Erica grew up in San Salvador and had to work with her parents since the age of five to help earn an income to survive on. “It was very difficult for us to even make enough to buy bread for our family of five.” Having lived in poverty all of their lives, Erica’s parents decided to send her to the United States at the age of 16 to help financially support her family back home.

This week reports on the current immigration system border on Kafkaesque as the brokenness of the system continues to taunt our community, families and faith. However, hope perseveres through the work of unheralded heroes.

It’s after dinner at Casa del Migrante in Tijuana, Mexico. With so many people moving about, the shelter feels alive. The 150 or so beds are nearly full, but more and more men arrive each night. Most have been deported from the United States and know nothing about Tijuana. They come to Casa for free room and board for two weeks. Here they have a chance to save enough money to travel back home, whether home is across the border in the U.S., down in southern Mexico, or back in Honduras.

The window is closing on comprehensive immigration reform. At least that’s what the politicians in Washington are saying. They’re afraid of more demagoguery. They’re afraid of upcoming elections. They’re afraid of the politics of fear. But I am more and more troubled by how little they seem concerned about the worsening plight of many of America’s most vulnerable families — about how families are being broken up by the U.S. government, forcibly separating children from their parents.

Last week, the New York Times shone a light on the story of Qing Hong Wu, former juvenile delinquent, and Michael A. Corriero, retired federal judge. The gist of it is that almost fifteen years ago, Wu pled guilty to a string of muggings committed at age 15. At his hearing, Judge Corriero urged him to turn his life around.

This week’s entry is dedicated entirely to young people who dream of becoming United States citizens and the dignity, respect, and opportunities that come with citizenship.

This month’s edition of Sojourners Magazine, now out, focuses on the issue of immigration reform. Here are some excerpts: Allison Johnson, campaign coordinator of Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform: “Why we need comprehensive, humane immigration reform—now.”

Debates about immigration policies and reform continue to rage. Consequently, op-ed pieces, books, and reports on this contentious topic appear daily. These materials focus mostly on the legal and ethical battles surrounding immigrant work place and home raids, as well as the treatment of immigrants while in custody and during deportation. My limited writing on this topic has treated the xenophobic-inspired murder of Ecuadorian immigrant Marcello Lucero in Suffolk County, New York, and the infamous “illegal alien” costume debacle of this past Halloween.

This week people of faith, immigrant activists, and sympathizers participated in events around the nation spurred by the urgency of the moment as the brokenness of the current system continues to affect our neighbors.

Going Local: Local leaders in Colorado, Oregon, New York (including Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Carmel, and Wayne County) and Florida visited their state representatives demanding immigration reform.

Inspired by alarming unemployment rates, unfair deportation hearings, and the continuing separation of families caused by immigration raids, immigrant activists around the nation are mobilizing to urge their congressional representatives to reform the immigration system.

The Importance of the Latino Vote: A new report issued by America’s Voice has stated that Latinos will play a key part in the outcome of 40 mid-term elections (29 house seats, 8 senatorial races, and 3 gubernatorial elections). Undoubtedly, the lack of comprehensive immigration reform has left many frustrated with their current representatives. What effect this will have on how ballots will be cast is uncertain.

Despite hesitancy to address immigration reform in Congress, many immigration advocates are making their voice heard and publicized in the national press: