Quixote Center recognizes migration as a fundamental human right that also benefits the communities that receive them. Beyond their economic contribution, the integration of people from all over the world enriches the cultural diversity and strengthens the social fabric of the United States, a nation built by migrants for migrants. 

The Quixote Center’s principal international partnership is with the Franciscan Network for Migrants (FNM). The Franciscan Network for Migrants is an effort to connect shelters run by Franciscan orders which provide humanitarian assistance to migrants who are traveling through Mexico, Central and South America. We serve as the fiscal sponsor for the Franciscan Network for Migrants within the United States, and coordinate advocacy efforts with their staff.  

Quixote Center and FNM organize Solidarity Trips every six months since 2022 as part of our advocacy, bringing U.S. based migrant justice professionals to Southern Mexico and Panama to see firsthand how the U.S. border externalization policies impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of people trying to seek refuge in the United States. 

Find out more about our Solidarity Travel Program .

As a result of our 2024 Solidarity Trip to Panama, we are currently working with the FNM Panama team on a Training of Trainers program to equip volunteers to provide spiritual accompaniment and observe that the human rights of migrants are respected in the Darien where FNM has established a permanent presence in the community of Bajo Chiquito.

Statements

Read January 21st, 2025 Joint Statement with our partners at the Franciscan Network on Migration  

Read November 22nd, 2024 statement from the Franciscan Network on Migration's National Assembly in Mexico .  

Reports

Participants from the March 2024 trip wrote the report:  to denounce US efforts to further externalize US border to Panama.  

  

 

History of the Program

The Quixote Center launched the Migrant Justice program in 2018 to demand justice for migrants at the US border, within the United States and throughout their journey. We worked to end immigrant detention, and defended the right to asylum, which has been eroded over the last several years. We also partnered with organizations who work with migrants in the United States and in Latin America, organizing webinars and publishing reports. 

In 2022 we launched a solidarity travel program that brings advocates from the United States to visit with shelters and meal programs serving migrant populations in southern Mexico and in Panama. These trips take place every six months and allow migrant justice professionals to witness the migratory path, meet with human rights defenders and the people migrating north or being deported south because of US border externalization policies. 

Location of Shelters in the Franciscan Network on Migration

From the Texas Tribune: "Honduran migrants following the caravan continue on despite Donald Trump’s threats"

The following was by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

Honduran migrants following the caravan continue on despite Donald Trump’s threats

Daily Dispatch 11/2/18

November 2, 2018

Top Stories:

What to make of Trump’s claim that he will allow US troops fire on migrants throwing rocks: The Pentagon that troops will follow standard rules, working in support of CBP officers, who are “absolutely the primary and principal member that will be handling, specifically, the migrants.”

UPDATE: Department of Defense says it's sending 5,200 troops to U.S.-Mexico border

The following was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

Department of Defense says it's sending 5,200 troops to U.S.-Mexico border

Sessions calls recitation of Scripture an "attack," touts new Religious Liberty Task Force

The state of our union continues to deteriorate. Today, just as the United Methodist General Board released a opposing military deployments to the southern border, a United Methodist minister and a Baptist minister were ejected from a Boston event on (ironically) religious freedom featuring Attorney General Jeff Sessions.  

After reciting Matthew 25:42-43, the minister was met with boos and shouts of “GO HOME!”

Daily Dispatch 10/29/18

A sampling of today’s headlines on immigration, race, and related stories.

October 29, 2018

 

Top Story:

Defense Department to hold briefing today at 4pm (per Sarah Sanders in today’s WH briefing). Live coverage should be available on when the event begins.

Daily Dispatch 10/26/18

A sampling of today’s headlines on immigration, race, and related stories.

October 26, 2018

 

In lieu of our usual Daily Dispatch, we are republishing the following article from the Texas Tribune on Trump's plans to militarize the border.

 

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