The Jesuit Border Podcast

The Jesuit Post

Brian Strassburger, SJ, and Juan Ruiz, SJ, are two Jesuits with Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries based in the diocese of Brownsville, TX, and working along the U.S.-Mexico Border. This podcast will share on-the-ground stories and interviews that highlight the tremendous response to the migrant situation from a Catholic perspective.

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S11 · E5
Tuesday · 57 min
S11E5: “Advocacy on Capitol Hill” with Fr. Chris Kellerman, S.J., Secretary of Justice and Ecology for the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States
We are thrilled to welcome Fr. Chris Kellerman, S.J., Secretary of Justice and Ecology for the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, which engages in government relations and federal advocacy for the Jesuits. The United States just had the biggest congressional election landslide in 50 years, so Chris will talk about what that means in Washington DC. He will cover some legitimate policy proposals where we could see Congress push for immigration reform around areas like DACA and TPS. Chris will also give some concrete advice on the most helpful (and not so helpful) ways to engage in advocacy around issues that matter to you. He has some great pointers to offer. Brian and Juan share stories about Lorena, a Honduran woman living in a shelter in Reynosa. Juan talks about the day she taught him to make tortillas, from kneading the dough to rolling them out and flipping them on the hot grill. The women in the kitchen gave him a compliment he never expected. Brian shares a more troubling story about what happened when Lorena’s husband attempted to enter the U.S. undocumented. It is an alarming account that could point to corruption in Border Patrol, so Brian immediately sought out ways to advocate and report the incident for investigation.
S11 · E4
November 3 · 47 min
S11E4: “The Call to be Good Samaritans” with Brian Concannon, Executive Director of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti
We are excited to welcome Brian Concannon, the Executive Director of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH). He lived and worked in Haiti from 1995 to 2004 and then returned to the U.S. to found IJDH. He provides a helpful historical framework for Haiti, which is particularly relevant given the Supreme Court ruling at the end of June that allowed the administration to end Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for 350,000 Haitians living in the U.S. That ruling is having a devastating impact on the Haitian community. Brian shares the story of Pierre Damas Bel’s tragic death. You don’t want to miss it. Brian and Juan share stories that reflect the call of the Gospel for us to imitate the Good Samaritan. Juan shares the story of Enriquez, a young man from Reynosa who lived in the deep south of the U.S. for most of his life until he was detained and deported. Juan was most struck by the questions that guide how Enriquez responds to the difficulties of his life. Brian talks about a recent reunion with Genese and Jean Philippe and their two-year-old daughter. Brian met the Haitian couple in 2024 when Genese was pregnant and they were in a shelter in Mexico. After Genese legally entered the U.S., she needed help and support. Brian found just the group to respond like true Good Samaritans. Link: Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti
S11 · E3
October 27 · 40 min
S11E3: “Your Life Matters” with Lulú Gonzalez from Casa Clínica Lulú in Reynosa, Mexico
We are delighted to welcome Lulú Gonzalez from Casa Clínica Lulú in Reynosa, Mexico, which she founded in 2017. Casa Clínica is a migrant shelter, soup kitchen, and medical clinic. She shares some of the extreme cases she has faced over the years, like a Haitian man with his stomach split open and a stroke victim deported to Mexico, only to discover he was a U.S. citizen. Regardless of the case, Lulú always puts the care of the person first. Juan and Brian share stories about how our ministry tries to communicate to people this fundamental message: your life matters. Brian talks about Daniel, who has been stuck on the border for years, and now finds himself as one of just three migrants in a shelter that used to hold hundreds. What do visits look like now? Juan talks about how the tamest version of “pass the soccer ball” helped endear him to a sweet little girl in Reynosa. The next time Juan saw her, her tender act instantly melted his heart. Link: Casa Clínica Lulú
S11 · E2
October 20 · 47 min
S11E2: “Vital Information” with Savi Arvey from Human Rights First
We are excited to welcome Savi Arvey, the Director of Policy for Refugee and Immigrant Rights at Human Rights First. Savi runs the flight monitor for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) flights. In this episode, she pulls back the curtain of ICE Air, a massive operation of the government to contract private airline companies to move and deport migrants. She talks about forced third country transfers, and if you do not know what that is, you are going to want to know. It is shocking that our country is doing this to people, and by the thousands. Juan and Brian share stories that reveal the importance of vital information. Brian talks about a recent encounter with Susana, a Honduran woman who thought she was falsely deported because she is married to a U.S. citizen. Unfortunately, she was missing some vital information. Juan recounts his dramatic encounter with Mexican police as he helped to translate for Rhonda, a migrant from Zimbabwe. Rhonda and her daughters had been kidnapped, and it was vital information that got to her aunt in the U.S. that helped save their lives. Link: Human Rights First Link: Third Country Deportation Watch
S11 · E1
October 13 · 45 min
S11E1: “Our Faith Will Lead Us” with Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley
We are very excited to welcome Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ, the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. She talks about the important work of Catholic Charities accompanying families that have been separated by immigration enforcement. She also shares the harrowing story of Sr. Letty, a Catholic nun who was picked up by ICE on her way to church this summer. It is crazy to hear all the efforts from Sr. Norma as soon as she got that urgent phone call telling her: “Sr. Letty has just been handcuffed and taken away!” Juan and Brian share examples of people who allow their faith to lead them. Juan tells the story of Alexa, a woman from Venezuela who lost her newborn daughter just a month after birth. Now a new family tragedy back in Venezuela has her feeling distant and powerless. Where can she turn for support? Brian shares the story Marcos and Elvia, along with their two adult children and 3-year-old granddaughter Ada. After Ada’s father was murdered, the family fled Honduras. When Brian found out they were visiting a local soup kitchen on Saturdays, he was not surprised. But when Elvia explained why, he was totally stunned. Link: Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley
October 6 · 19 min
S11 Opener: What we learn at Mass in migrant shelters and ICE detention centers
We are excited to launch Season 11 of The Jesuit Border Podcast. In this opener, we welcome this season’s co-host, Juan Ruiz, SJ, a Jesuit priest who is spending a month with Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries. Juan shares some of his initial impressions of the ministry, especially the dynamic at Mass in migrant shelters and how it encourages active participation. How will kids respond if a microphone is handed to them mid-Mass? Brian talks about his ministry at ICE detention centers. He started wondering why most of the people who he sees in the detention centers are wearing blue uniforms. Turns out it really sheds light on the profile of who is being detained around the country right now. Tune in to today’s season opener to hear these stories and more about the reality on the border and around the country.
July 28 · 49 min
BONUS EPISODE: “Let the Children Come to Me: Encounters of Resilience and Joy” with Ian Peoples, SJ, and Justin Kelley, SJ
In this bonus episode, we welcome two Jesuit scholastics who are in formation for the priesthood, Ian Peoples, SJ, and Justin Kelley, SJ. They are both studying theology at Boston College and visited Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries this summer. Ian and Justin talk about their motivations for coming to see the border reality and their initial reactions upon arriving, especially meeting families like Angie and her son Joxan that have been on the border for as long as two years. They share some of their favorite moments, like little Zoe falling asleep on Justin’s lap during Mass and little Sofi grabbing onto Ian and not letting go (with one notable exception!). They talk about what it was like to witness the resilience of people amid the hardships of their journey and the joy that breaks through in our visits and the celebration of Mass. Brian begins the episode by providing some updates, including the recent Supreme Court rulings that are impacting migrants, like Haitians and Syrians who are losing their Temporary Protective Status (TPS). He talks about the new dynamic in immigration court of “mega master” hearings, including the story of Tania and her daughter who had to bus across the country when their court hearing was advanced by months with just days of notice. Brian also comments on the increase of ICE enforcement efforts and the fatal impact it is having, like the recent shootings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine. Enjoy this bonus episode and stay tuned for Season 11 of the podcast to launch in the Fall.
May 26 · 52 min
BONUS EPISODE: “Despedida” - Saying Farewell to co-host Joe Nolla, SJ
In this bonus episode, we are saying farewell to Joe Nolla, SJ, the co-host of The Jesuit Border Podcast for the last three years. In June, Joe is heading off to theology studies in Paris, France, to continue with his formation as a Jesuit in preparation for his ordination to the priesthood. In this episode, we bring on Eric Clayton, deputy director for communications at the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States and long-time editor of the podcast. Eric turns the questions on us, first by asking for some updates about what has happened on the border since Season 10 wrapped up in early April. Then he turns to Joe to get his reflections on his experience working on the U.S.-Mexico border for the last three years. Joe talks about the graces he has experienced, the way this ministry has shaped his formation, and the surprises he has encountered along the way. Both Brian and Joe share a range of stories, from accompanying people at rock bottom, to diaper leaks, and what it means “to be a gentleman” when you are served tuna salad. Of course, the episode wouldn’t be complete without Joe answering the question he poses to all our guests. So give the episode a listen to finally hear Joe’s own image of heaven. We send off Joe with all our love and prayers. He has been a gift to our ministry and to our community. As he ends every podcast, we now say to him: “que Dios te bendiga.” May God continue to bless him in his life and vocation.
S10 · E7
April 14 · 1 hr 3 min
S10E7: “The Death of Asylum” with Jonathan Blitzer, journalist and staff writer at The New Yorker
For our final episode of Season 10, we are excited to welcome Jonathan Blitzer, journalist and staff writer at The New Yorker. Jonathan’s 2024 book, “Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis,” was named a New York Times Top 10 Book of 2024. Jonathan talks about the origins of his interest in journalism and writing about immigration. He reflects on the spellbinding stories that drove his book and the challenges of bringing the historical arc up to the present moment. The vision for the end of the arc was recent policy choices, under both President Trump and former President Biden, that have ushered in the death of asylum for people fleeing violence and seeking safety in the United States. Joe and Brian share stories that demonstrate the all-out assault on the asylum system. Joe shares the story of Ana and her kids, who fled a terrifying situation of domestic violence and came to seek asylum in the U.S. When Trump took office in 2025, Ana had her appointment for legal entry canceled, so she continues to live in Mexico, hiding in fear. Brian shares the story of Erika, a young mom from Venezuela, who has reached the point of giving up her asylum process in the U.S. because of the campaign of fear from the administration and the horror stories of migrant detention. But as a Venezuelan national without an active passport, she is finding out just how difficult it is to exit the country and avoid the mass detention machine. Thank you for joining us for the 10th season of the podcast, and blessings as the summer approaches. We will be back with a new season in the Fall of 2026.
S10 · E6
April 7 · 39 min
S10E6: “Shifting the Narrative” with Kristin Heyer, Theology Professor at Boston College
We are delighted to welcome Kristin Heyer, who holds the Joseph Chair in Theology and is a Professor of Theological Ethics at Boston College. Kristin reflects on the current campaign of mass deportation in light of a Christian ethic. Framed by Church teaching from Vatican II to Pope Francis and Pope Leo, she critiques the intrinsic evil of mass deportation and offers a vision of a more Christian corrective to the border and immigration policy that is attentive to human dignity. As an educator, Kristin shares ways that her students have been transformed by experiences of encounter that force them to shift away from the dominant narratives of immigration. Brian and Joe share stories about shifting the narrative as well. Brian shares the story of Samantha, a 7-year-old girl from Honduras whom he first met back in the Reynosa plaza in 2021. After a couple of years in the U.S., Samantha was excelling in school and had picked up perfect English. Everything seemed to be going great until Brian got some voice messages from an unknown phone number in Honduras. Joe shares the story of celebrating a communion service with women at a local detention center. The detained women felt falsely accused by the dominant narrative as being “the worst of the worst,” when the reality is that they have no criminal convictions and have been separated from their families. Accompanying detained individuals in a religious service like this reveals the reality and shifts the narrative.
S10 · E5
March 24 · 38 min
S10E5: “Holy Sacred Moments” with Hung Nguyen, SJ, from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in San Diego
We are excited to welcome Hung Nguyen, SJ, a Jesuit priest and parochial vicar at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in San Diego. Hung is a migrant himself who came to the U.S. from Vietnam as a child. In San Diego, he has helped to lead the parish’s efforts to serve and accompany the local migrant population. During the last years of the Biden administration, the parish ran a shelter to receive migrants after their legal entry into the country. In this new era of heightened immigration enforcement, Hung has helped to coordinate a court accompaniment project with volunteers from across the diocese. Earlier this year, the parish opened the Pope Francis Center to create a welcoming space for immigrant families and help connect them with the services they need. In all these areas of migrant ministry, Hung looks for the holy sacred moments that reveal God’s grace. Joe and Brian share stories of holy sacred moments in their own ministry. Joe shares the story of a brief encounter at a detention center with a woman who felt she had distanced herself from God. She desperately needed the assurance of being seen and loved by God. Brian shares the story of a deported Mexican national who joined for Mass, but did not come up to receive communion. He sought out Fr. Flavio after Mass, and they shared a holy sacred moment of reconciliation and communion.
S10 · E4
March 17 · 35 min
S10E4: “The Church as a Field Hospital” with Bishop Cristiano Borro Barbosa from the Archdiocese of Boston
We are humbled to welcome Bishop Cristiano Borro Barbosa, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Boston. Bishop Cristiano was born in Brazil and came to the U.S. for graduate studies as a priest. He ended up joining the Archdiocese of Boston and was later ordained an auxiliary bishop. He primarily ministers to the migrant population, including the large Brazilian population in Massachusetts. Bishop Cristiano reflects on the image from Pope Francis of the Church as a field hospital that tends the wounds of people amid the challenges of life, including the current climate of fear in the immigrant communities he accompanies. Brian and Joe reflect on this image of the Church as a field hospital. Brian shares the story of Selina, a single mom from Honduras who sent her son Samuel into the United States alone as an unaccompanied minor. While Brian was upset about this decision, he realized that Selina didn’t need to be castigated; she needed someone to hold her and tend her wounds. Joe shares the story of a recent communion service at a detention center, where the spontaneous request of a detainee led to a beautiful moment of people reaching out for God’s healing touch.
S10 · E3
March 10 · 41 min
S10E3: “Putting Your Passion to Work” with Michele Pistone, professor of law at Villanova University
We are thrilled to welcome Michele Pistone, who is a professor of law at Villanova University and the director of the VIISTA online program, which trains people to serve as “accredited representatives” in immigration court without a law degree. She emphasizes the importance of legal representation for migrants and paints the startling picture of what it is like to see young children brought into immigration court and left to represent themselves. She shares stories that inspire her of people putting their passion to work, like a graduate of the VIISTA program who is helping Catholics who were persecuted in Nicaragua with their court cases. Brian and Joe recount stories from a recent trip to Houston. First, they share the details of their meeting with Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ, the superior general of the global Society of Jesus. A native of Venezuela, Fr. Sosa shares a passion for immigration and understands the complexities of border dynamics. While in Houston, the Del Camino team also met up with Lisbeth and her 20-year-old daughter for breakfast. Lisbeth ran the kitchen in a Reynosa shelter, and we greatly enjoyed the food that she would prepare. She used to make us baleadas, a popular dish from Honduras, although her daughter was quick to complain that she still hasn’t taught her how to make them yet!
S10 · E2
March 3 · 42 min
S9E2: “The Inhumanity of Mass Deportation” with Dylan Corbett from the Hope Border Institute
We are delighted to welcome Dylan Corbett, the Executive Director of the Hope Border Institute based in El Paso, TX. Dylan reflects on the cycles in U.S. history of welcoming migrants followed by intense rejection. He laments the massive funding boost to immigration enforcement and how that is fueling an expansion of immigration detention centers across the country. With the abuses committed on the streets and in detention, he emphasizes the impossibility of conducting a campaign of mass deportation humanely. Brian and Joe share stories that reflect this reality. Joe talks about visiting a center in northern Mexico that is receiving and processing deported Mexican nationals. Eric, a young man in his early 30s, had come to the U.S. as an infant. He does not speak Spanish, and has been separated from his U.S.-citizen wife and children. With no family currently in Mexico, he was at a loss for where to go or what to do now. Brian shares updates on the story of our good friend Isis from Venezuela, who was detained in April 2025 for his tattoos. The latest updates on his story shed light on the inhumanity of the process and the way that detention is key to the government’s goal of mass deportations.
S10 · E1
February 24 · 43 min
S10E1: “Faith Comes Before Fear” with Bishop Kevin Kenney of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
For our first full episode of Season 10, we are thrilled to welcome Bishop Kevin Kenney, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. In early 2026, ICE ramped up enforcement operations in the Twin Cities, which led to the killing of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. We talk with Bishop Kenney about the on-the-ground reality and the response from the Church. He talks about the source of resiliency among the people of Minnesota and the importance of the faith community staying strong and united amidst a climate of fear. Brian and Joe share examples of how faith comes before fear and how it provides comfort and hope in the face of sadness and despair. Brian shares the story of visiting an undocumented family. Alexa, a 14-year-old girl, started quoting the Beatitudes, and Brian asked her which one spoke the most to her in this moment. She gave a tragic but heartfelt response. Joe shares the story of a detained father, Mateo, who was distraught knowing that his son was preparing for heart surgery, since he could not be by his side. Amid his feelings of helplessness, he knew there was at least one thing he could do. Listen to the episode to hear the full stories.
February 17 · 32 min
S10 Opener: Looking for Light Amid the Devastating Realities of Migrant Enforcement
We are excited to launch Season 10 of The Jesuit Border Podcast. We continue to see changes along the border and throughout the country as we adjust to the realities of a brutal campaign of indiscriminate mass deportation. In this opener, we share stories from our celebration of Christmas Eve on December 24th, which highlights the devastating reality of migrant detention and deportation, and where we are finding light amid the darkness. Brian shares the story of Juliana, a middle aged woman who had lived in the U.S. for 29 years. She was picked up at immigration court and deported to Mexico, separating her from her six U.S.-born children. Joe shares the story of our Christmas celebration at the local migrant shelter, which included ten baptisms. Who would the families ask to serve as godfathers for their kids? Any guesses? After sharing these stories, we have a bonus addition to this episode. Brian’s eleven-year-old niece, Cosette Strassburger, came to visit in the fall, and she joined in the studio to interview Brian and Joe. We include her interview in this episode. Tune in to today’s season opener to hear these stories and more about the reality on the border and around the country. The first full episode of the new season will be released on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
S9 · E7
Nov 18, 2025 · 47 min
S9E7: “Becoming a Church That Listens” with Cardinal Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, NJ
For our final episode of Season 9, we are humbled to welcome Joseph Cardinal Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, NJ. Cardinal Tobin talks about growing up in a thriving Catholic parish in Detroit, MI, and later serving there as a Redemptorist priest when the parish had become increasingly ethnically diverse. He offers his sharp critiques of the campaign of mass deportation that runs counter to the Biblical call to welcome the stranger. He talks about Pope Francis, whose concern for migrants grew from listening to the needs of the Church. Cardinal Tobin participated in the conclave to elect Pope Leo, so he shares from that remarkable experience, and the efforts of all the Cardinals to listen to the Holy Spirit. Brian and Joe share stories about the importance of listening. Joe talks about a recent experience listening to Kevin and Aidéy, a migrant couple in northern Mexico going through some relationship struggles. As they live in separate shelters, they have been sending handwritten notes back and forth and reflecting on the importance of listening to one another to maintain a healthy relationship. Brian shares that story of Brianna, a young girl from Honduras, who taught him a beautiful lesson in the value of listening without presumption or judgment, but with an open heart. Her small gesture during Mass reminds us why Jesus called children among the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Thank you for joining us for this season, and blessings as we approach the end of the year. We will be back with a new season in early 2026.
S9 · E6
Nov 11, 2025 · 41 min
S9E6: “Family Separation” with Sue Weishar, immigrant advocate from New Orleans, LA
We are delighted to welcome Sue Weishar, a lifelong immigrant advocate who lives in New Orleans, LA. She is the former director of Immigration and Refugee Services at Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and a former policy and research fellow with Jesuit Social Research Institute (JSRI) at Loyola University New Orleans. Currently, she is the chair of the social justice committee at her local parish, St. Anthony of Padua. Sue talks about the positive impact of immigrants in the city of New Orleans, especially in the recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina. She shares stories of the way her parish and community have been impacted by increased immigrant enforcement, including the separation of families. Brian and Joe also share stories of families who are separated as a result of immigration policy. Joe shares the story of Amanda, a teenage girl at a shelter in Reynosa, who he connected with over a mutual interest in the writings of JRR Tolkien (although we will let you guess which one is the bigger fan!). Amanda was with her dad and siblings in Mexico, while her mom lives in Texas: a family separated, trying to decide how to reunite. Brian shares the story of Javier, who was picked up by ICE and deported after living two decades in the U.S., leaving behind his wife and kids. Brian was impressed to hear him look for the bright side of his difficult situation. Immigrant Workers’ Critical Role in Rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina and Present Realities
S9 · E5
Nov 4, 2025 · 46 min
S9E5: “Rule of Law” with Mario Russell, Executive Director of the Center for Migration Studies
We are thrilled to welcome Mario Russell, the Executive Director of the Center for Migration Studies (CMS). CMS is a Catholic think tank devoted to the study of international migration. Mario talks about the background of the center and the research they are engaged in. He talks about his experience as a recent college graduate in the 1980s working with an immigrant community as President Regan’s amnesty program was signed into law, providing a pathway for over 3 million migrants to legalize their status. He speaks about the rule of law and the value of tempering law with compassion and mercy. Mario offers his perspective on diverse topics including climate refugees, family separation, mass deportations, and asylum reform. Brian and Joe reflect on the results of a strict adherence to the rule of law, which has contributed to the drastic increase in migrant detention in the U.S. They share the story of a recent experience celebrating Mass together at an ICE detention center in Port Isabel, TX. The experience brought one of the men to tears as he reflected on what he is grateful for in light of the Gospel of the day, in which one of the ten lepers healed by Jesus returned to give thanks.
S9 · E4
Oct 28, 2025 · 36 min
S9E4: “Change of Direction” with Sr. Nora Ruiz, S.H.Sp., from La Posada Providencia in San Benito, TX
We are delighted to welcome Sr. Nora Ruiz, who is a children’s advocate and the volunteer coordinator at the La Posada Providencia shelter in San Benito, TX. She is a Sister of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate, a vocation which she came to later in life. Sr. Nora shares the motivations for entering a religious order at 55 years old, which was a big change in direction for her life. She also talks about witnessing the change in direction of migrants, as the shelter has not been receiving north-bound migrants who have come to the U.S. this year since access to the country for asylum seekers has been eliminated. Instead, the shelter has started to accompany a few families in processes of self deportation to return to their home countries, which is a difficult decision for a family to make, and much more complicated to do than one would expect. Brian and Joe share stories from their own ministry about changes of direction. Brian talks about Karen, a single mother with two kids who had their appointment for legal entry to the U.S. canceled in January. After waiting months to see if there would be a change in border policy to create a legal pathway for them, Karen was left to make a difficult decision about what direction to take her family: separating herself from her kids or returning home. Joe shares the story of Yaquelin, a young woman from Honduras, who made a different change of direction. She was given a scholarship to attend a beauty school in Mexico, and she took advantage to expand her skill base. In fact, she was even looking for people to practice nail care on, and she found someone on our team who was willing to let her practice. Can you guess who got their first manicure? Link: Meet the businesswoman who became a nun in her 50s

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