'Immigrant Lives Matter' - giant sign for Pope at US/Mexico border

The group 'Border Network for Human Rights', which assists undocumented immigrants travelling between Mexico and the US, has hung a message addressed to Pope Francis, who is visiting Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, a week from now. In huge letters the words read, "Immigrant Lives Matter" and the message can be read from both sides of the border.

"I think the Holy Father is daring and methodically applying pressure upon politicians to reform the immigration policy" says the group's director, Fernando Garcia; "the fact that he decided to come to the border is not a coincidence". "The head of the Catholic Church knows that we have a border, where there is abuse, desolation for migrants" he added; "I think the message that he brings us is not only a message of hope, but also highlights the treatment of immigrants in this country".

The Border Network for Human Rights, based in El Paso (United States), founded in 1998, is one of the main groups that defend human rights and global immigration reform in the region. It has more than 7,000 members in West Texas and the southern part of New Mexico. The Pope's Mass is scheduled at 4pm on 17 February in El Punto, a large field in this area, on the Mexican side, a few meters from the border with the United States. According to forecasts, about 250,000 people are expected. The "sign" created by this group is so big that it can be seen hundreds of meters from the border.

Source: Fides