We Either Stay Home and Starve or We Make the Journey / by Karie Luidens

2019-02 - Hope Border Institute in Guatemala.jpg

El Paso faith leaders travel to Guatemala for research

By: Susana Castillo
KTSM El Paso
Posted: Feb 21, 2019 07:12 PM MST
https://www.ktsm.com/news/local/el-paso-news/el-paso-faith-leaders-travel-to-guatemala-for-research/1800516051

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) - El Paso faith leaders shared details about their visit to Guatemala in Mid-February. HOPE Border Institute, a non-profit, coordinated the visit to understand reasons behind an increase in Guatemalan immigrants coming to the US/Mexico border seeking asylum. […]

The group said families in poverty are being forced to flee to our border because they can no longer work the land and are looking for options to provide for their children.

"So why do you put your children through this? He said, we either stay home and starve or we make the journey and try to look for a better way of life," said Rev. Jose Morales from the Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Hope Border Institute wants changes to take place to help people while they are in Guatemala so they don't feel forced to seek help in the U.S. The group will meet with lawmakers to try to find solutions.