BORDER ADVENTURE

        Annunciation House is a Volunteer organization that offers hospitality to migrants, immigrants and refugees in El Paso, Texas.  Volunteers live simply and in community in the same houses as the guests we serve who are mostly from Mexico and Central America.  We also participate in advocacy and education around immigration issues.  We seek to be a voice for justice and compassion.

    Annunciation House accompanies the migrant, homeless and economically vulnerable peoples of the border region thru hospitality, advocacy and education.  Houses of hospitality for migrants and refugees in El Paso and Ciudad Juarez since 1978.

    The US/Mexico border is a unique area.  It is a region where multiple factors  (social, political, economic, cultural, environmental) come into play.  The El Paso/Ciudad Juarez metropolitan area is the biggest border community in the world.  The combined population of both cities is close to 3 million people.  It one of the main entry points into the United States for undocumented workers and drugs.  The border is worth understanding for its own intrinsic value but more importantly we can learn much by seeing the border as a microcosm of today's globalized economy.

    During its 45 year history Annunciation House has hosted over 500,000 immigrants for over 40 countries.  The vast majority have been refugees who have fled the violence of political upheaval, civil wars, death squads, human rights abuse and especially stifling poverty.

WHAT DO WE DO?

    Hospitality is our primary mission - providing a dignified living space for our guest.  Volunteers spend most of their time operating our houses of hospitality in which we also live in community.  Each volunteer has four main areas of responsibility.

1.    Guest/service shifts during which we oversee the daily routine of the house. (Answering the phone and door, assigning shoes, making sure meals are served, performing intakes with new guest.

2.    Serving as a contact person for guests in formulating plans and connecting to needed services (case management).

3.    Week rotations of chores, (Laundry and cleaning)

4.    Keeping the pantry stocked or clothing bank organized.

Volunteers also participate in the vital work of educating people to the realities of the border and the various forces that bring people here.

    Accommodations are simple in keeping with the spirit of the house.  Each Volunteer can expect to receive one full day off each week, an additional 2 day period each month.

    Joe and I have a room with 2 twin beds, a bathroom (true luxury) and HOT water.   Our first three days have been overwhelming and very busy.  Our biggest challenge is the language but we are using Google Translate which is helpful.  De usually do intakes on @ 10-30 new guest a day from mostly Mexico and Central America.  Most are between the ages of 20-50 and many are married with children.  They are all appreciative and come with nothing.  All do have cell phones with chargers and know more technology than we do!  

    Once they get through immigration they receive an ankle bracelet which does not come off until they meet with immigration in their  destination.   Their picture is also taken.  Southwest Airlines will no fly anyone with an ankle bracelet but other airlines will

    Immigration guards bring them to Casa Papa Francisco and we welcome them.  They can receive safe housing, food, shower, warm clothes and most need shoe strings.  Border patrol/ICE are their shoestrings because it is harder to run in shoes without strings!

    At Vasa Pap Francisco they can call their family or friends who need to buy airline or bus tickets for them to wherever they are going.  They send confirmation info bak to us and we arrange transportation to the airport or bus station.  Weekday transportation is provided by the city of El Paso.  At the the El Paso International airport OEM ( Office of Emergency Management) , an organization also paid by the City of El Paso and assisted with volunteers can help them navigate getting to their proper gates.  That does not happen everywhere and may end with the new administration.

    Most guests stay 1-3 nights before leaving but some arrive and family or friends cannot pay for their transportation.

    Once they leave us, they are on their own to meet with immigration, lawyers, seek asylum, obtain working papers etc.  It is a very complicated, confusing, expensive, time consuming process.  And most do not speak English.

    We are working hard and learning a lot.  It is an Adventure!