On building walls and loving creation By Elizabeth Welliver
“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19)
In the past year, I have struggled to hear the good news of the Gospel over the blaring chaos of our political atmosphere. I have felt despair, anger, and numbness following the current administration’s actions to threaten and attack marginalized communities, particularly people who have migrated and those who live in borderlands.
As followers of Jesus, who lived within and crossed borders between communities, we can see that the wall represents more than an act of “security,” “immigration enforcement” or “defense.” The wall is an attempt to separate families and communities rooted in racism and economic exploitation. The wall does not serve to foster the kindom of God, or the healing and wholeness of creation in a world too often plagued by violence and walls.
In November, a group from the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship attended the Border Encuentro of the School of the Americas Watch, a convergence of the international anti-war movement. From the communities of Nogales, Sonora and Nogales, Arizona, we learned that the wall artificially separates us from our neighbors, harming ecological stability and enforcing draconian immigration policies that threatens death to migrants. We listened for the “new thing” that God is doing by bringing activists, artists, and people of faith and conscience to both sides of the border wall to sing, chant, and resist the wall and all the violence it represents.
Standing at the border wall, I also felt the weight of complicity that I carry in its construction. In the words of Rev. Mark Adams from Frontera de Cristo, a binational border ministry in Agua Prieta, Sonora and Douglas, Arizona, “The border wall was built for me as a white, U.S. citizen.” In this acknowledgement of sin, we are also empowered to repent of the wall and act for justice. How can ministries like Frontera de Cristo sustain ministry in a place divided by a wall? The families in Douglas and Agua Prieta view the border as a place of convergence, a rich and equitable exchange of culture, faith, language, and resources. I believe the “new thing” that God is doing, often in hidden places, is enlivening and emboldening us to work with partners on the other side to overcome separation and hear the voices that the wall attempts to silence.
The letter below calls upon the current administration to renounce its plans to construct more border walls. We recognize the damaging effects and consequences of building this wall for all of creation. We proclaim faith that God is making a way, and it is our responsibility to follow the leadership of impacted communities to tear down the wall and invest in peace.
Kevin K. McAleenan, Commissioner, Customs and Border Patrol
Randolph D. “Tex” Alles, Deputy Commissioner, Customs and Border Patrol
Secretary John F. Kelly, Homeland Security
Commissioner McAleenan, Deputy Commissioner Alles, y Secretario Kelly,
Como personas de fe y consciencia, escribimos para denunciar la Orden Ejecutiva publicada el 25 de enero 2017: “Seguridad de la Frontera y Mejoramiento de Ejecución Migratoria.” Las acciones del Presidente Trump amenazan nuestras comunidades, especialmente los que arriesgan sus vidas para cruzar desierto inhabitable, y la tierra en una manera costosa e inadmisible.
La Biblia nos advierte sobre el pecado de oprimir refugiados y migrantes: “Al extranjero no maltratarás ni oprimirás” (Éxodo 22:21). El muro que existe por 670 millas de la frontera ha matado a más de seis mil personas encontrados por su agencia (CPB) debido a las condiciones inhumanas en el desiert. El índice de muertes sigue subiendo.
Los que vienen a cruzar la frontera a pie no tienen otra opción para entrar el país en una manera legal debido al fracaso de nuestro sistema de inmigración. Los que cruzan vienen de Asia, África y Centroamérica en búsqueda de seguridad. Los niños, mujeres, y hombres indefensos tienen que solicitar el apoyo de traficantes humanos para cruzar. El muro expandido fortalecerá la organización de bandas criminales y narcoviolencia en México. Además, causará un colapso económico mientras socavará la seguridad nacional con menos cooperación internacional.
La historia de los Estados Unidos tiene casos innumerables de violar los acuerdos con grupos indígenas. Construir el muro por el territorio Tohono O’Odham infringe la soberanía de la nación. Estamos con nuestros hermanos indígenas denunciando esta infracción de sus derechos.
Por parte ecologico, sabemos que somos responsables de proteger el ecosistema como cuidadores de la tierra (Génesis 2:15). La tierra fronteriza es un hábitat frágil que necesita protección. El Departamento de Pez y Fauna estima que entre los dos países un muro puede impactar más de 111 especies en peligro de extinción y 108 especies de aves migratorias. El muro que existe hoy carece de la examinación y protección del medio ambiente. No podemos tolerar abuso continuo de nuestros recursos naturales.
La construcción del muro emitirá dos millones toneladas de dióxido de carbono que el clima no puede sostener. Los efectos del cambio climático tienen un impacto desproporcionado al población por la frontera debido a su vulnerabilidad económica y ecológica. La severidad elevada de tormentas en el desierto ha producido inundaciones que destruyen ciudades divididas por el muro. Las sequías en el territorio del desierto empeoran con las temperaturas subiendo. La negación del acceso al Río Grande causará conflictos y pérdidas económicas. Las comunidades por los dos lados del muro serán devastadas por el impacto ecológico del muro.
Le llamamos a examinar su conciencia por parte de la comunidad de fe. En un país afrontando crisis humanos incluyendo el hambre infantil y una deuda masiva, denunciamos el gasto inefectivo de $21.6 billón para construir el muro. Exigimos que el gobierno afronte las causas raíces de la migración, incluso los efectos de cambios climáticos y las guerras causadas por los EEUU. Tienen la opción de elegir “entre la vida y la muerte, entre la bendición y la maldición” (Deut. 30:19). Para que sobrevivamos, y que nuestros descendientes tengan la oportunidad de vivir, les llamos que elijan la vida y no construyan otro muro.
Kevin K. McAleenan, Commissioner, Customs and Border Patrol
Randolph D. “Tex” Alles, Deputy Commissioner, Customs and Border Patrol
Secretary John F. Kelly, Homeland Security
Commissioner McAleenan, Deputy Commissioner Alles, and Secretary Kelly,
As people of faith and conscience, we write to denounce the Executive Order published January 25, 2017: Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements. The actions of President Trump threaten our communities, especially those who risk their lives to make the deadly crossing of the desert, and the earth that sustains us in a costly and inadmissible way.
The Bible warns us of the sin of oppressing migrants and refugees: “The stranger you will not mistreat or oppress” (Exodus 22:21). The wall that currently exists for 670 miles of the border has killed more than six thousand people found by your agency (CPB) due to the inhuman conditions in the desert. Despite lower numbers of migrants, the death toll continues rising.
Those who come to cross the desert on foot have no option to legally entry the country due to the failure of our immigration system. Migrants and refugees come from Asia, Africa, and Central America in search of security. The child, women, and men are left defenseless and dependent upon human traffickers to cross. The expanded wall will strengthen the organizations of violent gangs and narco-violence in Mexico. Further, it will cause an economic collapse while threatening national security with less international cooperation.
This action follows innumerable historic violations of treaties with Native Americans. To build the wall within Tohono O’Odham territory infringes upon the sovereignty of their nation. We stand with our indigenous sisters and brothers denouncing this violation of their rights.
From an ecological perspective, we know that we are responsible to protect the ecosystem as guardians of the earth (Genesis 2:15). The ecosystem of the border is a fragile habitat in need of protection. The Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that between the two countries, the wall could impact more than 111 endangered species and 108 species of migratory birds. The wall that exists today lacks sufficient examination and protection of the environment. We cannot permit further abuse of our natural resources.
The construction of the wall will emit two million tons of carbon dioxide which the climate cannot sustain. The effects of climate change have a disproportionate impact on the communities on the US/Mexico border due to their ecological and economic vulnerability. The heightened severity of desert storms has produced floods that destroy cities divided by the wall while droughts worsen with increasing temperatures. The restriction of access to the Rio Grande will cause conflicts and economic losses. The communities on both sides of the wall will be devastated by the ecological impacts of the wall.
We call you to examine your consciousness on behalf of the faith community. In a country facing human crises including child hunger and massive debt, we denounce the wasteful spending of $21.6 billion to build the wall. We demand that the government address the root causes of migration, including the impacts of climate change and wars caused by the United States. You have the option to choose “between life and death, between blessing and curse” (Deut. 30:19). For us to survive, and for our descendants to have the opportunity to live, we call you to choose life and not build another wall.
Elizabeth Welliver is a Young Adult Volunteer serving at Grassroots Leadership in Austin, Texas. She enjoys prayers for creation and living in community.
This piece was originally posted at http://www.fossilfreepcusablog.org/blog/on-building-walls-and-loving-creation