This strange American hospitality

Editor's note: The following was received by NPT this morning. The first version is an English translation of the piece, followed by the Spanish original. For background, read this NPT story.

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THIS STRANGE AMERICAN HOSPITALITY
By Gustavo de la Rosa Hickerson
Alien #A-89-541-063
El Paso Processing Center
8915 Montana
El Paso, Texas

When I exiled myself from Juárez for a few days, I came to El Paso and found myself embraced by an outpouring of solidarity. Friends I had worked with 25 years ago— farmworkers grown old working in the chile fields, organizers who bent their backs to the work, never giving up the dream of creating a better society, lawyers tirelessly working for years and years, still looking for the justice we had hoped to achieve so long ago. And priests still in the struggle to bring heaven to earth and to share this heaven with everyone. As it was, everyone welcomed me with authentic and sincere friendship, so many exceptional people, including many successful business people here.

But I also encountered a new generation of human beings who are advancing our old dreams of building the “New Man.” After the great earthquakes of our recent history, they have taken these dreams and turned them into new realities, becoming “New Humans” on their own, without waiting for those who lag behind. Young people who come to the border to join in the struggles with those exiled from their homelands. Young people who celebrate each day with communitarian work, living healthy lives and building a better tomorrow to share with their partners, their friends and their families. When I asked one of these young people about his future profession, he said: “To work for the weak and vulnerable is a profession. This world does not need more stock brokers.”

And so, I was getting along very well here in El Paso … But then, I learned of some progress in Mexico in terms of protection for my work. I felt called to get back to my teaching at the university and to my friends and family who are indispensable company for me. And so I returned to Mexico where I attended an important professional conference on university teaching. But, when I returned to cross the border into El Paso, my visa had been marked for attention and the officials began their friendly interrogation. And then, they asked me this question: “Are you seeking political asylum?”

And I replied, “No, not at this time. I am awaiting more information from my government in Mexico.”

Then they asked me, “Do you fear for your life in Juárez?”

I said, “Yes.”

And then they said to me, “Well then, we cannot allow you to return. You have not violated any law. But neither can we allow you to be free in El Paso.”

I took this as a gesture of hospitality, and then they said, “We are going to protect you by taking you to a secure place.”

And here I am. Together with other refugees, many of them, and from all parts of Mexico and Central America. They gave me clean and comfortable clothes and they provide all of us with a bed, a bathroom, food and medical and religious services. Nevertheless, the work routines of this refugee center seem quite
strange to me. The volunteers wear uniforms, they walk with a military step. They give and they take orders. Everything is done on schedule and according to strict rules.

But, what gets my attention more than anything is this obsession they have with putting me in handcuffs to take me to the doctor.

Could it be true that I am in prison?

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ESA EXTRANA HOSPITALIDAD DE LOS AMERICANOS
Por Gustavo de la Rosa Hickerson
Detenido #A-89-541-063
El Paso Processing Center
8915 Montana
El Paso, Texas

Cuando me desterre por unos dias de Juarez, me vine a El Paso, y me encontre en el medio de una erupcion de solidaridad.

Amigos que saltaron desde hace 25 anos trabajadores agricolas que envejecieron en los campos de chile, organizadores que doblaron su cuerpo en la incesante busqueda del sueno social. Abogados que siguen buscando la justicia incansablemente como se esperaba desde entonces. Sacerdotes que siguen luchando por traer el cielo a la tierra, y repartirlo a todos. En fin todos ellos con un gesto amistoso y sobre
todo sincero y autentico; gente de excepcion, incluso algunos empresarios exitosos.

Pero ademas me encontre con una nueva generacion de seres humanos que han cambiado nuestros suenos de construir al “Hombre Nuevo”. Luego de grandes terremotos de la historia, por nuevos suenos
realidades convertirse a si mismos como “Hombres Nuevos” sin esperar a los demas. Jovenes casi todos que han llegado al la frontera a solidarisarse con los desterrados de su patria. Jovenes que celebran
cada amanecer con una tarea comunitaria, viviendo bajo las mejores practicas saludables y construyendo un manana diferente a partir de su pareja, de sus amigos, de su familia.

Al preguntarle a uno de ellos por su futuro profesion, me dijo: “Trabajar para los vulnerables es una profesion, el mundo no necesita mas corredores de bolsa”.

Y asi la fui llevando…Pero los avances en las medidas cautelares, el llamado de la academia y la indispensable compania, me hicieron volver a Mexico. A escuchar uno de los discursos mas esclarecedores sobre docencia universitaria.

Pero al volver a cruzar a El Paso mi visa estaba marcada y empezaron los amables interrogatorios. Hasta culminar con la pregunta: ?”Solicita asilo”? La respuesta “En este momento, no. Espero noticias de mi Gobierno”. ?”Teme por su vida en Juarez”? Digo “Si”. Ellos, “Bien, no lo podemos regresar. Usted no ha violado ninguna ley. Pero tampoco podemos dejarlo suelto en El Paso.” Vi en ellos un gesto de hospitalidad. “Lo vamos a proteger llevandolo a un lugar seguro.”

Y aqui estoy. Junto con otros refugiados que son muchos y de todas partes de Mexico y Centro America.

Me dieron ropa comoda y limpia y nos apoyan con cama, bano, comida, medicos y servicios religiosos.

Yo acepte y pedi estar en el area de custodia y me trajeron con buena disposicion.

Sin embargo las rutinas de trabajo, me advierten que este centro de refugiados es extrano. Los voluntarios visten uniformes, caminan con paso marcial, dan y reciben ordenes. Para todo hay horarios y
rutinas, pero sobre todo me llama la atencion su obsession en ponerme esposas cuando me llevan al medico.

?Que no sera que estoy en una prision?