Both major political parties have focused on immigration through most of the 2024 presidential campaign.
In border states like Texas, it has been an issue in legislative races and statewide elections.
Migration, however, is an issue that is larger than Texas or the United States. It is a key topic that many countries around the world are dealing with, and it’s one of the top issues frequently addressed by candidates. Migration has been used to divide, polarize and create fear.
Migration often is viewed as an American problem because it’s our border, but there is a need for global understanding and perspective. With our partners, the VII Foundation and Outriders, The Dallas Morning News is contributing to the Crossing Points project to show migration into the United States from a broader perspective.
Crossing Points connects the perspective of Texas with other states and European countries through journalism by The Dallas Morning News , Outriders, which has covered migration in Europe, and VII Foundation, which for many years has created visual journalism about migration around the world.
The News focused on Texas’ efforts to stop the Catholic organization Annunciation House from helping migrants after they cross into the United States, and on letting migrants who have resettled in North Texas tell their stories about crossing the border. We also looked at Texas’ efforts to address the issue with Operation Lone Star, examining its costs and impact, and taking a fresh visual look at operations along Texas’ southern border.
Outriders focused on covering Arizona and California, trying to find new ways to tell migrant stories combined with traditional visual journalism.
In Yuma, a reporter in the Regional Health Center started conversations with migrants and talked to them about their journey to the United States. They stayed in touch as they traveled to their final destinations, continuing the conversation through WhatsApp and Messenger.
In Nogales, Ariz., and Calexico, Calif., Outriders used 360/VR cameras to capture perspectives from both sides of the border, portraying people who are talking through the wall – sometimes having a date, sometimes a family meeting and sometimes just a friendly catch-up.
Other formats will include illustrative journalism and a long-term visual journey with people supporting migrants on the border.
These stories will be published over the next two weeks at Dallasnews.com and Crossing-points.com.