Survival at the Border

Photo by Xavier crook on Unsplash

Bon Appétit recently published a story on a migrant camp on the U.S.-Mexico border that has used cooking as a means for survival, not only for physical nourishment but for spiritual and emotional stability. Connecting Matamoros, Mexico with Brownsville, Texas the migrant camp located on the Mexican side of the border is made up of a group of 2,000 asylum seekers.

Now, Bon Appétit is primarily a food and entertainment magazine and doesn't really take political stances. With a story focused around food it brings attention to what is currently happening through something that anyone can relate to regardless of political leaning.

"Cooking is caring for families, a means to earn money by selling meals to other migrants, an expression of human dignity to sustain spirits while living through a brutal humanitarian crisis that worsens by the day."

Throughout this piece, they introduce characters to the readers that humanize the story and put a face to the issue. I think when it comes to conversations around immigration that we don't forget about the people behind it. One of the reasons I think it is easy for Americans to pass judgments on immigration is because they don't understand it and don't understand the intricacies and nuances of the situation.

The story doesn't only talk about the migrants but also mentions organizations that have helped to support them. Team Brownsville is a group that was created out of support for the asylum seekers that are in the United States. They helped to start a breakfast program to feed migrants in Mexico as well as provide tents, blankets, and portable water.

Another organization mentioned is World Central Kitchen, an organization started by Chef José Andrés. This organization specializes in helping in places stricken with hunger and poverty. At the border camp, WCK has been able to provide meals to asylum seekers.

I appreciate that these organizations were mentioned in a way that explained their involvement with migrants and the various ways they support while keeping the narrative and focus of the story on migrants. It also reinforced the fact that all asylum seekers in the camp were only a few yards away from their freedom and the only thing that kept them from it was a border.

An important thing to note is that the reason that the migrants are forced to stay in Mexico, even if their asylum paperwork is submitted and being reviewed is because of Migrant Protection Protocol. This is an added measure from the Trump Administration to keep migrants out of the United States leaving them vulnerable to endure more violence.