Ciudad Juarez, located on the U.S.-Mexico border across from El Paso, Texas, has become one of the most significant transit points for migrants attempting to enter the United States. Between March 2019 and January 2025, thousands of people from Latin America and the Caribbean arrived fleeing violence, economic hardship, and political instability in their home countries.
For many, Juarez became both a temporary refuge and a place of uncertainty, where the dream of reaching the United States clashed with the harsh realities of border control and immigration policies.
The city continues to face serious humanitarian challenges, including overcrowded shelters, limited medical care, food shortages and an ongoing lack of resources to meet basic needs. Migrants often face exploitation, insecurity and emotional strain as they decide whether to remain in the city or return to their countries of origin.
After enduring long waits and complex legal processes under strict U.S. immigration rules, hundreds are now waiting for these bureaucratic procedures to be processed in Mexico. Local residents, community groups, and international organizations have stepped up to help. Churches, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and volunteer networks provide food, temporary shelter, medical care, and legal assistance. However, the scale of the crisis means that even these efforts are not enough. Despite the difficulties, Ciudad Juarez has become a symbol of resilience and unity.
It is a place where migrants, residents and aid organizations come together in daily acts of compassion, all struggling to survive and build a safer, more stable future.
Among the many groups working in Juarez are the Columban missionaries, who support local organizations in caring for migrants.
In 2019, seeing the growing number of families unable to cross into the United States, the Columban missionaries decided to establish the St. Columban Migrant Ministry, which launched a service guided by the four verbs proposed by Pope Francis: Welcome, Protect, Promote and Integrate.
In January 2025, with the new government in the US, many migrants chose to start a new life in Juárez after their plans to travel north were halted. While this provides a sense of stability, it also introduces significant challenges: securing suitable housing, accessing healthcare, enrolling children in school, and helping families adapt to a new environment and culture.
To meet one of the most urgent needs, the Columban missionaries, through their Ministry for Migrants, launched a program to sponsor 150 migrant children and enroll them in local schools. This ambitious effort involves more than just finding schools; it also requires preparing legal paperwork, providing uniforms, school supplies, books and meals for children. Their families also receive guidance and support to help them integrate into the community.
The Columban missionaries believe that education is key to protection and change. Keeping kids in school protects them from drug dealers, gangs, and street dangers. More importantly, it gives them hope: the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and build a better future.
When these children are educated, loved, and supported, they grow personally and bring light and strength to the entire community. In their smiles, the Columban missionaries see the reflection of God’s love, a reminder that every act of kindness restores dignity and renews faith in humanity.
Columban Fr. Alvaro Martínez is the Director of the Mission Center, El Paso, Texas. Cristina Coronado is the Coordinator of Migrant Ministry, Juárez, México.