I'm off to the US-Mexico border for the next few days

I am off to the US-Mexican border tomorrow, specifically the border between Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora. I'm really looking forward to the trip. I crossed the Tijuana, Mexico border once or twice in the 1980s which I would venture to say was another world ago.

I'm traveling with the University of Scranton's Jesuit Center to learn more about the Kino Border Initiative and their work on the border.

The Kino Border Initiative (KBI) is a binational organization that works in the area of migration and is located in Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The KBI was inaugurated in January of 2009 by six organizations from the United States and Mexico: The California Province of the Society of Jesus, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, the Missionary Sisters of the Eucharist, the Mexican Province of the Society of Jesus, the Diocese of Tucson and the Archdiocese of Hermosillo. The KBI’s vision is to help make humane, just, workable migration between the U.S. and Mexico a reality. Its mission is to promote US/Mexico border and immigration policies that affirm the dignity of the human person and a spirit of bi-national solidarity through:

• Direct humanitarian assistance and accompaniment with migrants;
• Social and pastoral education with communities on both sides of the border;
• Participation in collaborative networks that engage in research and advocacy to transform local, regional, and national immigration policies.

I'm be there through Wednesday.