FEBRUARY 21, 2025: Frontera de Cristo

On the evening of February 18, the team met with Mark Adams from Frontera de Cristo to discuss the rapidly approaching trip to the border. Frontera is a Presbyterian border ministry located on the border of Agua Prieta and Douglas, and is our primary outreach partner at the border—Adams and other members of Frontera have helped us create our plan for our time at the border. We were able to Zoom call with Adams (as he was still in Douglas) and we were able to ask him more specific questions regarding the logistics of the trip. Considering the team leaves a week from today, there has been lots of chatter between students and faculty regarding the itinerary, the packing list, and other more “mundane” travel facts. 

            But our questions also involved the border itself. Many new fears have arisen at the border, and Adams reported that he’s seen an uprise in militarization on the Mexican side of the border. South bound checks—checkpoints of people and vehicles heading from the United States into Mexico—have been continuing as usual. But Adams mentioned that north bound checks have become more and more prominent, especially for American citizens traveling from Mexico into the United States. “Being on the border is not about being flexible,” Adams reminded us. “It is about being fluid. There is a difference.” As someone who has lived in both Douglas and Agua Prieta for over twenty years, he has seen and experienced the fluidity necessary to survive at the border. 

            We also had many questions regarding the physical act of crossing the border. Adams couldn’t give us a solid answer—“it varies every day,” he told us. Time of day, mode of transportation, and direction of travel impacts the wait time. There could be no line, or it could take two hours. Once again, we are reminded of the importance of fluidity. 

            Throughout the hour-long conversation, we covered many aspects of the border. Adams was patient with us, answering our tedious questions with honesty. But it was hard to ignore the growing nerves that we all had. Anticipation thrums through us, and it is a feeling only amplified by those living on the border. Adams was transparent about his own personal anticipation and fear regarding the changes at the border. “I’m not nihilistic about [immigration], I’m just tired. But this is not hopeless.” It is hope and faith—both individual and communal—that we must grasp onto right now. 

            On the FAQ page of our website, we have added a Google Form where anyone can ask specific questions to the border team journalists, which will also be shared with the entire team. Please feel free to ask any questions that may arise before, during, and after our trip. 

Written by Emily Skaar and Emily Allison