As we celebrated the dead on El Dia de Los Muertos, we also celebrated impermanence—never knowing if this’ll be our last dance. We started the day at Chicano Park and made our way to Terrace Park Cemetery in Holtville to honor the 10,000+ refugees who died crossing the desert. There are more than 500 graves at this location, marked by numbered bricks. They read “Jane Doe” and “John Doe.” Some graves belong to children. We had a ceremony and released butterflies. And like butterflies who know no borders, we crossed over to Mexico and visited migrant shelters, brought donations, and celebrated life with our asylum-seeking family. No refugee should have to risk death trying to reach safety.
This year, we’ve raised more than $25,000 for the shelters that host asylum seekers in Tijuana and Mexicali, waiting to be processed by immigration authorities. Please help us continue our efforts to help them live in a safe environment where basic necessities are provided.
