Press Release

For Release on March 5, 2006

MIGRANT AND BORDER COMMUNITIES BRING IMMIGRATION REFORM SOLUTIONS TO U.S. SENATE

Human Rights Organizations From throughout the Nation Converge in DC March 6^th and 7^th

“We are not the enemy, we are part of the solution,”
say migrant and border communities from across the U.S.

March 6            Congressional Briefing on Reshaping Border Policies and Practices:

Building a Vision of Security, Humanity and Respect

Monday 6, 2006, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

485 Senate Russell Office Building

March 7            Press Conference to announce this unprecedented visit to Washington, DC, where over 200 members of migrant and border communities from throughout the U.S. are calling on the Senate for comprehensive reforms that offer access to legal permanent residency and enhance community security and human rights on the border.  A nationwide coalition of migrant and border community organizations has traveled to the nation’s capital to meet with Senate staff and hold a Congressional briefing about immigration reform. 

Tuesday, March 7, 2006, 12:30 PM

           485 Russell Senate Office Building

            

As the debate over immigration heats up in the Nation’s Capitol, over 200 members of the Border Community Alliance for Human Rights and the Border Network for Human Rights Partnership will meet with lawmakers in DC in an effort to bring a community perspective into policy negotiations over immigration reform.   Migrant and border community residents will educate lawmakers about the impacts that existing immigration enforcement is having in their communities.

“During 2005, border communities witnessed the rise of vigilantism, a record number of migrant deaths and a continued trend towards militarization. It was a year in which hatred and violence went mainstream,” said Jennifer Allen, of Border Action Network from Arizona.

Late last year the House of Representatives approved HR 4437, a controversial bill, that if approved will: criminalize migrants, as well as those organizations that advocate on behalf of migrants and their families, will seek to deputize local law-enforcement in immigration enforcement, and construct a 700 mile border fence between Méx! ico and the US.

“In order for any piece of legislation to be successful in addressing the immigration phenomena, the voices of migrant communities must be included. We are not the enemy, we are part of the solution,” said Fernando García of the El Paso based Border Network for Human Rights.

Groups will pr! esent lawmakers with testimonies illustrating the urgent need for permanent residency and detailed recommendations for alternative guidelines for border enforcement designed to ensure community security, respect for human and civil rights. The recommendations also call for the establishment of community oversight boards to ensure institutional accountability within immigration enforcement agencies.

The groups’ immigration reform principles and alternative guidelines have been developed in consultation with over 7,000 members of migrant and border communities in border states and around the nation.   

“Migrant communities are coming together in order to ensure that the rights and dignity of our families are recognized by policy makers, this a call for a much needed and long over due dialogue between policy makers and migrant communities,” said Christian Ramírez from the American Friends Service Committee, San Diego Office.

Participating & Sponsoring Organizations:

American Friends Service Committee (New Jersey)

American Friends Service Committee (San Diego)

Border Action Network (Arizona)

Border Community Alliance for Human Rights (Borderwide)

Border Network for Human Rights (Texas-New Mexico)

Coalicion Pro-Derecho! s de la Raza (San Diego)

Voluntarios de la Comunidad/Community Volunteers (San Francisco Bay Area, San Jose, Sacramento)

Frente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales

Hondurenos Unidos de Texas

Human Rights Committees of San Diego (California)

Human Rights Coordinating Committee of Houston (Texas)

Human Rights Regional Coordination (New York-New Jersey)

Latin America Working Group (Washington, DC)

Latin-America Voice of Hope (Brooklyn, NY)

National Immigration Forum (Washington, DC)

National Council of La Raza (Washington, DC)

Organizacion Latinoamericana Pro-Derechos de Inmigrantes (Texas)

Wind of the Spirit (New Jersey)

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