Written by Natalia Hidalgo (Border Trip 2024)
Our second day in Douglas, AZ was a profound one filled with meaningful discussions and introspection as we encountered firsthand the complexities of the U.S-Mexican border.
Following a nourishing breakfast, we kicked off by sharing a gift received throughout our first day and a question we sought to answer. Personally, I was grateful for having my celiac disease considered and taken care of at dinner. In addition, the remarkable hospitality and heartfelt welcome from various community members upon our arrival at Douglas prompted me to reflect on the underlying reasons behind the genuine kindness and generosity extended to unknown individuals and foreigners.
After our conversation, we embarked on our first encounter with the border. The border was no longer an abstract concept locked in a classroom conversation or a vision four blocks away. It was real, tangible, and impressive. We reflected on our definition of the border. For me, man-made immediately comes to mind whenever I think about this word. Borders like the U.S-Mexican one are physical divisions, built to artificially isolate communities that were never meant to be separated, but their nature was to be together and united.
I heard powerful reflections from my peers; for instance, some defined borders as "the result of fear" (Mayah), "a barrier to diversity" (Darryl); or "a way for the privileged group to exercise power and control" (Natalie). Even though most of us portrayed borders as challenges, my main takeaway was acknowledging that borders can also become gateways of opportunities for diverse communities to come together.
Then, we walked around the neighborhood, across Castro Park and Church Square, to better familiarize ourselves with Douglas and pay attention to the details between the different communities and socio-economic classes. After, we had lunch with the City Manager Ana Urquilo at the Douglas Welcome Center. She spoke on the current plans and projects taking place in different areas to maximize economic growth and opportunities for Douglas.
For instance, we learned about the Two-Port Solution plan being developed, which raised questions regarding conversations held with the community to acquire the necessary land for the port; security concerns as a second port increases the risk of illicit drug trade, especially fentanyl; and air pollution caused by all the vehicles crossing the border.
Following lunch, we returned to the border for a meaningful reflection guided by Marc Adams. He spoke on how people, borders, and policies migrate. His impactful words challenged us to introspect on our individual accountability about border dynamics. We often absolve ourselves of responsibility by attributing blame to an external adversary. However, it is preponderant that we acknowledge that it is not someone else's wall, but our wall; my wall.
Finally, we wrapped the day by hiking D Hill, culminating in a tranquil picnic atop its summit at sunset. From this vantage point, the distinct cities of Douglas and Agua Prieta seamlessly merged, offering a poignant juxtaposition of unity and division, as they are two cities spiritually intertwined, yet physically separated by a border.
We are excited about the lessons and experiences that await for us tomorrow. But first, let's get some sleep. Hasta mañana!
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