Plymouth Magazine-Spring26-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 17
Message written on the bars of the border wall reads “Te amo buene suerte”
which translates to “I love you, good luck”.
Cliffs in Nogales, Mexico
Sarah Wigton
Aristella Tempero
I had the opportunity to go to Nogales,
Mexico one day, and I learned a lot
walking the streets, stopping at a
refugee shelter, a Catholic church, local
businesses, a restaurant, and a bakery. The
most important thing that stayed with me
was how beautiful and full of life the city
was. I felt safer in Mexico than I did in
America. There were people walking with
their families, singing along to music, and
murals painted on the sides of buildings.
Nothing about this place made me think
about aliens, or criminals, or villains. I
saw life, and I saw beauty, and I saw God’s
creation in all its perfect, authentic, messy
glory. Then, I turned and saw the wall,
saw the armed agents at the checkpoint,
saw the mural and cross for Jose Antonio,
and thought about all the hateful things
our government has done in the name
of border patrol. They dehumanize
immigrants and label them terrorists,
when they’re the ones blatantly ignoring
the law and violating human rights. Not
all of Mexico is perfect or idyllic, but not
all of America is either. I saw cities full of
life on both sides of the border, and all
I could do was think about how much
more beautiful it would be if there were
no walls, no borders, to separate us.
During my trip to the border, I had so
many life changing experiences. One of
the most moving things I experienced
was driving through the desert near
Nogales, Arizona and firsthand seeing
the desert that so many immigrants
must walk through just to get to safety.
Whether they are escaping from violence,
climate change, or for better economic
opportunities, they are still willing to risk
their lives for safety. I pictured it to be
completely different than how it was. The
amount of vegetation astonished me and
put into perspective how difficult this
must be for people seeking a better life.
Change starts with one person lending
their hand to someone in need. At first,
it might not seem like much but over
time that impact becomes greater and
greater, improving the lives of many. At
the end of the day, despite our political
differences, genders, or opinions, we are
humans that should uplift and support
those in need. Everyone deserves a
proper education, a government that will
protect them, and a home that they feel
safe in. Building a wall to “keep people
out” will never be the answer. The wall
was originally approved by the George
Bush Administration, and unfortunately
the wall has only progressively grown
throughout the years and especially under
the current Trump Administration. In
the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ passed by
Congress this last October, plans to
dedicate $46.5 Billion into increasing
technology and security along the wall is
in motion. This is incredibly frightening,
and not only does it risk the lives of
immigrants but also the lives of animals
trying to migrate. It all starts with us,
people who are fortunate enough to speak
out about what we see and educate our
peers. We live in a country where we have
freedom of speech and it’s slowly being
taken from us. I urge you to use your
voice, vote, volunteer, and stay educated
on how you can help in our community
to combat this crisis. I’m so grateful
for this opportunity to learn so much
about migration and words can’t begin
to explain how much this trip changed
me. Learning about the reality of what’s
going on around us and how we can make
a change for the better is something that
will forever stay with me.
Plymouth Magazine 17
