Under the red cliffs of the Green River, Utahns came together for an unforgettable RAFT for America experience. The theme—“Let’s Talk About Immigration”—invited honest conversation about one of the country’s most complex and personal issues.
Each boat carried its own current of perspectives. There were miners and policymakers, refugees and veterans, conservatives and progressives, faith-driven leaders and secular humanitarians. Some saw border security as a matter of national integrity. Others focused on compassion, opportunity, and family unity. Everyone brought a story that shaped their view of what it means to belong.
One participant spoke about her uncle’s ten-year wait for a U.S. visa after helping American troops in Afghanistan; another about fearing for his adopted daughter’s safety under current immigration laws. Others reflected on how policy too often loses sight of people.
What began as a conversation about immigration ended as a lesson in trust: that empathy doesn’t erase conviction, and understanding doesn’t require agreement. On the Green River, they proved that America still knows how to move forward—together.
Under the red cliffs of the Green River, Utahns came together for an unforgettable RAFT for America experience. The theme—“Let’s Talk About Immigration”—invited honest conversation about one of the country’s most complex and personal issues.
Each boat carried its own current of perspectives. There were miners and policymakers, refugees and veterans, conservatives and progressives, faith-driven leaders and secular humanitarians. Some saw border security as a matter of national integrity. Others focused on compassion, opportunity, and family unity. Everyone brought a story that shaped their view of what it means to belong.
One participant spoke about her uncle’s ten-year wait for a U.S. visa after helping American troops in Afghanistan; another about fearing for his adopted daughter’s safety under current immigration laws. Others reflected on how policy too often loses sight of people.
What began as a conversation about immigration ended as a lesson in trust: that empathy doesn’t erase conviction, and understanding doesn’t require agreement. On the Green River, they proved that America still knows how to move forward—together.
