This Spring, UUSC’s Stewardship Circle members traveled to Mexico, where they visited several of our partners to see the impact of grassroots migrant justice work first-hand. Participants heard directly from those fleeing Central America due to horrific violence and corruption and witnessed the services UUSC and our partners are providing through our efforts to protect the rights of migrants.

One of the many moving stories that we heard was shared by a young student, Victor*. In El Salvador, Victor was studying to receive an engineering degree. To pay for his classes, he worked after school, earning $200 per month. However, gang members took from him as much as $100 each week, making it impossible for Victor to continue his studies or work. When he left his job and was unable to pay the gangs, Victor’s safety was at risk, and he fled to the United States. Upon arrival at the border, he was immediately detained and then deported. Back in El Salvador, the gangs resumed harassing and threatening Victor so much so that he fled again, joining others to seek asylum in Mexico City.  Since then, life has been difficult for Victor as he struggles to find employment and a new home. Without a permanent address, he cannot access Mexico’s healthcare benefits or education system. 

Today, Victor is supported by one of UUSC’s Mexico-based partners, where he has a safe place to stay and has found a community to help. Despite facing such difficulty, he remains hopeful about the future as he works to educate allies and increase their understanding of the migrant crisis. “Meeting these individuals makes their issues personal,” said one Stewardship Circle member. “They are human beings trying to survive.”

Together, with your help, others like Victor are also receiving medical attention and psychosocial support and accessing legal aid services and economic assistance, so that they can live safely and independently. The services we provide are directed to migrants who are victims of crime, abuse, trafficking, and exploitation. You are providing hope in times of darkness. As one of our grassroots partners put it, “when UUSC stopped in to be a partner, ‘It was like a light.’”

Your planned gift supports the future of human rights and social justice — and for that you have our deepest gratitude. For more information on how to support UUSC’s work, please contact Brendan Donnelly at 617-301-4349 or by email at bdonnelly@uusc.org.

*To protect his identity, we are not using Victor’s real name.