From Friday, Nov. 8, to Monday, Nov. 11, a group of 12 Cubs and three chaperones traveled to Mexicali, Mexico, to serve migrants at the Cobina Posada del Migrante shelter as they awaited their asylum appointments.

Upon arriving in Mexico, the group walked 15 minutes to the shelter to begin their work. They first split into small groups to meet with some of the migrants and hear their stories. This deeply impacted many of the Cubs, offering them an opportunity to understand life outside of the United States. Carson Kuritani ‘26 reflected, “The couple that my group talked to had been waiting over nine months to try and get just one asylum appointment.”

The group then began cleaning a series of storage rooms and hallways that had been untouched for over two years. Connor Von Der Ahe ‘25 shared, “The people at the shelter said that it had been a pain in their side forever. All the other volunteer groups had said it was too much of a task. We decided that we would be the group to do it.” Over six hours, the boys worked tirelessly to clear items such as paint buckets, old pipes, metal scraps, and wood planks.

After their work, the group explored the town of Mexicali. They visited La Chinesca, the city’s vibrant Chinatown, known for its unique history and underground establishments. A tour of a basement casino revealed its historical ties to notable figures like Al Capone.

The next day, the Cubs returned to the shelter to complete their cleaning and sweep the spaces clean. They then served breakfast to the migrants before engaging in a final group conversation. Following this, they attended mass at the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and explored a lively street festival filled with street vendors and live music.

On their final day, the group woke up before dawn to make the journey back across the border and to school. “It was an absolutely unforgettable trip,” concluded Von Der Ahe.