Eleven Fordham faculty and staff members traveled to the Arizona-Sonora border region during Spring Break for a six-day immersion trip focused on migrant accompaniment. Moving beyond academic silos, the delegation engaged directly with the humanitarian, legal, and social realities of migration. The program was led by Carey Kasten (Languages and Cultures) and Leo Guardado (Theology), and included participants Joshua Brown (Psychology), Jeffrey Flynn (Philosophy), Yiju Huang (Languages and Cultures), Natalia Imperatori-Lee (Theology), Phil Judge, SJ (Campus Ministry), Jessica Lang (Dean of Arts and Sciences), Guillermo Severiche (Languages and Cultures), Eric Studt, SJ (Philosophy), and Lori Wolff (GSE).

The trip emphasized the importance of witnessing the lived experiences of those at the margins of social, economic, political and legal systems. Throughout the week, participants engaged with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, from federal law enforcement to faith-based humanitarian leaders. The journey began with a moving visit to the Florence Detention Center, where participants met in small groups with detainees and witnessed firsthand the prison-like atmosphere, characterized by multiple security checks and clearances. While a pre-arranged tour of the Border Patrol facilities was cancelled due to the DHS shutdown, the group was able to meet with an agent for 30 minutes to ask questions and discuss enforcement perspectives.

In Nogales, Sonora, the group visited two shelters, Casa de la Misericordia and the Kino Border Initiative (KBI). These visits provided opportunities for mutual encounter and dialogue with migrants and asylum seekers, highlighting the human dignity of those navigating the realities of forced displacement. Each evening, the faculty participated in reflection sessions with local experts and advocates, including Todd Miller of The Border Chronicle, Joanna Williams, Executive Director of KBI, and Bob Kee of the Tucson Samaritans, to process the day’s complexities.

On the final day, Randy Mayer, Pastor at the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ and co-founder of the Green Valley Samaritans, led the group on a desert hike and a ride along the border wall. This experience provided a visceral understanding of the treacherous environmental conditions faced by individuals traveling through the desert. The group’s final evening featured a dinner at the home of Fr. Bill Remmel, which brought together a significant gathering of local activists, scholars, and faith leaders, including Rev. John Fife, Isabel García (founder of Coalición de Derechos Humanos), Dora Rodríguez (founder of Salvavision), Bob Kee (member of the Tucson Samaritans), Alex Nava, and Randy Mayer.

By engaging in this radical mutual accompaniment, the participating faculty aim to integrate these firsthand insights into Fordham’s curriculum and research, as well as into their personal lives. The trip reinforces the university’s commitment to migration justice and its role as an institution dedicated to the service of others and the promotion of human dignity across all borders.