Pastor José Antonio Galván, right, runs an asylum near Juárez. With him is patient Josuá Rosales, who helps with its operation. (Courtesy of Morgan Smith)

Pastor struggles to provide for the mentally ill in Juárez as officials ignore their suffering

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CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico – It’s 6:41 Sunday morning, the phone rings and Pastor José Antonio Galván is on the line. He is the founder of Vision in Action, a mental asylum on Juárez’ western edge that cares for about 100 patients. I’ve written a number of articles about Galván. I visit the asylum often and am always astonished that he has been able to maintain the facility with almost no government support for 17 years. On this Sunday morning, however, I feel doubt in his voice for the first time.