I pledge allegiances to ... the U.S. or My Lord?

The time was about 1:15 p.m. on Friday of November 7th, 2014. The group had just finished our first lunch together and we were headed to the van when suddenly Mark called us back to the entrance of the restaurant. We form a circle, and I assume that we are about to pray over our next step of the journey. Unfortunately, that was not the case and Mark had some bad news. While we were eating, Mark received a call informing him that three of the five Hispanic members of the group would not be allowed to receive a tour of the Border Patrol office. The sorrow was immediately recognizable in the eyes of the majority of the group, but so was the daring determination to not let this defeat or overcome our morale.

Personally, I was so impacted by the scripture reading at the Border Infrastructure Tour and so delighted with the food that we had just received that when we were standing in the circle I did not even comprehend what Mark was telling us. It wasn’t until we were leaving the Border Patrol office that Sister Christine who is Hispanic and was allow to take the tour, informed Omar, “ I didn’t ask them why a man with U.S. citizenship and a U.S. Passport could not take a tour, but I really wanted to.”

Around 2:00 p.m. we arrived at the Border Patrol office. Our leader Mark (who is a white male) choose to stay outside with the members of our group who were not allowed to receive the tour. The rest of the group headed inside to receive our guest passes. Again at this point I was still oblivious to the irony of the entire situation, but now that I recall the situation I realize that the older members of the group were well aware of the tension in the room. 

Our tour guide who was one of the Border patrol officers led us into the building. She was young and pretty and to be quite honest she appeared to be completely opposite of whom I expected to see working in the border patrol (more about her story later). We entered a hallway with many pictures hung on either side. ATVs, Helicopters, Drones, Patrol officers on horses were all highlighted in these photos.  Previous and current generals and commanding officers pictures displayed.

Unexpectedly as I walked with the rest of the group and listen to the Border Patrol officers I was overcome with a strong sense of patriotism. The arguments concerning the safety and concerns of the nation that were stated were beginning to take priority over the strong experience of God’s presence of the Border Infrastructure.

Thing such as:

• The Border Patrol prides itself on ensuring that drugs from Mexico do not enter the U.S.
• After 9-11, it has become a main priority of the Border Patrol to stop the threat of terrorist entering the U.S. from the Border of Mexico and the U.S.
• We have laws and a system set up for people who want to become citizens and it is not fair for those who are doing this legally to allow those who are not to bypass the process.

These were the rehearsed talking points of the border patrol tour guide

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One of the women in our group asked the question I’m sure everyone was wondering, “How did you (The Border Patrol officer) get involved in the Border Patrol.” Seriously, saying that she was young a pretty does not even begin to explain the women that stood before us. Nothing about her said Border Patrol, it crossed my mind a time or two that there is no way this young lady agrees with everything this organization stands for. The first red flag I got is when she told us she grew up in Boston.

“Well”, she responded, “when the economy tanked there were not very many job opportunities.” I could not really afford college, but I really wanted to further my education. I was tired of working server positions so I started researching different opportunities.” That brought her to the government position of the Border Patrol which is rich in opportunities for one to further their education. “I never started out saying I really want to work on the Border Patrol… it was just an opportunity that I took advantage of that helps me pursue my goals.” It was obvious that she did not plan to work with the Border Patrol the rest of her life. She needed a job that would help her pursue her goals and she found that in the Border Patrol.

This is where I feel like the irony of the situation cripples me. This woman from Boston could not find a good enough job up North to help her meet her goals due to the poor economy. The jobs that she could find, she quickly realized that they were not going to take her far in life and nowhere near her personal goals. Thus, she migrated from here homeland of Boston to the Southwest region of the U.S. to acquire a job that gave her the finical stability and the educational opportunities she desired. It just so happens that the job she has chosen is to stop people from doing the exact same thing!

Please someone, tell me if I am missing something here. I mean to be so concerned with keeping people out of this country that three of my Hispanic friends could not take a tour with us is ridiculous. I might add that of the three members that were told they could not go in, one was born in Guatemala, but had since moved to the U.S. He has a college degree from a U.S. University in Business, he speaks perfect English and currently lives in the U.S. He is a U.S. citizen with a U.S. Passport. The other two work with the ministry organization Frontera de Cristo which is an U.S. organization. They have visited the U.S. to talked with Churches many times about immigration and Café Justo, thus have received numerous Visas for visits to the U.S.

Once I realized what happened I approach Omar and apologized on behalf of my country. I was so hurt and embarrassed. It hit me that what had just happened was an old fashion act of discrimination. At this point in the trip, I stood faced with the conundrum of pledging allegiances to my Lord and my U.S. Citizenship. Should it be one or the other? Where was God going to lead me now…?