From her work at the border, Sister Eileen McKenzie on asylum, detention, and changing the immigrant narrative

After a drive up from the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, Sister Eileen McKenzie stopped in studio to talk about immigration and her work with those that have really gone from fleeing violence south of the US border to now being detained or deported from the U.S. She was in La Crosse ahead of Wednesday’s Coulee Region Immigration Summit — the third year of the event, hosted by the Coulee Region Immigration Task Force. The summit is already at capacity with a waiting list, so we tried to cover as much as possible on immigration issues during the show. That included asylum seekers and the risks of being picked up by ICE, detained, or deported. Sister McKenzie serves with the Kino Border Initiative through the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Nogales, a city that spans both the U.S. and Mexico. She stressed the importance of changing the narrative about immigrants and shared what many are facing now — hiding in their homes in fear of ICE, enduring poor conditions in detention centers, and trying to build a life amid uncertainty. As a sidebar, the Franciscan Spirituality Center is celebrating its 40th anniversary at 5 p.m. Monday. La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey will declare Sept. 22 “Franciscan Spirituality Center Day” in recognition of its impact on the community’s spiritual and emotional wellbeing. To RSVP call 608-791-5295 or click HERE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.