Editor’s note: This is an extended version of the print version.
Dear El Paso,
Across the country, the tone of the news has grown heavier. Headlines are filled with stories about immigration enforcement, acts of violence and uncertainty. It has become a part of the national rhythm, shaping how people understand safety, home and belonging during these times.
For border communities like El Paso and its residents, these conversations are not distant. They exist alongside daily life. They are carried quietly into classrooms, workplaces and living rooms.
Acknowledging this moment is not about dwelling in uncertainty or fear. It is about naming the reality that many are navigating, a sense that the country feels divided, unsettled and, at times, difficult to recognize. Yet even in periods of national or personal darkness, communities continue to show up for one another. Life does not pause. People still gather, still care and still find reasons to move forward.
The connection between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez is irreplaceable. Every day, thousands of citizens from both cities cross the border for a multitude of reasons. From the pure need for shopping for groceries and clothes, education at any level and pursuing a career, to visiting family and friends from across both countries.
The Mexican American culture shines brightly despite the darkness growing nationwide. Community is what holds it all together strongly; people find reasons to thrive and flourish.
To being able to find each other in different locations solely from hearing “Ay, ay,” the hundreds of years of history between both cities and cultures continues to grow. A mutual love for the borderland and the unity between El Paso and Juárez gives their citizens a sense of belonging, no matter where they are or who they are with.
Don’t believe in the negative stigma that surrounds our beautiful city. Too many times, there’s word that staying in El Paso creates complacency, or feeling of being stuck.
That simply isn’t true. The city we inhabit is one that has set the standard to effect overall American history and attitudes. Just think about our University, The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).
UTEP was the first University in the state of Texas to desegregate and to this day, continues its mission of providing a quality and accessible education to minority groups all over the Unites States. That isn’t a footnote in history; that’s a legacy which allows every single person in this country to aspire to greatness.
Our culture is different. The way we live, the way we interact, talk, walk and etc. is different. But those ubiquitous qualities have allowed us to not forget who we are, or where we come from.
Whether its Los Lagartos Fountain reminding us of the days when alligators lived downtown, or the sculpture “End of of the Trail (with Electric Sunset)” that sits in the UTEP computer science building as a reminder to our origins, these are physical representations that remind us of our emotional traits.
Our city is built on grit, inclusion, and an incomparable history. And that’s felt on any walk in our beautiful city.
From small local opens mic nights at downtown, where homegrown talent has given us the honor to hear their truth and to see it art come to life. To the rainy morning where the clouds rest upon the base of the Franklin mountains, where they rise up to the summit. There is no other city like El Paso because it is home. Whether it be from scenic view, the heart of the Northeast where morning sun shines gold on the mountains range, or the UTEP campus where Juárez is just a stones throw away. Our dreams are unbreakable and generational.
Even in times of national and personal darkness, communities continue to show up for one another, supporting each other in times of need.
Love is often called the greatest gift, and nowhere is it felt more deeply and depicted than within a family. Family can be the reason someone gets up each day and keeps going, even when life feels heavy. There’s no unspokens for glaring issues in our country… in our city, where families live with deep pain, divided by loss and violence. But an argument could be made in times like these, love doesn’t fade or vanish. No, it becomes a staple to love harder, to remember and embrace the strength of those who care most about you. To build upon or make new what has been presented in each individual’s life. With that comes the pressures of tomorrow, but how can you live then if you can’t today?
There are many unspoken doubts that few students rarely say out loud when it comes to meeting their basic needs. Tuition is only part of it. There is rent, gas, groceries and textbooks. For many in our sun city, especially first-generation students, college isn’t just about a piece of paper. It’s about beginning a legacy and achieving a dream that many of their parents may have had to set aside. There is so much pride in being here, but there is also fear: fear of failing, of not doing enough, of not belonging in spaces that once felt out of reach.
The pressure to succeed can feel constant. For some students, it means long commutes across town. Some cross the border just to make it to class. Many carry expectations that are never spoken but always felt. Still, they show up. Even when the path feels uncertain, there is still love guiding the way, in the sacrifices made at home or even in a simple “Estoy orgulloso de usted.”
It can feel impossible to escape reality with so much going on in the world right now. Each headline feels more heartbreaking than the last, almost like there is no end in sight. Although so much breaking news can get overwhelming, it is important to stay informed and be in the know. By having the knowledge of what is going on in the world, you are able to help be a part of the change. While yes, “ignorance is bliss,” right now is arguably the worst time to live in ignorance.
Taking a step back and asking for help is something we all need to be reminded of. Most people tend to forget that we are not in a world where we stand alone in. With the media it is important to take in the good as well and bring hope that there will be a better tomorrow. Judgement and hatred divide not only us as a society but as an individual it sets you in trance of negativity.
It’s okay to smile, and it’s even more okay to break down. Emotion is not a sign of weakness but is what makes us human. So, bawl your eyes out! Laugh until your stomach turns! Let it all out! Because at the end of the day, no matter who, it is all going to be just Alright. You are not alone in anything.
Despite differences in background, language or beliefs, El Paso has traditionally been defined by its ability to function as a shared space. There is unity between generations, across borders and within families and friends. Yet unity is not always loud or symbolic.
It can appear in small, simple acts and memories. From shared plates of arroz and frijoles at the kitchen table, to old spanish songs playing in the background and quiet moments that feel so ordinary you don’t realize how much they matter until later.
On a month and issue centered on love, it is worth remembering that affection does not only live in grand gestures or corny gifts. It shows up in the steady presence of a city that continues to choose togetherness, even when everything else feels scary.
We hope this letter serves as a reminder that even in moments of darkness, there is still love.
Sincerely,
The Prospector Editors
