Mennonite Central Committee

The Migrant Trail: We Walk for Life was the idea of three people who decided to first do the walk in 2004 as an act of solidarity with migrants and to raise awareness about the deaths and terrible plight that migrants face. A total of 30 people did the entire walk the first year, approximately 50 the following year, and nearly 75 in 2006. All four years have had more than 100 walkers join the walk for the final leg into Tucson. Walkers have come from many states and countries, and represent a wide diversity of race, age, religion, and political affiliation.

Community support for the walk has been overwhelming. Each year more organizations have helped organize the walk. The Walk itself has been an important community building experience with walkers organized into teams which cover all aspects of the journey. Many walkers have commented that the camaraderie experienced during the walk was the best part of all.

The Migrant Trail Walk is not intended to simulate the experience migrants face as they cross the gauntlet of death. Walkers are accompanied by support vehicles, unlimited food and water, and medical attention: things that the migrants themselves desperately lack. However, by walking more than 75 miles in the hot summer sun the walkers try to make a small contribution that will some day lead to change on the border.

MCC & the Migrant Trail

MCC participated, jointly with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in the Migrant Trail for the first time in 2006. MCC’s participation in the Migrant Trail promotes local partnership and the opportunity to raise awareness in the broader community.

• Meet Jodi Read, who participated in the first MCC delegation, and continues to organize current delegations.
• Nancy Rivera reflects on her participant in the 2007 MCC delegation.