Hike shines a light on immigrants’ plight
MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2009 AT 12:35 A.M.
PEGGY PEATTIE / UNION-TRIBUNE
Participants in La Posada Sin Fronteras yesterday walked along the beach from the gates at Border Field State Park to reach the fence. The event brings participants face to face at Friendship Park along the U.S.-Mexico border. Fencing kept people far apart, except for groups of 25 allowed into a special area for a short period.
PEGGY PEATTIE / UNION-TRIBUNE
Enrique Morones (from left), Christian Ramirez and Jill Holslin led the group in song at the border. Luminarias represent-ing migrants who’ve died crossing the border were placed along the outside of the fence.
PEGGY PEATTIE / UNION-TRIBUNE
After meeting with people for 30 minutes on the Mexico side of the fence, participants in the Posada from the U.S. side were moved out of the area. The celebrants sang traditional Christmas songs in English and Spanish.
U-T Multimedia: For a slide show of La Posada at the border, go to uniontrib.com/posada09/
IMPERIAL BEACH — Faith groups from the United States and Mexico gathered yesterday afternoon at Border Field State Park in what was both a religious celebration and a political statement.
The 16th annual La Posada Sin Fronteras was a re-enactment of the biblical story of Mary and Joseph, who were forced to seek shelter after the birth of Christ and were eventually welcomed into a stranger’s home. Participants from both countries compared the biblical tale to the struggle migrants face trying to enter the United States.
One of the messages of the story, the idea of welcoming strangers — and immigrants — is under attack in our times, making the binational celebration even more significant, organizers said. Today, families on both sides of the border are separated by immigration policy and can no longer meet, even at the border fence, organizers said.
This was the first time the celebration was held since a second border fence was constructed earlier this year. The participants were not allowed to touch or exchange gifts with those who had gathered in Mexico for the celebration.
About 150 people, including many members of the media, gathered on the Mexico side of the fence, while on the U.S. side about half that number were present.
U.S. Border Patrol agents allowed 25 people at a time to go through the first fence to the Friendship Monument, which is situated to the north of the Tijuana bullfighting ring and a lighthouse. The remainder were forced to stay back behind the second fence, roughly 100 feet away.
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