A Proud Hispanic Heritage
Portrait of Bernardo de Galvez, Source http://bdgsar.org/galvez.htm (PD-Art, PD-old-100)
Few outside Texas are today taught about the 18th Century Spanish leader, Bernardo de Galvez [1]. But that Colonial Governor of Spanish Louisiana played a crucial role in the American Revolution.
Mustering men from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, and the Canary Islands, Galvez defeated the British at Baton Rouge, Natchez, Mobile, and Pensacola [2]. This opened the Mississippi, allowing essential munitions and supplies to reach Americans.
The City of Galveston (Galvez’ town) is named after Bernardo de Galvez.
Migrant Caravan of 2018
“The caravan..started out…from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, one of the most dangerous cities in the world…I have walked the dirt lanes of that gang-ridden [city]…If I lived [here]…I would do anything to protect my children from being recruited into a gang, murdered by a gang or gang raped. Walking more than 2000 miles to the US border? You bet. Until I dropped from exhaustion and had to be carried.”
-Lynn Monahan, “The roots of the caravan”, Maryknoll Magazine, March/April 2019
Fast forward to 2018, when a Central American migrant caravan approached the US border [3].
Fleeing poverty, corruption, drug wars, and gang violence in their countries of origin, some were seeking refuge. Others were hoping to secure jobs that would allow them to send money to families back home.
The large group size was meant to serve as a defense against human traffickers.
Deliberately blurring the distinction between migrants, immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees, Pres. Donald Trump labelled the 2018 caravan “an invasion” [4].
By contrast, Maryknoll leadership urged the US “to act with compassion toward migrants, and to work to transform our relationship with our southern neighbors to enable livable communities to flourish everywhere.”
A Nation of Immigrants
Impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and Hurricanes Eta and Iota, another caravan is now headed toward the US [5].
We need a comprehensive immigration policy. But we are, also, a nation of immigrants.
We must not forget our proud Hispanic heritage. And we must not turn our backs on immigrants, whatever their nationality – particularly asylum seekers and refugees.
“Welcoming families has allowed our country to integrate successive immigrant generations into the fabric of American life, allowing them to contribute their faith, values and talent to make this country great.”
-Archbishop Jose Gomez [6]
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[1] Wikipedia, “Bernardo de Galvez”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernardo_de_G%C3%A1lvez.
[2] American Minute with William (“Bill”) Federer, “Remember the Alamo – Remember Goliad”, https://myemail.constantcontact.com/-Remember-the-Alamo-Remember-Goliad—New-Spain—Texas.html?soid=1108762609255&aid=_zLJ7v4KMMM.
[3] BBC, “Migrant caravan: what is it and why does it matter?”, 11/26/18, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45951782.
[4] Rescue, “Migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants: What’s the difference?”, 6/22/18, https://www.rescue.org/article/migrants-asylum-seekers-refugees-and-immigrants-whats-difference.
[5] NPR, “Migrant Caravan: Thousands Move into Guatemala, Hoping to Reach US” by Jason Beau Bien, 1/18/21, https://www.npr.org/2021/01/18/958092745/migrant-caravan-thousands-move-into-guatemala-hoping-to-reach-u-s.
[6] Crux, “Gomez: Family unity should be at the heart of US immigration policy” by Christopher White, 2/13/18, https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2018/02/gomez-family-unity-heart-u-s-immigration-policy/.
As a point of information, the majority of illegals who enter the United States do so by air – not via the southern border – then simply overstay their visas.
Of those who enter or attempt to enter through Mexico,
fully 97% are non-Mexican.
See, https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/anthropology-in-practice/the-anthropological-truth-about-walls/.
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse https://avoicereclaimed.com
A Lawyer's Prayers 
The distinction isn’t so much between migrants, immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees, but distinguishing between these legitimate groups and criminals, drug/gun smugglers, human traffickers, and those with infectious diseases. I understand the need to vet those that are coming in – especially making sure the people bringing in those precious children are truly their parents!
Having said that… the beaurocracy can be maddening. I have had the experience of walking a woman and her child through the process of getting refugee status. I was able to help prevent them from being deported to their homeland – and from her likely being executed, as they had left without permission. It was extremely frustrating and agonizing that it took so long. I wouldn’t want the vetting to stop, but I kept thinking there’s GOT to be a way to shorten the process.
I agree that a screening process is necessary. This post was not meant to suggest that we adopt so called “open borders” — merely that we remember our own past, and share the gifts God has given us. ❤