On Sunday, November 29, a group of 10 La Salle seniors and 2 teachers departed for the Arizona Border Immersion. The students will be visiting and joining with some of the students from San Miguel High School in Tucson Arizona.

The students are going to visit the border and learn about the immigration process, from both sides of the border. Mr. Barba explains the trip by saying, “The goal of this trip is to provide students with the opportunity to examine the issues regarding the border and immigration through multiple lenses. For this trip they go to the border and hear about issues of immigration from the Border Patrol, and from immigrants that have been deported, and examine these issues through the lens of Catholic social teaching.” The point of this trip is to educate students on border issues and about the difficulties of crossing the border from different perspectives.

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Prior to leaving, the La Salle students on this trip were all looking forward to many things. Some of them say:

“I am looking forward to crossing into Mexico because I have never been outside of the United States. I also can’t wait to actually get to speak Spanish with Spanish speaking people and use my Spanish outside of the classroom.” -Alex Berger

“I am most looking forward to being exposed to this type of situation because in reality I never would’ve gotten this opportunity. I am excited to learn more about the border and what we can do to make it better.” -Christina George

“I’m looking forward to gaining new insights on this subject together with the other students and teachers going on the immersion as well.” -Alex Konieczny

“I am MOST looking forward to the interview and ride-along with the border immersion patrol and the people who have struggled to cross the border.  I want to see both perspectives in order to bring new/fresh perspective to the classroom when I teach about immigration.” -Mrs. Kessler

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Mrs. Gantt, who went on the trip last year, says, “The students have the unique opportunity to see both sides and try to sort things out in their own heads and hearts. My favorite part of the trip was listening to the stories of some of the people who had had a particularly challenging time and how they are being helped by the Kino Border Initiative.  Also, I loved taking water into the desert and leaving it for future passersby.  Walking the trail that so many have walked was very powerful.”

The students go for 4 days, returning on December 3rd, hopefully with a different perspective of the lives of immigrants and the struggles they face in crossing the border into the United States.