‘A Light for Me in the Darkness’: For Migrant Detainees, a Bond Forged by Letter

This is indeed a very compassionate enterprise showing a little kindness goes a long way. I still wish we knew more about civil society organizations and efforts to improve things on the ground in the countries of origin. I keep calling on NYT to offer more factual reporting. For instance, there was barely a mention in NYT on the elections in Salvador this week, won by a young man on an anti-corruption platform. I wish there was more detailed information about the brave men and women who made this happen, know more about their plans for the future of their country, learn if we have something to offer to assist their efforts. Articles like the present one do highlight the generosity of American citizens, which is wonderful in the current climate, but I do worry that they are self-referential and somehow betraying a savior complex. Surely, there is more than violence, crime and - according to this article - anti-LGBT prejudice in Honduras and Salvador. Surely, there are courageous people there who organize and who fight for change: we should also know about them, respect them and try to support them as well. Which is why we need more factual reporting in addition to emotional personal stories.

A solution, Those bleeding hearts that love refugees, allow them to adopt a refugee. But the caveat is that you get to pay for their food, clothing, rent, expenses for at least the 10 years it usually takes to get a green card and citizenship. No backsies, once you sign for them, they are all yours. That should help refugees who got adopted, and separate the posers from the believers. Deal?

An act of human kindness, which, as it should, transcends politics. It costs little to treat other human beings with kindness focusing on our common humanity. That should be possible regardless of whether we think that this person "should" be here, "should" be sent home, or deserves asylum. It is humanity at its best reaching out to folks who are lonely and in a very difficult situation without judging or condescending (regardless of whether their situation is of their own making). That is simple love of neighbor an admonition Christians are called to follow. Sadly, in this nation of late, many who call themselves Christian seem to think that the admonition is 'love they neighbor' as long as they are like you, US citizens, etc., etc.

Reading all these comments I just wondered if anyone involved has done anything for people already in the US? We have lots of people on the margins that need help, many volunteers would be welcome.

This project is well thought out, and big companies like Amazon, Google, and Facebook should work together and form a task force to connect interested Americans to detainees. Clearly monetary support can be channeled to commissary accounts, emotional support through SMS messaging and social media. There are millions of unused old phones in our country to relocate for those without phones at the centers. The wireless carriers could offer technical support and bandwidth for the centers. There are certain things Americans cannot wait for their government to do, but true Americans, especially those who can make it happen at the aforementioned companies, have an opportunity to step up and make it happen. Philanthropy is more immeasurable than corporate profits, but the image projected is a larger example.

What a beautiful story. I want to participate. I went to www.detaineeallies.org to learn more and they have excellent letter writing guidelines and details on how to get involved. Imagine if kids taking Spanish classes all over the US started writing letters and being pen-pals? Of course, we need serious structural, legal and governmental change to solve this problem, but being able to connect with detainees this way is so moving and inspiring. Finally, a news story that gives me hope!

A wonderful project. And for those who want to do more, just go to your local public school or public library! Immigrant kids already in the country often have parents who don't speak English; they can use help with homework and with reading. It's fun and satisfying, and incredibly useful for the kids!

What a wonderful idea. I hope that this article inspires the formation of similar groups across the country.

A great show of compassion. The article does contain a stunning mischaracterization, however. The policy of separating children from families started under the Obama administration. The policy was imposed by the 9th Circuit Court of appeals and has been going on for years. The plight of these folks in detention is terrible, but putting out false information about the origin of the policy is not helpful and may even cause further division.

The Times did not include the weblink for their project. http://www.detaineeallies.org/. At this site for Otay Allies, you can either help donate toward the commissary accounts or write letters. I'm very inspired by this work my neighbors have been doing, and happy that the Times covered it. Sometimes we feel helpless - what can we do? - but Prof. Brooks and the others persisted anyway, and found an avenue for helping individual detainees on whatever scale they could.

I too want to write letters and donate to the commissary. Pls advise how to do that. Thank you for this uplifting article - how we can all make a difference in someone's life.

So many “thanks” to the San Diego State faculty and the NYT for shining much needed light on a very dark moment in our country- a moment that must seem a lifetime to the detainees and their families. In this country we are all immigrants. We or our recent ancestors all came here either fleeing danger or hoping for a better future. It is hard to see how we deserve freedom from fear and so quickly deny it to others. Perhaps we are still afraid and have let fear made us cruel? Thank you San Diego State and NYT for stepping up.

Is there anyway you could provide information about how to join this effort?

The apathy and intolerance, combined with deep ignorance, are not unique to certain Americans at this time. It was also present in the hostility shown to increasing immigration of European Jews fleeing nazis. Nativist xenophobia and general ignorance + fear of the Other are always lurking underneath somewhere ready to infect the body politic. You can always find some Americans who are perfectly capable of rationalizing utter indifference and passivity to evil being done to others as long as they are the "Other", defined by differences in religion, race, etc. They are proud of this, and their votes tell us loud and clear what type of society they yearn for. What is important in this story is that the spirit of resistance to such odious examples of banal evil lives on in the souls of others who oppose passivity with a will to act. Their story needs broad telling in the hope that it can spread its narrative power of resistance to the administrative evil being done in our name all along the southern border. In particular, it would hopefully self organize into networks of engaged religious and lay organizations that can maintain this form of moral outreach and support in opposition to the squalid obscene muck of trump's america. Perhaps the Times can follow this story with other examples?

What a beautiful story; I am truly inspired by my fellow citizens. Sometimes, the kindness of strangers is what gets us through life. And from these chance encounters, friendships can blossom and provide abiding sustenance to all parties. I would appreciate a link or information on how to donate to the commissary fund.

It should be required of every school student, the way we used to have pen pals in France to learn about that country. Do it to learn about our own country as much as the immigrants'.

I did not know about this project in my own backyard. The NYT may not be a national newspaper, but it's the closest we have. Thank you NYT!

This is the best article I have read in a long time. So simple. Care. Listen. Share. Seems small but it is not a small thing and it is much more lasting. You cannot take this away from the people involved.

Amid all the rhetoric, this story is an example of compassion. We have lost our way with the current administration. Thank you NYT and even more so, thank you to these folks in San Diego who saw something that was wrong and stood up and said "no, we are better than this."

I would like to be part of the letter writing. How can I help?

Please, please give the readers here contact information and links we can follow, so that we can help out in this effort. I'd like to think that there are many more people, like me, who would like to help this project.

This is a great idea. Knowing some Spanish, I wonder if there is a way to find someone to write to.

Bless these compassionate souls... shining light through these dark times in American history.

All of my relatives that came here from Europe had a story of someone that helped them. Blessings to the letter writers for reaching out to the most vulnerable in society because our government is not doing so. Find it in your heart to care about immigrants and where they came from. If everyone would reach out to one immigrant/refugee.....

I think all anybody wants is a little genuine sympathy and understanding, somethings Donald Trump apparently never got and as a result all must pay. Ditto Stephen Miller.

Wow, no comments at all? Thank you for a shining a light of humanity and hope in the darkness (we are perhaps becoming inured to?). I am so grateful for what these people in San Diego have done, and as a participant in the Austin Sanctuary Network, I am going to find out if we can also write letters to asylum refugees being detained in Texas.