Faith and Hope at the Border: Migrants’ Reliance on Religion Amidst Asylum Challenges
The U.S.-Mexico border, a place often defined by political debate and policy shifts, holds a much deeper story of human resilience, faith, and the unwavering pursuit of a better life. A recent study sheds light on the pivotal role of religion in the decision-making and survival strategies of migrants navigating the perilous journey to seek asylum in the United States.
The article opens with a poignant scene in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, where Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas, stood before 300 migrant men in a shelter. The year was 2020, a time when the U.S. border was effectively closed, and asylum was suspended. The bishop, acutely aware of the men’s desperation, offered them the only solace he could: prayer. His apprehension about offering "nothing but Jesus" was quickly dispelled as the room filled with a "roar of approval" as they prayed together.
This powerful anecdote serves as an introduction to the central theme of the study: the profound influence of faith on migrants’ journeys. Jeremy Slack, the lead author of the 2023 study and professor of geography at the University of Texas at El Paso, discovered that migrants’ decisions are significantly shaped by their religious beliefs. A striking 75% of those surveyed reported encountering a "sign from God" that motivated them to persevere. The study revealed high levels of faith in a higher power determining their immigration outcomes, with many migrants engaging in daily prayer.
The arduous journey faced by migrants is fraught with danger: perilous jungle crossings, thousands of miles on foot, encounters with hostile authorities and organized crime, extortion, kidnapping, sexual assault, and the ever-present threat of detention or deportation. As Bri Stensrud, executive director of the nonprofit Women of Welcome, eloquently stated, "I don’t know how you take that journey, or how you survive that journey, without faith." Stensrud, who leads Christian women on trips to the border, emphasizes that these are individuals who are "trusting in God to bring me to a place where there are brothers and sisters in Christ."
Researchers sought to understand migrants’ knowledge of the U.S. asylum system amidst growing skepticism about the surge of asylum seekers. The influx of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border each month, seeking asylum, coincided with a prevailing narrative that they were exploiting the system with claims that lacked legal merit.
Immigration attorney Linda Dakin-Grimm confirmed that many asylum seekers lack a thorough understanding of asylum requirements, often equating it with needing help due to difficult circumstances. However, the legal definition of asylum is much narrower, requiring proof of persecution based on specific grounds.
Even those meeting the legal criteria for asylum faced immense challenges, as Title 42, a pandemic-era policy that allowed authorities to turn away asylum seekers, remained in effect during the study period. Countless migrants were stranded in Mexican border cities, their hopes dwindling.
The researchers conducted face-to-face surveys in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, at various locations, including a government shelter, a border encampment, a Mexican immigration office, and a downtown plaza. The findings were unexpected: migrants exhibited a surprisingly low level of knowledge about the asylum process.
The study revealed that many migrants perceived the asylum process as overly complex or arbitrary, leading them to rely on faith and religion. This finding prompted researchers to expand their analysis, specifically examining the role of faith among 146 respondents.
A common refrain heard by researchers was, "God willing, I’ll be one of the lucky ones," reflecting a deep sense of hope and surrender to divine will. The study found that 45% of respondents regularly attended evangelical services, while 30% attended Catholic services. Interestingly, even among the 32% who identified as non-religious, half reported experiencing a "sign from God."
These "signs from God" often manifested as acts of extraordinary kindness from strangers, offering support and encouragement during desperate times. One example involved a Honduran family navigating Zacatecas state when a man appeared and miraculously stopped a freight train, allowing them to board. Another instance involved a Guatemalan woman who survived a brutal kidnapping attempt and was nursed back to health by a kind woman who took her in. These acts of kindness were interpreted as divine interventions, reinforcing migrants’ faith and hope.
Slack’s research builds upon previous work exploring the intersection of religion and migration. In her book "Migration Miracle," sociologist Jacqueline Maria Hagan emphasized the role of faith and religious practices in helping migrants cope with the psychological traumas of immigration.
The shelter in Ciudad Juárez where Bishop Seitz led the collective prayer still provides refuge for asylum seekers, even as asylum remains suspended at the border. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, the bishop remains deeply moved by the experience of praying with the migrants. He emphasized the kindness and gratitude he encountered, contrasting it with the often-negative media portrayal of the border. He expressed a desire for people to witness the compassion and resilience of migrants, rather than solely focusing on instances of violence.
The article offers a nuanced perspective on the complex dynamics at the U.S.-Mexico border. It highlights the importance of understanding the human element of migration, particularly the role of faith in sustaining hope and resilience in the face of immense challenges. It serves as a powerful reminder that behind the political debates and policy decisions are individual stories of faith, determination, and the enduring pursuit of a better life.
