John,

Let me introduce myself. My name is Chloe, and I’m a current intern with the Forum and a 2024-2025 Students of Welcome leader at Malone University. The Students of Welcome program is a national, student-led initiative that equips Christian college students like me to explore immigration through our values.

Last month, I had the opportunity to go with the group on a border immersion trip to El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. I traveled with students and university staff from four partner colleges, and being rooted at the southern border has forever illustrated to me that the border is more than statistics and intimidating headlines; it’s a place with humanity at its core.

Please consider making a generous donation to the National Immigration Forum, so more Students of Welcome like me can have these life-altering opportunities to experience the realities of immigration in our nation!

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, 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.

The Students of Welcome border immersion trip offered me a glimpse into a system where empathy encompasses everyone bearing witness to the complex challenges we are facing. Immigrants have already been uprooted from their homes and overcome unimaginable perils—the least we can do is listen and learn with open hearts. And when we do tell their stories, we must do so with care.

My fellow student leaders and I returned from the border to our home communities with a fresh perspective, and a renewed dedication to share what we learned with others on our campuses and hopefully inspire other students to join our program.

None of this would have been possible without the support of donors like you, John.

We are poised to expand Students of Welcome to four additional campuses this year. Your contribution today can ensure the growth of this program.

Thank you for your support,

Chloe

2024-2025 Students of Welcome Leader
Field and Constituencies & Policy Intern
National Immigration Forum