Lisa Añorve led a quiet life in a small town in Guerrero, Mexico. She is a single mother, and she lived with her mother and worked at the local town hall. Her son, Alec, was a brilliant student, recognized by his teachers.
However, his life changed drastically when organized crime took over his community. Tragedy first struck when her father was killed by criminals, but Lisa did not feel as deep a pain as the one she experienced on one particular day.
The day began as any normal day, but suddenly, screams and gunshots interrupted the peace. A group of criminals were roaming the streets, demanding control of the town. Lisa experienced indescribable fear; her blood froze and, when she managed to come to her senses, she heard a heartbreaking threat: “We control this place, get the hell out of our town,” followed by gunshots in the air.
Terror, despair and uncertainty invaded her mind. She ran terrified to her home, only to find Alec telling her that an armed group had also come to his school, threatening the teachers. She couldn’t help but burst into tears.
After that, an armed group showed up at her home, demanding payment for “living there,” as they now controlled the area. Her family flatly refused, and the response was clear: “If you don’t leave, we will kill you. Not only here, we are present in all of Mexico.” The sense of insecurity became unbearable; there was no safe haven anywhere in the country.
Desperate, Lisa’s mother recalled Fr. Julio Narváez, a now deceased Oblate priest, who in the past had mentioned to them that they could apply for political asylum in the United States through CBP (Customs and Border Protection), a program that protects people in difficult situations, allowing them to cross without being treated as illegal. Lisa immediately set out to find an appointment.
After days of tireless effort, she succeeded. The appointment was set for January 20, 2025. With renewed hope, she sold all her belongings and traveled to Tijuana, the place where she would have her interview.
She arrived with only a backpack and a heart desiring above all to be safe.
However, in the days leading up to the appointment, the new U.S. government announced that it would cancel all appointments and deport those who had already arrived and crossed into the United States.
Can you imagine what Lisa felt? After living through the terror of fleeing her home for fear of losing her life, she now had to face the uncertainty of not knowing if she could continue to live in her own country. Lisa felt lost, aimless, not knowing what to do to improve her situation. The constant stress took its toll on both her and her mother, who began to face serious health problems. Alec, for his part, lost his innocence when faced with the harsh reality they were living in.
Fr. Julio’s relatives had also told them about the Oblate Pastoral Center in Tijuana. Without thinking twice, Lisa and her family went to ask for help. Thanks to the Migrant Program of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Lisa and her family now receive food, psychological support, free medical consultations, a scholarship for Alec to continue his studies, and legal assistance for whatever they may need.
Thousands of people live this same reality every day. We ask that you continue to pray for those who have no safe place to go, and pray that our Migrant Program may be a safe haven for them.
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