Casa del Migrante in Tijuana is a home. It is a sacred space. Here in this home, that has been in operation since 1987, men who are displaced find sanctuary. Their background, their record, their labels all are left at the gate when they enter. These men who have been deported or returned or removed or are lost between two countries are received with love and dignity by the Catholic Scalabrinian order. The home houses the men, feeds them, teaches them their rights, offers social work and provides spiritual nourishment through prayer and worship. During our four nights we ate with the migrant men, did chores with them, slept down the hall from them and listened to their stories.
Today is the post for Thursday. I realized I didn't take pictures of our rooms, our bathrooms or the food we ate. Out of respect for the migrants I do not have photos of the men. Everyday the door would open in the evening and a new wave of men would be waiting. Every morning by 6:30 am they would be gone for the day. The Casa houses up to 160 men.
It will be weeks before I process the the stories that broke my heart and the faces who brought joy to my life.
The photos here are of the house. Our guys fixing breakfast in the kitchen and the roosters that started crowing every morning at 4am
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