Organizers say the nine-mile walk is roughly 20,000 steps and every three steps represents a migrant in detention.
SAN ANTONIO — Faith leaders from across the San Antonio area rallied Saturday morning, uniting for a nine‑mile solidarity walk to call for humane and fair immigration policies.
Organizers said the walk — roughly 20,000 steps — symbolizes three steps for every migrant currently held in detention.
“It’s really important for us to gather, to sing, to pray, to walk together and remind each other that we are all just human beings,” said Pastor Diane Garcia of Roca de Refugio Mennonite Church.
The walk began at the Migrant Memorial site on Quintana Road and continued to the immigration courthouse in downtown San Antonio.
Participants called for dignity, safety and compassion for all migrants, while denouncing family separations and what they describe as ongoing fear, hate and violence affecting migrant communities.
“We’ve had a number of members of our community that have been detained and deported, and I’ve seen families separated. I’ve seen moms that haven’t been with their children for over a year,” Garcia said.
Annette Camarillo of Fuerza Unida said she hopes to see immigration reforms that would allow migrants to enter the United States without risking their lives. Seeing the Migrant Memorial for the first time moved her to tears.
“It breaks my heart to see all these people that died here, and I had to come pay my respects,” she said. “I told my friend I had never been here, and it’s heartbreaking.”
Juanita Reyna, a founding member of Fuerza Unida, also joined the march. She said the separation of migrant children from their parents remains one of the most painful injustices.
“The first arrests that were made — all those children that were separated — no one really knows where they are. There have been attempts to find them, but many have not been returned to their families,” Reyna said.
Organizers said they hope the walk inspires others to stand in solidarity with migrants and take action in their own communities.
“Every little thing matters,” Garcia said. “Even if you just spend some time in prayer, talk to your neighbor about what’s happening, or support an organization helping immigrants.”