th Street before the showers were there; and 17th Street near the lifeguard tower.

Tales From the Border: The Camp

by Mark Redwine


I took today off. This part of the border has drawn international attention since the picture of the young father and his toddler daughter with her arm wrapped around his neck, who drowned together while attempting to cross the Rio Grande river, hit the news feed. Frankly, I don't want to see any more pictures of dead children.

Tales From the Border: Cami, the Rest of the Story

by Mark Redwine


The smallest thing can sometimes make the greatest difference in life. Especially to those who are losing hope or suffering. Music can be like that. There is a kid’s song from Africa. It is one of those silly songs that started in Lake Nakuru and spread all over Africa. No matter where you went in Africa, no matter what language group, you could hear the kids singing this song.

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