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Remembering Italia Karina Bernay Meza
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It is with a heavy heart that we introduce Italia Karina Bernay Meza, the youngest of our Volviendo a Casa Program. Italia was a 17-year old student who tragically took her life after facing relentless bullying at Point Loma High School. Italia’s story is a painful reminder of the deep scars that xenophobia and bullying can leave, even in our perceived diverse and accepting community.
Italia, who had recently come to San Diego to graduate high school and learn English, was filled with hope for the future. Her father had just worked to fix her immigration status, and she had dreams of becoming a model and actress. But these dreams were overshadowed by cruelty—bullying because of her accent, a part of her identity that should have been celebrated, not mocked.
Her family’s pain is unimaginable. They are now returning her body to Tijuana, Mexico, to reunite her with her mother, who is undocumented and could not be with her in her final moments. Italia deserved better. She deserved to be supported, loved, and encouraged to chase her dreams without fear of ridicule or discrimination. We must stand against the hatred that breeds xenophobia and bullying. We must support mental health and remind each other that no one should ever feel alone, or that there is no way out.
Italia Karina Bernay Meza, May she rest in peace.
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Familias Reunidas Bond Fund
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Meet our latest recipient, Cornelio
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We are honored to introduce Cornelio, the latest recipient of our Familias Reunidas bond fund. Cornelio is a 50-year-old Mexican asylum seeker who endured an unimaginable 18 months inside the Otay Mesa Detention Center.
Cornelio fled Mexico after being kidnapped and tortured, seeking safety under the “Convention Against Torture” (CAT) due to the traumatic abuse he suffered. Due to the severity of his mental health conditions, which resulted from this trauma, the immigration court ruled that Cornelio was mentally incompetent to represent himself. He was appointed free legal representation under the Franco settlement. His only support in the U.S. is his fiancée, who is herself disabled and struggles to work.
Because of the sensitive nature of his case, we have changed his name, as we do with all bond recipients, and have decided not to share his photo. Cornelio’s story is one of the most heartbreaking examples of our broken immigration system. After everything he has endured, it is deeply disturbing that he spent a year and a half in detention.
Thanks to your generosity and support, Cornelio is now free and reunited with his fiancée. Your contribution has made a profound difference in his life. Thank you for helping us bring him home.
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Giving a hand to the working hands
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We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated volunteers and board members whose unwavering support made our Day Laborer Outreach event a meaningful success. Together, we visited Home Depot to provide food, essential supplies, and much-needed support to laborers who are often marginalized, facing discrimination, wage theft, and aggression. In the spirit of gratitude, we came together to offer kindness and solidarity to this vulnerable community. Your compassion and commitment are truly inspiring.
Special shoutout to the amazing volunteers who made it all possible:
* To the volunteer who brought homemade tamales (and had her daughter help—teaching the next generation the importance of giving back and showing kindness).
* To the Haitian family who not only cooked delicious food but also shared their language and culture, helping us connect with the growing Haitian community and establish our organization as a resource.
* To everyone who couldn’t join us in person but supported through donations of hygiene kits, neon work shirts, hats, and more from our wish list. Your generosity means the world to us.
Amid a political climate marked by growing threats to migrant communities, it is events like these that remind us of the resilience and power of community. Despite the challenges, we find strength in coming together to protect, uplift, and support one another—ensuring that all are treated with dignity and respect.
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The return of Noah and the glasses
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This past month, as part of our Caravan of Love, we had the privilege of visiting a Haitian encampment with about 40-50 people. The camp was primarily made up of adults, with only a few children, so we also made our way to another housing area in El Centro, where we found more families and kids. We were able to share clothes, toys, food, and a little bit of hope with everyone we met. We want to thank all of the volunteers who joined us and Lia, who provided a large portion of the donations we distributed.
One of the highlights of the day was having Noah, a recurring volunteer, join us to conduct eye tests and provide prescription glasses. Before he left, Noah entrusted his equipment to Luis from our partner organization, Psicológos Sin Fronteras, and together, we hope to bring this vital service to future caravans, helping even more people see the world more clearly.
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Jamie Brown Studio - Gitano Americano
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The man behind our favorite portraits
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A huge shoutout to Jamie Brown for generously providing professional headshots of our staff, completely pro bono! Jamie's talent and expertise truly shine through in every shot, capturing the essence of each individual. If you’re looking for top-notch photography that blends professionalism with creativity, we highly recommend supporting his business. Jamie's work speaks for itself — check him out through the button below and give him the support he truly deserves!
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Thank you to the San Diego Symphony
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We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended the debut of our new documentary short, "Love Has No Borders". We are deeply grateful to the San Diego Symphony for providing this incredible opportunity as part of their “Currents” series. It was an honor to share the evening with the creators and artists of “Tres Minutos” a poignant opera that tells the story of a brother and sister separated by borders and immigration status, with only three minutes to be reunited. We were moved to witness this powerful narrative unfold, especially as Border Angels played a role in the “Door of Hope” event, where families had the chance to reunite across the border. It was truly a night that blended artistry and activism in a meaningful way.
If you missed out on this event, don’t worry! The official premiere of “Love Has No Borders,” the Border Angels documentary, will premiere at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park on February 7th.
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Join the Water Drop and Caravan of Love
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We have exciting news: After a few months of being closed to new volunteers due to our director undergoing a medical emergency and our team working hard to scout new routes, we're thrilled to announce that our January Water Drop is now open for new volunteers!
This volunteer event will take place on Saturday, January 11th. Join us as we drop off water and other life-saving items in the desert.
More details about the event will be provided once you are selected to join. This event is on a first-come, first-serve basis as we limit our events based on the need for the drops. Filling out this form does not guarantee a spot.
We hope to see you there!❤️💧
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We are hosting our Toy Drive and Holiday Caravan of Love Saturday, December 21st and visit Tijuana shelters to deliver donations! We are looking for toy and essential living items and volunteers to join our Caravan.
Requirements to participate:
Passport/SENTRI/Appropriate travel documents
Donations for shelter
Reliable transportation to drive into Tijuana and deliver donations
Signed volunteer waiver.
You can sign up through the link below. Volunteer spots are limited and on a first come first served basis. For any questions regarding this event please contact us at [email protected]
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Schedule a Donation Drop-Off
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Due to limited storage space we will be receiving physical donations by appointment only. We do not accept used clothing donations. Appointments are available Monday-Friday from 9AM to 3PM.
Call us or email us to schedule today at 619-487-0240 or [email protected]
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Fall into the season of giving
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Donate your car to help our mission of love
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Donate your car to Border Angels just in time for tax season! We’ll use the proceeds raised from your donation to help save lives in the desert, free loved ones from a detention center, and to support our migrant families in Tijuana.
Our trusted vehicle donation program makes it easy with free pick-up and takes great care in finding the right buyer to get top dollar for it. Plus, we’ll handle all the paperwork, too! Whether your vehicle sells for $500 or less, more than $500, or more than $5000, you will be provided with the proper paperwork and tax receipts for your donation.
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Governor Newsom comes to San Diego, announces new border crossing update
Governor Gavin Newsom visited San Diego Thursday afternoon and outlined plans for a new border crossing. He also addressed potential impacts of the incoming Trump administration's policies during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Speaking about two miles east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, Newsom announced that a design contract for the new Otay Mesa East Port of Entry will be formalized by the end of December. "That will allow us to move forward in January on the multi-year project that we hope to complete by December of 2027," Newsom said.
The governor emphasized the economic importance of the new crossing and local leaders agree, saying the region loses about $2 billion annually in economic output due to border wait times.
Read Full Article
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Giving Tuesday: A mission of hope on the border
The border between the United States and Mexico not only divides territories; It is also a scene of challenges, where the dreams of many stop and lives are in danger. However, in the midst of this reality, there are organizations like Border Angels that work tirelessly to offer hope and support to migrants.
Jesús González, executive director of Border Angels, shared a story that reflects the organization's mission. “A man came to see me to seek help finding a job. Although he went through so much and suffered so much on his journey, he is glad to be here. “That fills me with hope,” he commented.
With almost four decades of experience, Border Angels is a non-profit organization that defends the rights of migrants and provides them with humanitarian support.
Read Full Article
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We have everything from t-shirts, to totes, to water bottles! All merchandise purchases go towards our programs and life-saving work.
Visit our online shop here.
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Make a difference and donate today!
Visit our website: www.borderangels.org
Please make checks payable to:
Border Angels
2258 Island Ave
San Diego, CA 92102
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