CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It was an emotional trip to the United States-Mexico border for Rabbi Victor Urecki.
The rabbi at the B’Nai Jacob Synagogue in Charleston joined the Jewish Council of Public Affairs, a national community relations network, for a fact-finding trip to the border.
The group traveled to the Tuscon, Arizona/Nogales, Mexico and Urecki talked about his experiences on a recent episode of Metronews ‘Talkline.’
“I walked away heartbroken,” he said. “I walked away angry and frustrated. I had conversations with these people and these people were my parents. I cried constantly during this trip. We need to have a thoughtful approach.”
Urecki and the group wanted to be compassionate and find out why people seek the United States’ shores. He said he found out that more and more people are leaving their countries out of desperation.
“What we are seeing rampant human rights violations in Central and South America,” Urecki said. “We are seeing failing states. We are seeing because of our trade agreements, that has led to a decline in farming. Climate change has destroyed livelihoods and we have corporate governments.
“They have no chance, they are trying to find safety and refuge.”
He said he spoke with people trying to get into the United States from countries such as Cuba, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Venezuela.
“The border should be looked upon for those that are seeking freedom and opportunity, it should be a beacon of light,” he said. “For those seeking harm to our country, that should be a place the people are scared of. What we have created a situation on our southern border, is that people are seeing the opportunity but having that door shut.”
Urecki understood that the border is a complicated situation and said it did not start with the current national administration but during the 1990s.
He believes the three issues needed to be figured out at the border is the stabilization of countries in Central and South Americas, figuring out how climate change has affected the economy in those countries and approach the border with compassion and not militarization.
“Immigration is being looked at immigration as a criminal act,” Urecki said. “What we need to do is have a thoughtful process for those that are coming in legitimately, for safety. What’re our numbers? What as a country would we be allowed to accept?”
Urecki said the United States has over 7 million low paying jobs open that these immigrants would and could fill to support their families and escape their countries harm.