What you'll need for the trip

About the trip 

Before Leaving  

• Find your US passport and assure that it is up to date—expired ones work, but you MUST have it. 
• Travel lightly and comfortably, there is not a lot of walking.  Bring US cash for taxis. Each ride is $6. You will be in 4. Please have exact change. 
• You may want to bring and wear a mask when you cross the border. 
• 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.
• We ask each group to bring/send $2000 for food for migrants during the month of your visit. 
  

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. 
  

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, etc. Have contests, prizes or a piñata or two. 
• Distribute ice cream or other treats for everyone from your group.  Have lunch with residents, which BC will provide. 
• Meet with several parents who will share their stories with you. 
• Teachers may want to have a class in ESL, crafts, life in the US with map of city and states. 
• 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, will meet with the shelter nurse or see some residents. 
• Videographers and photographers need to be identified. Photos are needed for BC Newsletter. 
  

Location and Contacts
Cobina Posade 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 304 919.9172 LBuscher@rscj.org
www.Border-Compassion.org 

Our  Cross-Over trips start in Calexico, CA, USA. We meet up and cross the  border into Mexicali, Mexico. Currently our services involve helping people at Combina Posada del Migrante.