Between Borders

Melona fled Eritrea, later lived in Ethiopia, and began a journey toward safety in the United States.  While seeking asylum, she was deported to Panama where she spent months confined in a hotel and dangerous camps, and is now staying in an RFM shelter without a clear path forward.

Her story reflects the hope that drives migration and the reality many face on the way.

Erick's Story

Erick first left Guatemala as a teenager in 2004, after being threatened by gangs and fearing for his future. He made the journey to the United States to stay with his siblings and try to build a life.

His journey was not easy.  He has been kidnapped, robbed, and mistreated.  He has been deported several times, but cannot safely remain in his home country.

Today, he is staying at La 72 Hogar-Refugio para Personas Migrantes (one of our partners in Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico)

He is still there.
Still waiting.
Still hopeful.
Still trying to find a way forward.

We invite you to watch Erick’s story:

Jose left Venezuela to save his livelihood and search for a more hopeful future. A family farm that once sustained them no longer can, as the country's political and economic crises are making it harder to survive.

He crossed South and Central America, making his way north to seek asylum in San Diego. Now, he is in Panama, stranded between borders, with no clear way forward and no safe passage out.

We invite you to watch and share Jose's story, to understand what life is like Between Borders.

“Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” -- Fred Rogers

Nory is the founder of the Paso Canoas Meal Program on the Panama/Costa Rica border. Her story is one we have heard again and again across migration routes throughout the Americas: ordinary people seeing great need around them and choosing to act.

What began eight years ago continues today, serving hundreds of migrants living Between Borders every month.

This is Nory’s story:

This isn’t what we think it is. 

Criminal deportation is commonly understood in more urgent contexts.  A person comes here, commits and crime and is deported as part of their hearing.  Or maybe they are removed from a prison here and extradited there.  But, current immigration law puts no statute of limitations on crimes committed.  With a shocking lack of  due process, people can be sent to third countries and mass prisons (like CECOT), even after serving time and making restitution.

Our trip to Mexico revealed many things obscured by headlines.  We interviewed several migrants, many of them Cuban, deported to Mexico, effectively stateless.  The US removed them, Cuba will not accept them.  Many of them were sent with no identification or official documents.  Locals report that busses come and drop groups of migrants into a local park and they are left there homeless and without resources with very few options.  Many have applied for asylum, but that process can take two years or more.

Eduardo* came to the US when he was 18 years old.  He committed a crime and served 10 years in prison.  After rebuilding his life for the past 8 years; he got married, started a company, and had a child.  He speaks fluent English, was educated in the US, and has spent his entire adult life here. 

During a routine parole check-in, ICE came to his house.  He is now in Tapachula, Mexico, after unimaginable loss and a terrifying journey, trapped Between Borders with no country to claim.

*name changed to protect identity