Migrants recreate Passion of Christ on US-Mexico border

Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, Apr 15 (EFE).- Migrants on Good Friday recreated the Passion of Christ in Mexico’s border city Ciudad Juárez to reaffirm their faith and continue their path despite the tough immigration policies of the United States.

In the Casa del Migrante, a shelter in the north of the city, the traditional Stations of the Cross was carried out with dozens of asylum seekers participating in the event to express their gratitude for remaining well and maintaining the hope of crossing into the US.

For months, those involved rehearsed the scene with the characteristic clothing, from the Roman guards to the inhabitants of the time.

“We have seen many things since we left and it has been difficult to travel from Guatemala to here, but thanks to God and to this organization that has helped us a lot in the time we have been here (…) we have food, we have beds, blankets and everything we need,” Jonatan Pacaya, a migrant from Guatemala told EFE.

The procession in Ciudad Juárez, on the border with El Paso, Texas, comes as the state puts the pressure on over the arrival of migrants and President Joe Biden’s decision to eliminate Title 42, a Donald Trump-era policy that allows the immediate expulsion of undocumented immigrants on pandemic grounds.

The region is experiencing a record migratory flow to the US, whose Customs and Border Protection agency recorded more than 1.7 million undocumented immigrants on the border with Mexico in fiscal year 2021, which ended on Sep. 30.

In this context, with the religious ritual, the migrants hope to convey that they have experienced a “very difficult” ordeal, according to Honduran Jesús Rosales.

“The situation has been very difficult, and that is how we continue to walk – with many dangers. But thank God we got here,” he said.

The participants keep the faith despite tough immigration policies in Texas, whose Republican Governor Greg Abbott has demanded Mexican border states tighten migrant detention.

“Here we are making an effort as Jesus did for us. We are doing it mainly for our family, for my son, and we will continue to fight as far as God wants us to,” Rosales said.

Guatemalan Gladys Mirel took appealed for compassion and for people to keep in mind that the migrants are fleeing crime.

“We need them to let us in and open the doors for us and live a happy future. Jesus Christ died for us,” she said. EFE

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