Israel Eguaogie

Israel Eguaogie was 17 when he left Nigeria and relocated to Germany as an asylum seeker. A decade later he moved to Dublin and soon after that, shifted north to Belfast. It was a decision that horrified his mother back in Nigeria, who had heard news reports of the sectarian violence in the country. But Israel said that he experienced the calm and the peace of Northern Ireland and recalled it was the first place since living in Germany, where someone said hello to him first. Continue reading Israel Eguaogie

johnnoltnerJanuary 15, 2026Leave a comment

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American stories

Last week I spent a few days in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens, New York. I’ve been frustrated with the angry rhetoric about immigration and immigrants in the political cycle. There is no doubt that we have a broken system in our country. I’ve seen first-hand the humanitarian crisis at our southern border and there are people smarter than me who have not yet … Continue reading American stories

johnnoltnerOctober 26, 20241 Comment

Podcast

Francisco Martin

Francisco Olachea “Pancho” Martin is a street nurse in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico and works with Voices from the Border to support migrants waiting for their asylum hearings. “One of our goals is that they have human dignity. Not to let them lose their hope.” Migrants “We try to change the moment, we’re not trying to change their life just the moment. And we hope that … Continue reading Francisco Martin

johnnoltnerOctober 28, 2021December 22, 20211 Comment

Podcast

What now?

As I watch the tragic events unfold in Afghanistan, and listen to the debate about who needs to get out of the country, and how and when, I am reminded of an interview I did in Dallas several years ago with Humam Taha. Humam graduated from the University of Mosul, where he studied to be a translator. After the United States invaded Iraq, Humam joined … Continue reading What now?

johnnoltnerAugust 27, 2021December 22, 2021Leave a comment

Podcast

Sebastian Quinac

Sebastian Quinac immigrated from Guatemala in his 20s to flee the civil war and threats to his life. After time in California and New York, he settled in Tucson, Arizona where he has lived for the past two decades. He is now a U.S. citizen and works with the Guatemalan consulate to help migrant families navigate the American immigration system. “One of my friends is … Continue reading Sebastian Quinac

johnnoltnerFebruary 24, 2021December 22, 2021Leave a comment

Podcast

Juanita Molina

Juanita Molina is the Executive Director for Border Action Network in Tucson, Arizona. Throughout her career she has advocated for LGBTQ communities and offered support to people with HIV/AIDS, those with terminal cancer and others facing domestic abuse and sexual assault. Her current role allows her to work for the rights of immigrants and while she often is responsible for holding immigration enforcement agencies and … Continue reading Juanita Molina

johnnoltnerFebruary 20, 2021December 22, 20212 Comments

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Josseline

We left before the sun came up to meet Alvaro. It had snowed the night before and the roads were slow and icy. “Meet us in Amado,” he said. “By the big cow horns…you’ll see.” Alvaro Enciso is a 75-year old Colombian immigrant. He is an artist. He builds crosses and installs them in the Sonoran Desert where migrants have died trying to make the … Continue reading Josseline

johnnoltnerFebruary 9, 2021December 22, 20214 Comments

Podcast

Teresa Reyes

Teresa Reyes was born in El Salvador and came to the United States in 1999 when she was 17 years old, nine months pregnant and spoke only Spanish. As she established herself in her new home, she packed lettuce in farm fields, worked in slaughterhouses and taught herself English. She eventually put herself through college and now works as an environmental scientist. We talked about … Continue reading Teresa Reyes

johnnoltnerFebruary 6, 2021December 22, 2021Leave a comment

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A simple question

Last week we set up a studio at a plaza in Nogales, Arizona, about a block away from the border wall. We asked people, “How has the wall impacted you?” The first person to stop by was Claudia. She was from Mexico, but had her U.S. residency and lived and worked in Nogales, Arizona. She had married Emanuel three years ago and his immigration process … Continue reading A simple question

johnnoltnerFebruary 2, 2021December 22, 20212 Comments

Podcast

Tony Sedgwick

Tony Sedgwick is the President of the Board for the Santa Fe Ranch Foundation, a working cattle ranch near Nogales, Arizona and just a few miles north of the U.S. border with Mexico. With a background in international business law, Tony offers a sweeping view of history and economics of the borderlands and sees a need to shift our international policies away from fear and … Continue reading Tony Sedgwick

johnnoltnerJanuary 27, 2021December 22, 20211 Comment

A Peace of My Mind

Building community and bridging divides through portraits and personal stories.

Tag: immigration

Israel Eguaogie

American stories

Francisco Martin

What now?

Sebastian Quinac

Josseline

A simple question