To bear witness is to honor each journey with dignity and compassion!

Holding the Line of Compassion

Greetings,

Have you heard President Gerald Ford's quote: "We came from many roots, and we have many branches?"Growing up, my Nana constantly reiterated this at family Christmases, reunions, and anytime I got frustrated. Nana loved to think that strength came from where and how we grew. She believed our roots push us towards resilience, allowing us to bloom in spite of murky situations, much like a lotus flower.

It likely does not take much to visualize the dim challenges you endured to find beauty on the other side. The poem “You Are a Lotus Flower” is a powerful reminder of those deep roots within us all; but beyond personal reflection, it also serves as a poignant call to remember the ongoing hardships our migrant neighbors endure. As members of a shared human community, we are called to lovingly bear witness to their struggles, to see their dignity, and to stand alongside them in solidarity.

The poem “You Are a Lotus Flower” by Diana C. (Source: Medium's Writers’ Blokke).

This month, that metaphor came to life on the Forum’s Students of Welcome Border Immersion Trip, a transformative experience that rooted students and university staff from four partner colleges at our southern border. As someone fortunate enough to attend, being rooted at the southern border has forever illustrated that the border is alive, with humanity at its core.

Students, professors, and NIF staff participating in the Students of Welcome Border Immersion Trip in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. (Source: National Immigration Forum).

Proximity to the border emphasized that maintaining compassion for our migrant neighbors and achieving national security are not mutually exclusive. Border communities did not vilify one another as citizens or non-citizens, CBP agents or politicians. Regardless of national politics, they bore witness to one another as human beings woven into the same community.

I will never forget the playful afternoon when I got to have a spirited sword fight with a three-year-old boy who migrated from southern Mexico. While boisterously laughing, I caught a glimpse of a Colombian father nearby sharing an apple with one of my friends, eventually stating, “What a beautiful thing it is to share.” That gesture, simple yet profound, reaffirmed that we share intertwined roots that overcome adversity, akin to the lotus.

The Students of Welcome border immersion trip offers a glimpse into a system where empathy encompasses everyone bearing witness to the complex mosaic of humanity. Immigrants have already been uprooted from their homes and overcome perils—the least we can do is listen and bear witness. But, when we do tell their stories, we must do so with care because the way we bear witnesses shapes what grows next.

This same theme of bearing witness also emerged in our recent Security & a Strong Economy webinar, where experts highlighted how advocating for a dignified immigration system—including accessible legal pathways and work visas—strengthens national security. The Council on National Security and Immigration’s (CNSI) policy paper similarly notes that a secure and thriving economy requires a robust workforce that integrates immigrants.

Thus, when we bear witness with dignity and advocate for policies grounded in pragmatism, we can simultaneously honor our shared humanity, strengthen our economy, and improve our national security. So, the next time you hear a story about an immigrant, I invite you to pause, listen, and bear witness as someone who can empathize with the pain of the lotus’ roots. Together we can bloom. Please join us in advocating for a fair and just immigration system that strengthens our great nation.

Stay committed and hopeful,

Chloe

Chloe Wilhelm
Field and Constituencies & Policy Intern
National Immigration Forum

P.S. The complete Security and… series is now posted on the Forum's website with full webinar videos and additional informational materials. Thank you again for joining us!

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