On October 27, thirty staff from nearly all our departments took a transformative trip to the San Diego area to help migrants who recently crossed the southern border. At AJSOCAL, our mission is about standing up for those whose voices might not be heard, offering support to those who need it most. Heading to the border was a natural step for us, a chance to extend our reach and offer solidarity to Asian migrants facing challenges and uncertainties. It was more than a trip; it was a profound experience that left an indelible mark on us and will shape our future work.

Our first stop was at Central Elementary School, where Customs and Border Patrol takes migrants from its detention centers and drops them off without any resources so that local aid organizations can help them (a practice known as “street release”). Our AJSOCAL teams leapt into action to help our partner organizations and the migrants: some helping separated families, others distributing food, more making hygiene kits. The migrants came from all over the world, and I felt relieved that the Chinese and Vietnamese migrants had someone they could talk to in their own language.

After lunch, we drove over an hour inland through the desert to an area called Jacumba. We pulled off Highway 94 to a place our partners call the Valley of the Moon. It was a desolate open space at the foot of some low-lying hills, with rocks and shrubs peppered across a dusty clearing. As we looked closer, we saw that small groups had congregated in various spots, taking seated refuge among the bush. Our partners call the Valley of the Moon an open-air detention because Border Patrol brings migrants there and leaves them without food, water, or shelter for days. If anyone tries to leave, they are returned to the Valley of the Moon. After a few days, Border Patrol will take migrants into custody for processing then street release.

We popped up two folding tables and arranged ourselves into two-assembly lines to make sandwiches—one for turkey and cheese sandwiches, the other for jelly sandwiches—and to distribute fruit, snacks, water, toothbrushes, and baby wipes. People quietly lined up for what would probably be their only meal of the day. AJSOCAL staff distributed the coats and blankets they brought to donate.

I was struck by the resilience and diversity of the migrants and by the heart and dedication of our staff. We bore witness to the hope and faith people carried with them through a long, perilous, and costly journey. We offered all of the compassion and help we could give. I couldn’t be prouder to be part of our AJSOCAL team.

As I reflect on our journey, I imagine how this experience will live on in our work. Our immigration, policy, litigation, community engagement, and in-language helpline teams convene weekly to discuss how AJSOCAL works in the ecosystem of advocacy and community work.

We will always remember the migrants we assisted, whose resilience inspires us to keep pushing for a better, more inclusive world. I look forward to the road ahead, filled with endless possibilities to create meaningful change.