When choosing an immersion trip, the Kino immersion stood out to me in particular since immigration is a complex topic in America, and I did not know much about it. I am extremely grateful that I was given the opportunity to work and learn with the Kino Border Initiative. The trip was not just about community service, it was about listening, witnessing, and understanding.

My peers and I worked at Kino’s comedor, where migrants would come to receive food, clothing, and other basic needs. One of our primary tasks in the comedor was to serve meals to the migrants.  

At one meal, I remember serving a plate of beans and rice to a slightly older man. Although we lacked a full means of communication, we were still able to laugh and joke all the same. He spoke of his best friend here in the United States, a pro-wrestler from a long time ago. Despite the many times we talked, he never spoke of his own journey of migration, and thinking that it would be rude, I decided not to ask. 

I heard many other stories at the comedor. Some migrants spoke of violence in their home countries, many forced to leave behind their loved ones to seek work and opportunity, while others were deported. 

An elderly woman told me the remarkable story of her journey to America. Her connection to America began when she was 16. She traveled through five Mexican states to make it to the U.S., and when she crossed the border, she decided to live in Colorado, where she spent 48 years building a family and a place to call home. However, her time in America was cut short when she was deported back to Mexico in 2008. When she left, she had to leave her daughter behind. She now remains at the Kino facility waiting to reunite with her daughter in America.

Standing face to face with the migrants at Kino showed me how much I take for granted. I met people who would risk everything to have a fraction of the privileges I have being born in America. It was eye-opening.

For any underclassmen who are considering it, I will say it is not an easy trip–it will push you out of your comfort zone by forcing you to confront harsh realities. But it will also allow you to grow your understanding of what it means to be a “Man for Others.”