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Stories That Reflect Our Shared Humanity
Step into real experiences from the borderlands—voices of resilience, connection, and hope that challenge assumptions and invite deeper understanding.
Banana Republics: Beyond the Brand
When most people hear “Banana Republic,” they may instantly think of the clothing store, rather than the political and economic origins. Yet the term, which emerged in the early 20th century, is a derogatory label for countries whose economies relied on a single agricultural export, such as bananas, and whose governments were influenced by foreign…
Language & Resilience in the Borderlands
In downtown El Paso, bilingualism can be seen in the street signs! Growing up in the borderlands, you don’t think about borders the same way outsiders do. El Paso and Juárez form one large metropolitan area, which is why it’s common to find a blend of identities, two cultures merging into one. Anyone living in…
Abara Featured in a Carnegie Corporation of New York Article
Abara, a nonprofit in El Paso, Texas, guides participants on a three-day program to better understand issues around immigration, including a hike up Mount Cristo Rey where they can view the U.S.-Mexico border. (Credit: Sue Dorfman) When viewed from above, the border cities of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, appear to merge into…
Border Joy is Narrative Change
As you may know, one of our core commitments is Border Encounters, immersive experiences that foster understanding and empathy on the US-Mexico border. So, today, as part of our Border Joy campaign, we invite you to join us in celebrating resilience by reading Jeff’s story from a recent Border Encounter. When people step into the…
Border Joy, According to Rosy, Toya, and Ana
Welcome back to our end-of-year series on Border Joy: Celebrating Resilience. This week, we asked 3 Abara ladies to reflect on what Border Joy means to them.Each has a unique perspective on Border Joy. Rosa Mani Thomas, Juárez Team Coordinator Hello friends, My name is Rosa Mani Thomas, and I arrived to these precious borderlands…
Joy that Refuses to Disappear
If you spend even one day in our border community, you’ll see it–joy that refuses to disappear. It might not be what you first expect from the border. After all, in Juárez we meet families who have endured long and difficult journeys. Many are unable to return home or move forward. Others have been deported…
Explainer: What Migrant Farmworkers Face in 2025
Source: California Legislators Say New Laws Must Protect Farmworkers From Extreme Heat Background: Since the early history of the United States, migrant farmworkers have been crucial to the country’s history and economy. However, they have often remained in the shadows of society, forced to endure inadequate and unacceptable living and working conditions. Take the Bracero…
All that Easy, All that Hard: Cristhel’s Story
This photo is shared with permission by the author (left) who came to a Border Encounter in March of this year. The picture shows her family in 2016 in their home in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. Sometimes, a single, tangible, undeniable experience plants a seed of doubt within us. And that’s when everything begins to change. For…
Explainer: The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA)
Background: In the 1970’s there was an increase of refugees coming in from Central America. This was due to civil and political unrest in countries that have experienced civil war, such as Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. It is important to understand that these events happened amid the Cold War, with the U.S. financing these…
Joy in the Ashes
In the Spring of 2023, Abara was offering support to a temporary camp of mostly Venezuelans in an abandoned building in Ciudad Juárez. The following story is about that time. A few weeks after a horrifying fire claimed the lives of 40 people in a migrant detention center in Ciudad Juárez, our team and volunteers…
There is so much fear. You can respond in love.
Does your heart feel heavy, too? The weight of what’s happening—at the border and beyond—has been pressing on us. We carry it with us daily. I’m sure you do too. You’ve seen the news. Raids. Detentions. Families torn apart. There’s so much fear in the air. So much noise. So much pain. In Ciudad Juárez,…
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Step into stories that humanize migration—hear voices from the borderlands that inspire understanding, connection, and action.
