Before Leaving
- United States Citizens Require: A U.S. passport or passport card —(we have found that expired ones work, but you MUST have it.) REAL ID cards are NOT accepted for international travel, including border crossings into Mexico. .
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) require: Valid Permanent Resident Card.
- Mexican citizens require: Valid passport with a valid I-94 or multiple entry visa and Border Crossing Card (if applicable)
- Travel lightly and comfortably. Check the weather for Mexicali, Mexico. There is not a lot of walking but it is very sunny.
- Bring US cash for taxis. Each ride is $6. 2-4 people can fit in one taxi. Please have exact change.
- Provide the leader of your group with your emergency contact information/phone and e-mail.
- It will be helpful to ensure that you have at least 2-3 Spanish-speaking folks in your group.
- Coordinate and verify the time and place of your local departure to/from Calexico, CA. Having a ride sharing app set up in your phone is helpful in order to return to your car at the hotel.
- We ask each group to bring/send $2000 for food for migrants during the month of your visit.
- Have an easy way to carry activities and donations over the border. Use bags with handles or small roller bags. NO TRASHBAGS PLEASE! (they are hard to carry and tend to be too heavy and disorganized)
- You may want to bring and wear a mask when you cross the border.
Prepping Donations
- Bring new or gently used clothing. If you bring used clothes they MUST be clean, gently used (no stains or rips), folded, unwinkled/ironed and organized into bags labeled for men, women, boys, girls. NO TRASHBAGS! They are heavy, disorganized and difficult to carry across the border. The goal is to be able to set out the clothes on tables quickly and efficiently and it helps tremendously if they are already organized.
- Use bags with handles or carryon roller bags. Migrants need roller bags for when they cross into the USA.
- The migrants are usuallywear small to medium clothing. Few clothes should be in the Large and XL range. Any footwear like flip flops, sandals and tennis shoes are also very useful for kids and adults alike.
- Socks and underwear should be brand new.
- There aren't many infants present so no need for an abundance of baby clothes or infant diapers. However, pull ups or larger diapers are the most helpful. There are lots of elementary aged children!
Day Of The Trip
- We meet at the Holiday Inn Express in Calexico no later than 9:00 a.m. Bathroom and check-in here.
- Before we depart, we sign photo releases, name tags, and submit in-kind donation form.
- We will call taxis to take us to the border, which is ten minutes away.
- We do not show passport going into Mexico. We do place carry-on items on a scanner.
- In Mexico, dozens of taxis await. We take a taxi to the Cobina Posada Del Migrante Shelter.
- We will leave at 3:00 pm to walk back across the border. You must show your passport to get into US. Be advised that the pedestrian line to cross back usually takes one hour.
General Information About Where We Go
- We will be at the Cobina Posada Del Migrante, a shelter for 80-175 family members.
- We may visit a neighborhood shelter. We will take taxi or Didi (uber)
- We may need to go by taxi to other stores, e.g. the pharmacy, Walmart, Costco or Smart & Final.
General Information About What We May Do
- Play various games with children which you, the volunteers, bring for them. These could include coloring or painting, bubbles, jump rope, balls, crafts, table games etc. Have contests, prizes or a piñata or two.
- Distribute treats for everyone from your group like licorice or candy. Have lunch with residents, which BC will provide.
- Meet with several parents who will share their stories with you.
- Teachers may want to lead activities such as a class in ESL, arts and crafts and kid's games.
- Have a prayer ritual and give small gifts. Everyone loves to have a blessing and they enjoy singing, too.
- Volunteer Attorneys may visit with individual families or in small groups.
- Healthcare volunteers, doctors or nurses, may meet with the shelter nurse or see some residents.
- Videographers and photographers need to be identified. Photos are needed for the BC Newsletter.
- Bring a list of common Spanish phrases and questions as ice-breakers to get to know the residents better. A Spanish speaking friend is helpful here. Reach out to them and invite them to come with you and/or download a translation app. You can bring a U.S. map of city and states and ask the residents where they are giong and show them where you live.
Location of the shelter:
Cobina Posada Del Migrante, Avenida Jalisco, No. 46, COLONIA Pueblo Nuevo, Mexicali
Border Compassion Contacts:
Sister Suzanne Jabro, CSJ 213.305.6755 sjabro@csjla.org
Sister Lisa Buscher, RSCJ LBuscher@rscj.org
www.Border-Compassion.org
