“Finding our Story”: Asian-Americans at the Mexican-American Border

Abstract

In late 2021, a group of Asian-Americans came to the Mexican-American border to witness the dire situation that was facing asylum seekers who had been forced to stay in Mexico due to U.S. COVID restrictions. This research is grounded in the interviews of their experiences, which reveal a desire to see change at the border, the sense of dehumanization of migrant communities, and the role their faith serves in understanding migration. Additionally, the participants discuss how their own immigrant heritage is both similar and different to what they saw at the border and how this relates to the broader sense of solidarity among migrant communities. This study has relevance to the current discussion about immigration, integration, faith, and human rights, particularly in the U.S. context. Through the interviews, the common humanity and immigration history becomes clear.