There are a few spots left on our border tour of the Rio Grande Valley in late April. These trips provide invaluable looks at enforcement efforts and the immigration issue more broadly.
 
At the southernmost tip of Texas, the Valley is a semi-tropical flood plain that sits on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, flanked by the Gulf of Mexico to the east and Mexico to the south and west. It is an area rich in intrigue. With a long history of smuggling, the region is now the epicenter for illegal crossings, creating upheaval throughout the region and beyond. We will see the struggles of securing this part of the border firsthand as we get many perspectives on the issue.
 
Led by Pulitzer-prize-winning author Jerry Kammer, who has organized nine previous Center tours spanning nearly the entire southwest border and part of our northern border with Canada, we will explore the region from Roma to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way we will visit with Border Patrol, local law enforcement, farmers, residents, politicians, and activists.
 
We will learn about the current crisis in the context of the region’s history and culture. We will also see the varied geography of the Valley, including the rich farmland, the many small peninsulas that jut into Mexico and shape maps of the borderlands like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, and the beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.
 
Space is limited. For more information on the tour, please contact John Wahala at [email protected]