US/Mexico Borderlands Delegation
Rev. Dr. Tracy L. Hughes of Mountain View United Church in Aurora, CO is leading a delegation to the US/Mexico borderlands this Fall. To apply, please click here. The application deadline is September 15th, 2026. To learn more about this opportunity, please keep reading or visit cpt.org/delegations/borderlands
Despite a more than 90% drop in the number of migrant apprehensions at the border since President Donald Trump took office, people continue to try to reach the United States through ever-more dangerous routes. Increased border security pushes migrants to cross through more remote and risky areas of the desert. The remains of 154 migrants were found in the Arizona desert in 2024 with 40 more in the first 5 months of 2025.
Come, witness firsthand the impact of immigration enforcement in the US/Mexico borderlands where foreign policy masquerades as domestic, and where life and death decisions are imposed upon our migrant neighbors, placing them in vulnerable and volatile situations. Journey through this gauntlet of the Sonoran Desert, part of the lethal continuum that our migrant siblings traverse to reach the fields, factories and detention centers of the USA. Come to observe, query, discern, contribute, learn and take home the story of human struggle and hope.
Delegation participants will visit with people on both sides of the border who are concerned about migrant justice. Learning experiences may include visits to migrant shelters, cooperatives, and humanitarian workers in several border towns, meeting with Border Patrol officers, participating in a weekly vigil to remember people who have died in the desert, walking a migrant trail, and a possible day trip to the sacred Apache land of Oak Flat.
Delegation date: October 31 – November 10
Cost: USD $1,200.
Application deadline: September 15, 2026
The delegation begins and ends in Tucson, Arizona.
Delegates must carry a valid passport and be able to travel back and forth across the US/Mexico border multiple times. The $1200 delegation contribution covers all on-the-ground travel, simple accommodations, two to three meals a day, honorariums, and other delegation costs. It does not include travel to the delegation site, health insurance, or applicable visa fees.
Visa Requirement: Before applying for the delegation, please check if you need a visa or a pre-approved electronic travel authorization. Make sure to confirm the length of time required to apply for a visa and all requirements with the concerned embassy or consulate in your country, or the government’s website.
Ready to apply? Go to cpt.org/delegations/apply