Join us every third Thursday for a welcoming space to learn, ask questions, and explore how we can participate in faithful advocacy and accompaniment.
Virtual event
Across the U.S.–Mexico borderlands — and in communities far beyond them — people of courage and compassion are responding daily to the realities of migration. As MCC, we believe that listening to these stories helps us live more deeply into our values of peace, hospitality, and justice.
We invite you to join us for Borderlands & Beyond Monthly Charlas, a new conversation series led by the MCC U.S. Immigration Network featuring MCC partners, community leaders, and borderlands practitioners who will share their work, struggles, insights, and hopes. Each charla provides a welcoming space to learn, ask questions, and explore how we can participate in faithful advocacy and accompaniment.
Date: Every 3rd Thursday of the month (January to December 2026)
4:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM MT / 6:00 PM CT / 7:00 PM ET
Location: Online via Zoom
Speaker Calendar:
- January 15: Myles Traphagen: Borderlands Program Coordinator, Wildlands Network. Presenting: “The Border Wall: Past, Present and Future”Myles Traphagen is the Borderlands Program Coordinator for Wildlands Network in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Since 1996, Myles has conducted research and monitoring on transboundary ecosystems in the forests, deserts and grasslands of Arizona, Sonora, Chihuahua, and New Mexico. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz, then went on to earn his Master of Science degree from the University of Arizona studying the white sided jackrabbit (Lepus callotis) and its connectivity and migration corridors between the US and Mexico. In 2021 he mapped the US-Mexico border wall in California, Arizona, and New Mexico and freely provided this data to researchers, state governments, and media organizations around the world since no geospatial data information existed on US government websites. His detailed mapping of the border wall was instrumental in the establishment of wildlife passages in the wall to restore connectivity for Mexican gray wolf, jaguar, Sonoran pronghorn, and desert bighorn sheep. In 2023 he collaborated with scientists in Poland to establish a research project documenting the effects of the 186 km long Poland-Belarus border wall constructed in 2022 through the Bialowieza Forest UNESCO World Heritage Site. He is a US Coast Guard veteran and a tribal member of the Chickasaw Nation.
- February 19: Nora Salinas: Forensic Coordinator, South Texas Human Rights CenterBorn in Falfurrias, Texas, Nora Salinas is a dedicated public servant and community leader with deep roots in South Texas. With more than two decades of experience in the judicial system and public service, she has built a reputation for integrity, compassion, and steadfast commitment to her community.Nora began her career in public service in 2002 with hands-on work in forensic and judicial processes at the County Judge’s Office. Her early experiences provided a strong foundation in court procedures and case management that would shape her future roles. In addition to her work in county government, Nora serves as a Forensic Coordinator for the South Texas Human Rights Center, where she brings empathy and a measured voice to families seeking information about missing loved ones. In this role she assists individuals and families through some of their most difficult moments, helping gather details and navigate complex processes with sensitivity and respect. Her calm presence and unwavering compassion have made her a trusted resource to families who often continue reaching out long after their cases are resolved.Beyond her professional accomplishments, Nora is a devoted wife of 37 years and a loving mother and grandmother. Her husband, two children, and three grandchildren adore her and remain the heart of her life and motivation.
- March 19: Efren C. Olivares: Vice President of Litigation and Legal Strategy, National Immigration Law Center. Presenting: “Immigration and border policies: Current events and historical context”Efrén is an experienced litigator and has represented clients in federal and state courts, and international human rights bodies. He currently serves as Vice President of Litigation and Legal Strategy at the National Immigration Law Center, where he leads a team of lawyers and advocates working for immigration laws and practices that respect human rights. He previously worked at the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Texas Civil Rights Project, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. His writings on immigration policy have been published by the New York Times, USA Today, and Newsweek, and he has testified before Congress and at briefings on Capitol Hill about immigration and border policies. In 2025, he was named to Time Magazine’s 100NEXT list, a compilation of the world’s most influential rising stars. Efrén is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Yale Law School. He is an avid soccer fan and enjoys reading books about famous art heists. He lives near the border with his family.
If you have any questions, contact us via email at immigration@mcc.org.
