Sister María Magdalena Silva Rentería - The Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America presents - November 14, 2020 5:30 pm on Zoom
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The Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America
presents
Sister María Magdalena Silva Rentería
November 14, 2020
5:30 pm on Zoom
Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America
Annual Celebration
Saturday, November 14, 2020
Building Bridges – Connecting Communities
5:30 PM Zoom opens / evento se abre
5:35PM Welcome Remarks / Bienvenida Min. Vimary “Vima” Couvertier-Cruz (MC)
CCDC Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
5:40 PM Opening Prayer/ Oracion Rev. Julian DeShazier
University Church Chicago
5:45 PM Opening Remarks Claudia Lucero
/Palabras de apertura CRLN Executive Director
5:50 PM Donation Appeal Call Rev. Dr. Linda Eastwood
CRLN Board Chair / McCormick Theological Seminary
6:00 PM Music Time Rebel Diaz
(Video)
6:15 PM Annual Awards / Reconocimientos:
Martin Luther King Center – Cuba Marilyn McKenna
Sanctuary Working Group Juan Carlos
CRLN Staff
(Video)
6:20 PM Reminder of Donation Appeal MC
6:23 PM Introduction of Speaker/
Oradora Juan Carlos Hernandez
CRLN Immigration Program Coordinator
6:25 PM Address / Presentación Sister Maria Magdalena Silva Renteria
Founder and Director of CAFEMIN
6:50 PM Reminder of Donation Appeal Rev. Dan Dale
CRLN board member
6:55 PM Q & A Vimary “Vima” Couvertier-Cruz / Sharon
Hunter-Smith
7:20 PM Call to Action /
Llamado a la acción Sharon Hunter-Smith / Juan Carlos Hernandez
CRLN Staff
7:25 PM Closing Prayer /
Oracion Final Rabbi Brant Rosen
Tzedek Chicago
7:30 PM Closing Song / Canto de cierre No Wall No Ban performed by the Wellington
Avenue UCC Choir
(Video)
Sister Magda
Coordinator of Redodem (Documenta-
Originally from Zacatecas, a state in tion Network of Organizations Defend-
Northern Mexico, Sr. María Magdalena ing Migrants).
Silva Rentería immigrated to Mexico
City to join the Josefina Sisters Com- Given her long experience in working
munity in 1982. There she began her ser- with migrants, she has a deep under-
vice with boys, girls, youth, and women; standing of the issues they face and stands
her mission was to lead them to a more with them as they cross through Mexico
dignified and humane life. After the or stay in her country. ■
devastating 1985 earthquake in Mexico,
which claimed 10,000 lives, and left some
250,000 homeless, she coordinated the
work of shelters for affected people. She
is a member of the national team of the
Human Mobility Pastoral of the Mexican
Episcopal Conference.. Currently, she is
the Director of Cafemin (House for Re-
ception, Training and Empowerment of
Migrant and Refugee Women), as well as
La Hermana
Magda
Originaria de Zacatecas, un es-
tado en el norte de México, la Hna.
María Magdalena Silva Rentería
emigró a la Ciudad de México para
unirse a la Comunidad de Her-
manas Josefina en 1982. Allí co-
menzó su servicio con niños, niñas,
jóvenes y mujeres; su misión era
llevarlos a una vida más digna y
humana.
Tras el devastador terremoto de
1985 en México, que cobró 10.000
vidas y dejó a unas 250.000 perso-
nas sin hogar, coordinó el trabajo
de los albergues para las personas como Coordinadora de Redodem
afectadas. Es miembro del equipo (Red de Documentación de Orga-
nacional de la Pastoral de Movi- nizaciones Defensoras de Migran-
lidad Humana de la Conferencia tes).
Episcopal Mexicana. Dada su larga experiencia en el
trabajo con migrantes, tiene un pro-
Actualmente es Directora de Ca- fundo conocimiento de los prob-
femin (Casa de Acogida, Capacit- lemas que enfrentan y los apoya
ación y Empoderamiento de Mu- mientras cruzan México o per-
jeres Migrantes y Refugiadas), así manecen en su país. ■
Rebel Diaz We are Rebel Diaz. Somos hermanos- learned about tomas in our international RodStarz and G1-who grew up in Chica- tours, then came back to The Bronx, took go and came up in The South Bronx. So- over an abandoned building and started a mos hijos de political refugees from Chile community center, The RDACBX. We’ve who fled a CIA-funded dictatorship in given lectures at Ivy League schools but the 1970s. Revolution raised us, and the are college dropouts. We went from rap- culture of Hip-Hop provided us our own ping about being ‘periodistas de la esqui- Nueva Cancion. We’ve been doing rebel na’ to hosting a television news program rap since the Clinton era, sharing our sto- on the global network Telesur English. ry and those of our people; el barrio, the We’ve been blessed to open for the likes of hood, the poor, los inmigrantes. Public Enemy, Calle 13, and Rage Against Our bilingual sound has been shaped by the Machine. The New York Times, Wash- pieces of South American folk, house, ington Post, and NPR among others, have and Latin percussion gettin down with featured our work and words. Educators boom-bap breaks and 808s. Hip-Hop across the world use our music and vid- and a vision for liberation have taken us eos as learning tools. Today, we continue around the world. With DJ Illanoiz and in la lucha with our families and in our our band, we’ve rocked stages in front community through our music and mul- of thousands at festivals, and in front of timedia work. dozens in squat house living rooms. We
Somos Rebel Diaz. Somos hermanos, ndimos sobre los tomas en nuestras
RodStarz y G1 y crecimos en Chicago y giras internacionales, luego regresamos
en el sur del Bronx. Somos hijos de re- al Bronx, tomamos posesión de un edi-
fugiados políticos de Chile que huyeron ficio abandonado y fundamos un centro
de una dictadura financiada por la CIA comunitario, The RDACBX. Hemos
en la década de los años 70. La revolu- dado conferencias en las escuelas de la
ción nos crió y la cultura del Hip-Hop Ivy League, pero hemos abandonado la
nos proporcionó nuestra propia Nueva universidad. Pasamos de rapear sobre
Canción. ser "periodistas de la esquina" a ser pre-
sentadores de un noticiero de televisión
Hemos estado haciendo rap rebelde
en la cadena global Telesur English.
desde la era Clinton, compartiendo
nuestra historia y la de nuestra gente; Hemos tenido la suerte de abrir para el
el barrio, los pobres, los inmigrantes. público en conciertos de Public Enemy,
Nuestro sonido bilingüe ha sido mold- Calle 13 y Rage Against the Machine.
eado por piezas de folk, house y per- The New York Times, Washington Post
cusión latina de América del Sur que y NPR, entre otros, han presentado
bajan con boom-bap y 808. nuestro trabajo y palabras. Los educa-
dores de todo el mundo utilizan nuestra
El hip-hop y una visión de liberación
música y videos como herramientas de
nos han llevado por todo el mundo.
aprendizaje. Hoy, continuamos en la
Con DJ Illanoiz y nuestra banda, hemos
lucha con nuestras familias y en nuestra
tocado en escenarios frente a miles de
comunidad a través de nuestro trabajo
personas en festivales y frente a docenas
musical y multimedia.
en salas de estar de casas okupas. Apre-
LYRICS OF SONGS BY South bronx!!!
REBEL DIAZ WHICH SIDE ARE YOUON?
Oaxaca!!!
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
1. WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? - Palestina!!
(G1)
(RodStarz)
See I gotta draw the line I cant take it no
I rock hard like palestinian children
more
holdin slingshots!!!
If you aint down with revolution what
Im with every single kid that’s down for
you waitin for
hip hop
Makin money for suckas and our com-
For the culture the life what it really
munities poor
stands for
Rippin flags off of coffins man this aint
This music is resistance it’s the voice of
our war
the poor
Colonized and terrorized by the worlds
Im on the side of the workers, the teach-
biggest killers
ers and lunchladies,
the US government the biggest weapon
on the streets with brown mommys rai-
and drug dealers
sin our brown babies,
Fillin prisons with children incarceratin
im with youth organizers cleanin up the
the future
bronx river
Myspace and facebook they got us stuck
im like jaime escalante when I stand and
on computers
deliver
Stuck on stupid bumpin music that’s the
im with evo morales man he runnin bo-
abusive to the shorties
livia
And the nonsense that you spittin they
distribution of the land so they could all
just listen and absorb it
live bigger
Ive been dormant ive awoken im a giant
im with hugo and fidel, grandmaster and
im ready
melle mel,
Im with the APPO in Oaxaca and we
with the Panthers up in queens justice
holdin machetes
for sean bell,
im with camacho negron, im with ojeda
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
rios,
freedom for oscar lopez time to get an
CHORUS:
appeal,
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
im with abu jamal im with assatta shakur,
Chi city!!!
im with the compas in Immokalee get-
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
ting a penny more!!
2. I’M AN ALIEN -
(G1)
Whoa oh!
Im for tellin the truth exposing the lies I’m an alien!
Think about the dead soldiers when I’m a legal alien!
youre drivin your ride
Them people died for the oil and Daddy Yup I’m an alien, from planet Chile
Bushs revenge A Bolivarian galaxy that would be the ill-
Im with the widows the children and the est!
lonely best friends Welcome to my world, a people’s universe
Im with Families Stayin Together as ONE Let’s have a conversation that’ll make
Im Not for the Raids and the Deporta- your soul search
tions!! Earth
Im with Victor Toro and The M.I.R. Mother
So watch out for those snitches in that It feels good
unmarked car! To say things that uplift the hood
And for Lil Saulito, we gonna fight for For what it’s worth, we been here for a
your moms.. while
So we gonna shout her out, twice in One Follow the moon take a walk for a mile
song.. In the shoes of the man that pick your
Im for twelve million workers and Elvira fruit
Arellano I want access to schools I don’t wanna
Im for a world without borders and a bet- join the troops!
ter tomorrow You came to my country
You brought the dictator
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? Gave ‘em money, and told ‘em pay me
later
CHORUS: So taste the tomato, tomato, whatever
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? The students, the farmers working to-
Chi city!!! gether
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? Pa’lante inmigrante, no a la guerra!
South bronx!!! Mundo Mapuche siempre, forever!
WHICH SIDE ARE YOUON?
Oaxaca!!! Chorus
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Palestina!! Illegal?
I am not! TODOS SOMOS TODOS SOMOS HI-
A human being, I got feet so I walk JOS
If I can’t eat, Ima move til I find AMENAZAN A GUATEMALA
My piece of the pie A LAS TIERRAS BOLIVARIANA
A dignified life NO MO HABLEN DE DEMOCRACRIA
Wife and the kids deserve more than this SIN JUSTICIA NO VALE NADA
She waitress SE LO HICIERON A GUATEMALA
He graveshift SE LO HICIERON A ZELAYA
Money keep on makin it NO ME HABLEN DE DEMOCRACRIA
Bills keep on takin it SIN JUSTICIA NO VALE NADA
Spaceship ain’t awaitin
But somehow I’m still an alien
Outta this world Otra victoria! Todo somos hijos!
OutKasted Quitaron el desfile de los grandes asesi-
Held captive by second class status nos!
The factories closed ain’t no jobs at home Ahora es un desfile de los desaparecidos!
Wall Street broke so they blame scape- se trata de memoria! No al olvido!ol
goats Nunca te olvides quienes son los enemi-
Jose not Joe gettin stopped by five oh gos
How they become the border patrol? Mira al gobierno no son tus amigos
I dunno but what I know is I’m here to No son Los Homeys.. noo pson los Re-
stay beldes.
If they ask me for my papers Ima laugh Son neo liberales con grandes intereses
and say... Anti imperialista corre en mi sangre
Como un hijo de un guerrerro que extra-
Whoa oh! na a su padre...
I’m an alien! Entonces compadre ven al festival
I’m a legal alien! Cada treinta de junio en el parque cen-
trall
3. GOLPE -
TODOS SOMOS HIJOS DE LA MISMA TODOS SOMOS HIJOS DE LA MISMA
HISTORIA HISTORIA
NO PIERDAN LA MEMORIA NO PIERDAN LA MEMORIA
AHORA ES LA HORA AHORA ES LA HORA
TODOS SOMOS HIJOS DE LA MISMA TODOS SOMOS HIJOS DE LA MISMA
HISTORIA HISTORIATODOS SOMOS TODOS SOMOS HI- 4. La Patrulla-
JOS
AMENAZAN A GUATEMALA La Patrulla me esta vigilando
A LAS TIERRAS BOLIVARIANA Esta pendiente de todo lo que hago
NO MO HABLEN DE DEMOCRACRIA La Patrulla me esta vigilando
SIN JUSTICIA NO VALE NADA Esta pendiente de todo lo que hago
SE LO HICIERON A GUATEMALA Para poderme arrestar!
SE LO HICIERON A ZELAYA Para poderme arrestar !
NO ME HABLEN DE DEMOCRACRIA
SIN JUSTICIA NO VALE NADA
En la nacion Creada
HIJOS DE MEXICO HIJOS DE CO- Sobre la espalda
LOMBIA De gente robada
TODOS ORGANIZADO PARA CON- Donde la espada
TAR NUESTRA HISTORIA De los que llegaban
UNA QUE ES DE GUERRA Mataban la tribus que aqui ya estaban
ENTRE RICOS Y LOS POBRES A asi a traves de la arma
EN GUATE FUE LA FRUTA A traves de conquista
EN CHILE FUE EL COBRE Un imperio surgio
SON PLANES ECONOMICOS Con la mano de obra barata
PLAN PUEBLA PANAMA se construyo esta gran nacion
QUE CONVIERTE GUATEMALA EN La misma que hoy discrimina
UN MERCADO GLOBAL Mira a quien se le niega justicia
LA ESCUELA DE LAS AMERICAS EN Ven te invito mira las cifras
FORT BENNING GEORGIA Tu y yo estamos en las mismas
ENSEÑA LA TORUTURA PARA CON- Sin empleo
TROLAR LA POBLA Te miran feo
EN EL NOMBRE DE OLIVERO Pero no creo en el noticiero
EN EL NOMBRE DE ARBENZ El que quere convencerte
SEGUIEREMOS PALANTE NUNCA Que vivas la vida con miedo
RETROCEDER Del negro del inmigrante
ES VICTORIA QUE EL DESFILE Criminales que queren matarte
DEL EJERCITO SE IMPIDE Terrorista que tan en la lista
NO CREAN QUE SE OLVIDE ESTA LU- cuidao que van a escucharte
CHA SIEMPRE SIGUE Mas bien es conquistarte
Mas facil explotarte
La muerte o la cárcelMira el caso de trayvon Martín La Patrulla me esta vigilando
Esta pendiente de todo lo que hago
La Patrulla me esta vigilando La Patrulla me esta vigilando
Esta pendiente de todo lo que hago Esta pendiente de todo lo que hago
La Patrulla me esta vigilando Para poderme arrestar!
Esta pendiente de todo lo que hago Para poderme arrestar ! ■
Para poderme arrestar!
Para poderme arrestar !
Siempre sigo siendo el enemigo de la
policia
Siempre sigo siendo MC, Rodrigo de
Rebel Diaz
Y no somos los unicos que siempre ten-
emos el puño arriba
Somos muchos miles millones lo que lu-
chamos por la justicia
Yo yo quiero hablar de Ramarley Graham
Shot in front of his brother and Grams
Quiero hablar de John Collado
La policia lo Asesinaron !
Oscar Grant tomaba el tren
El proxima dia se casaba Sean Bell
Hilton Vega Anthony Rosario
Anthony Baez Lo Mataron
Amadou Diallo only had a wallet
Trayvon Martin couldnt go to college
Rekia Boyd Rekia Boyd !
All i wanna say is Rekia Boyd !!!
They killed that boy Kimani Gray
And all these rappers got nothin to say
Like its okay when the guns go off but
when the kids get shot
All the cops get off!
The opening scene in the final episode of2020 Honorees Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Center, Cuba This year we chose the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Center, our partner in Cuba as one of the 2020 CRLN Honorees. Their work to build bridges and connect communities interna- tionally has inspired us for more than twenty years. Despite the many barriers caused by U.S. policy, the Center has worked to welcome delegations from around the world to Cuba to learn from Cubans and to share in international visions for liberation. The Center is a macroecumenical association of Christian inspiration. It supports the Cuban people and their Churches in solidarity and prophetically through sociotheological reflection and training, popular education, communication, comprehensive service to the community and the promotion of international solidarity. The Center was founded on April 25, 1987 as an initia- tive of the Ebenezer Baptist Church of Marianao (IBEM) and the work of Pastors Raúl Suárez Ramos and Clara Rodés, as well as other close collaborators. While the pandemic has made delegations to the Center impossible, it continues to work in its many other areas and is connecting virtually through webinars such as the recent webinar or- ganized by Cuban and US religious organizations. We are inspired by all the work of the Center and want to deeply thank them for welcoming us into their communities. To learn more about the work of the Center please visit https://bit.ly/MLKHavana Sanctuary Working Group In the early days of the pandemic, people from across the county called for the freedom of all immigration detainees. Our members joined the call, but also chose to do something more. An- ticipating the release of many people from detention, some members of our Organizing Com- mittee formed the Sanctuary Working Group. The group put out the word that we would be supporting people with temporary housing. Not many people were released, but the group has been able to assist a few individuals, though not all of them with housing. The small network has become a place where these groups can support each other in their work of supporting immigrants. And many donors made that possible. Thank you. This small, but dynamic group has been an inspiration, and proof that love is made visible through the work of justice. Bethany House of Hospitality, the Clerics of St. Viator, Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants, Su Casa Catholic Worker, Tzedek Chicago, University Church, and Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ make up this group.
Homenaje 2020 Centro Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Cuba Este año elegimos al Centro Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., nuestro socio en Cuba, como uno de los homenajeados de CRLN 2020. Su trabajo para construir puentes y conectar comunidades a nivel internacional nos ha inspirado durante más de veinte años. A pesar de las muchas barreras causadas por la política estadounidense, el Centro ha trabajado para recibir a delegaciones de todo el mundo en Cuba para aprender de los cubanos y compartir visiones internacionales de liberación. El Centro es una asociación macroecuménica de inspiración cristiana. Apoya de manera solidar- ia y profética al pueblo cubano y a sus Iglesias a través de la reflexión y formación socioteológica, la educación popular, la comunicación, el servicio integral a la comunidad y la promoción de la solidaridad internacional. El Centro fue fundado el 25 de abril de 1987 como iniciativa de la Iglesia Bautista Ebenezer de Marianao (IBEM) y obra de los Pastores Raúl Suárez Ramos y Clara Rodés, así como de otros colaboradores cercanos. Si bien la pandemia ha hecho que las delegaciones al Centro sean imposibles, continúa trabajan- do en sus muchas otras áreas y se está conectando virtualmente a través de webinars como el re- ciente webinar organizado por organizaciones religiosas cubanas y estadounidenses. Nos inspira todo el trabajo del Centro y queremos agradecerles profundamente por darnos la bienvenida a sus comunidades. Para obtener más información sobre el trabajo del Centro, visite https://bit.ly/ MLKHavana Grupo de Trabajo de Santuario En los primeros días de la pandemia, personas de todo el condado pidieron la libertad de todos los inmigrantes detenidos. Nuestros miembros se unieron a la llamada, pero también optaron por hacer algo más. Anticipándose a la liberación de muchas personas detenidas, algunos miem- bros de nuestro Comité Organizador formaron el Grupo de Trabajo de Santuario. El grupo corrió la voz de que estaríamos apoyando a personas con viviendas temporales. No muchas personas fueron puestas en libertad, pero el grupo ha podido ayudar a algunas perso- nas, con la vivienda. La pequeña red se ha convertido en un lugar donde estos grupos pueden apoyarse mutuamente en su trabajo de apoyo a los inmigrantes. Y muchos donantes lo hicieron posible. Gracias. Este pequeño pero dinámico grupo ha sido una inspiración y una prueba de que el amor se hace visible a través del trabajo de la justicia. Bethany House of Hospitality, los Clerics of St. Viator, la Comunidad Interreligiosa para Inmigrantes Detenidos, o ICDI por sus siglas en inglés, La Casa del Obrero Católico, Su Casa, Tzedek Chicago, y las iglesias University Church y Wellington Avenue Church UCC forman este grupo.
Death and Silence a reflection by Juan Carlos Hernández the Netflix documentary, Immigration father to tell him about the death. The Nation, makes clear the high cost of im man on the other side moans in pain, but The opening scene in the final episode of when the officer asks about his immigra- the Netflix documentary, Immigration tion status, he goes silent… Nation makes clear the high cost of im- migration. It’s a matter of life and death. My mind returns to another scene from A man lies on the ground, dead from ex- that documentary. A border patrol agent posure to the frigid desert winter. Snow is scouting out an area of small bushes blankets the surrounding plants. The and cacti. His dog smells a decomposing Border Patrol officers who find the body body and alerts the agent, who then spots ask the other men they corralled that a child’s skull, bleached white by the sun. day if they know him. They don’t, but He holds it in his hand and speaks of the in his sneaker they find his name and a rising temperatures, “up past the 100s,” telephone number. A few scenes later, a he says. He does not men President re border patrol officer is calling the man’s Since taking office, President Trump has
comadre and compadre. I am godfa- wife here. My compadre sat in silence as
ther to their youngest son who I held his family and friends prayed in the days
as a baby in our church. They live in after his father’s burial.
fear. They have always lived with some
anxiety since they crossed the border Some of us are lost to the desert and re-
some 30 years ago. It has been worse in main forgotten scattered bones without
the past 6 years. My compadre drives a a name. Others, like my compadre, will
truck with the logo of his workplace very never have the closure of a final touch
clearly on its sides. He hopes it will pro- or a last goodbye face to face. I was able
tect him from getting pulled over, being to say goodbye to my father because he
taken into custody and deported. Their had struggled as an undocumented man
hope of straightening out their immi- many years before and was able to gain
gration status has never led anywhere, legal status in this country.
even after paying thousands of dollars
in legal fees. I know this because they This is the month that we honor the dead
are family, not blood relatives, but just in my Catholic faith. We remember them
about. We have broken bread together; to celebrate their lives, to carry their les-
we have played soccer games and have sons, their words, their faces and voices
gone camping. We have prayed togeth- in us and to pass them on to new genera-
er and mourned our dead together, too. tions. I ask you to honor the lives of those
My comadre and compadre sat with my who have died in the desert, in detention
family as my mother died and after- centers, in our cities or in their home-
wards prayed her novena with my fam- lands far from their loved ones who have
ily at our home. come to this country. May death not have
the final word. ■
On the dark morning of November _____________
15, 2018, I stood silent, waiting for my
compadre. My father had passed away The films provide a detailed cross-coun-
two days before. My compadre volun- try and cross-border view of the strug-
teered to pick me up and take me to the gles of immigrants and the work of im-
airport in his work truck at 4:00 am. He migration enforcement authorities.
was quiet the entire drive and only said,
“I’ll pray for you,” as I stepped out of the You can find an Ally’s Guide created by
truck. About a year later, he would not Never Again Action at this link:
be able to bury his own father in Mex-
ico. He could not go because he would https://www.neveragainaction.com/
not be able to return to his children and guide-pageMuerte y Silencio
una reflección por Juan Carlos Hernández
La escena inicial del episodio final del to de las temperaturas, “más allá de los
documental de Netflix, Immigration 100 grados”, dice. No menciona la vida
Nation, deja en claro el alto costo de la inocente perdida y olvidada.
inmigración. Es una cuestión de vida
o muerte. Un hombre yace en el suelo, Ese silencio me hace pensar en mi
muerto por la exposición al gélido in- comadre y compadre. Soy el padrino
vierno del desierto. La nieve cubre las de su hijo menor a quien sostuve cu-
plantas circundantes. Los agentes de la ando era un bebé en nuestra iglesia.
Patrulla Fronteriza que encuentran el Viven con miedo. Siempre han vivido
cuerpo preguntan a los otros hombres con cierta ansiedad desde que cruzaron
que acorralaron ese día si lo conocen. la frontera hace unos 30 años. Ha sido
No lo hacen, pero en su zapato encuen- peor en los últimos 6 años. Mi com-
tran su nombre y un número de telé- padre conduce una camioneta con el
fono. logo de su lugar de trabajo muy claro a
Unas escenas más tarde, un oficial de los lados. Espera que lo proteja de que
la patrulla fronteriza llama al padre del lo paren, lo detengan y lo deporten.
hombre para contarle sobre la muerte. Su esperanza de enderezar su estatus
El hombre del otro lado gime de dolor, migratorio nunca ha llegado a una con-
pero cuando el oficial le pregunta sobre clusión, incluso después de pagar miles
su estado migratorio, se queda en silen- de dólares en honorarios legales. Lo sé
cio ... porque son familiares, no parientes de
sangre, pero casi. Juntos hemos partido
Mi mente vuelve a otra escena de ese el pan; hemos jugado partidos de fútbol
documental. Un agente de la patrulla y hemos ido de campamento. Hemos
fronteriza está explorando un área de orado juntos y también hemos llorado
pequeños arbustos y cactus. Su perro juntos por nuestros muertos. Mi co-
huele un cuerpo en descomposición y madre y compadre se sentaron con mi
alerta al agente, que luego ve el cráneo familia mientras mi madre moría y lu-
de un niño, blanqueado por el sol. Lo ego rezaron su novenari con mi familia
sostiene en la mano y habla del aumen- en nuestra casa.pido que honren la vida de quienes han En la oscura mañana del 15 de muerto en el desierto, en los centros de noviembre de 2018, me quedé en si- detención, en nuestras ciudades o en sus lencio, esperando a mi compadre. Mi países de origen lejos de sus seres que- padre había fallecido dos días antes. ridos que han llegado a este país. Que la Mi compadre se ofreció a recogerme muerte no tenga la última palabra. ■ y llevarme al aeropuerto en su camión _____________ de trabajo a las 4:00 am. Estuvo en Las películas brindan una vista detallada silencio durante todo el viaje y solo a través del país y transfronteriza de las dijo: cuando salí luchas de los inmigrantes y el trabajo de de la camioneta. Aproximadamente las autoridades de inmigración. un año después, no podría enterrar a su propio padre en México. No pudo Puede encontrar una Guía de aliados ir porque no podría regresar con sus creada por Never Again Action en este hijos y esposa aquí. Mi compadre se enlace: sentó en silencio mientras su familia y amigos oraban en los días posteriores https://www.neveragainaction.com/ al entierro de su padre. guide-page Algunos de nosotros estamos perdi- dos en el desierto y permanecemos olvidados, huesos esparcidos sin nom- bre. Otros, como mi compadre, nunca tendrán el cierre de un toque piel a piel o un último adiós cara a cara. Pude despedirme de mi padre porque él había luchado como un hombre indocumentado muchos años antes y pudo obtener un estatus legal en este país. Este es el mes en que honramos a los muertos en mi fe católica. Los recor- damos para celebrar sus vidas, para llevar en nosotros sus lecciones, sus palabras, sus rostros y voces y trans- mitirlos a las nuevas generaciones. Les
5 things
you should know about the court
decision on TPS
News & Commentary | By Peniel Ibe, Sep 17, 2020
worked to end crucial protections for Here’s what you need to know about
more than 300,000 immigrants from what’s happening now with TPS.
six countries with Temporary Pro-
tected Status (TPS). This life-saving 1. There are multiple legal challenges to
program provides protection from de- the Trump administration’s efforts to ter-
portation to people from certain coun- minate TPS.
tries afflicted by natural disasters, war,
or other dangerous conditions—allow- TPS holders, advocacy organizations,
ing them to live and work in the U.S. and other allies have been working to
prove that the Trump administration was
Multiple lawsuits challenging these wrong—and discriminatory—in termi-
terminations have since been filed. Un- nating TPS for impacted countries. Mul-
fortunately, the Ninth Circuit Court of tiple lawsuits challenging the termination
Appeals issued a ruling on Sept. 15 that have been filed to stop their implementa-
would clear the way for the adminis- tion. The suits also accuse the adminis-
tration to move forward with termina- tration of ending TPS for certain coun-
tions for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, tries based on racial discrimination and
Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan. The de- infringing on the constitutional rights of
cision leaves hundreds of thousands TPS holders, among other issues.
of TPS holders—many of whom have
lived in the U.S. for decades—vulner- The lawsuit ruled on this week was Ramos
able to family separation and mass de- v. Nielsen. Plaintiffs in this case, which
portation. include TPS holders and U.S. citizen chil-
dren of TPS holders, claim that the deci-sion to terminate TPS was based on a
flawed reading of the law and driven by 3. There is limited time before the federal
the administration’s racist, anti-immi- government can implement terminations
grant, and white supremacist agenda. for TPS and begin deportations.
In October 2018, Ramos v. Nielsen— The decision means that as early as March
combined with another lawsuit, Bhat- 2021, the Department of Homeland Se-
tarai v. Nielsen—resulted in an injunc- curity (DHS) can begin deporting TPS
tion that prevented the removal of TPS holders from Sudan, Nicaragua, and Hai-
holders from six countries (El Salvador, ti—and as early as November 2021 for
Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and beneficiaries from El Salvador. Due to the
Sudan). combining of the Ramos v. Nielsen and
Bhattarai v. Nielsen cases, the ruling could
2. This week, the Ninth Circuit ruled trigger the terminations for TPS holders
against TPS holders and their children. from Honduras and Nepal, as well.
After an appeal by the Trump admin- Fortunately, this decision will not affect
istration and hearing oral arguments, people’s TPS status this year. This year:
the court dismissed the claims made
by TPS holders and their children--and TPS holders cannot face deportation.
lifted the injunction preventing the de-
portation of TPS holders. TPS holders can still get drivers’ licenses.
In a 2-1 majority, the panel of judges TPS holders’ work authorizations are still
ruled that the Department of Home- valid.
land Security (DHS) secretary is law-
fully allowed to make decisions on Based on agreements between the admin-
TPS determinations—thus the courts istration and the plaintiffs’ lawyers, the
do not have the authority to review administration cannot take away protec-
those determinations. The ruling also tions from TPS holders earlier than five
implied that even though the presi- months from Sept. 14, 2020 (the date of
dent has made racist comments about the decision). TPS holders from El Salva-
TPS holders and was highly influen- dor are an exception, guaranteed 365 days
tial in the decision-making process to from the decision date under an agree-
terminate TPS, there was not enough ment between the U.S. and the Salvadoran
evidence that the terminations were ra- government.
cially motivated. 4. Legal challenges to the administration’sterminations of TPS continue. moral and economic consequences not
just for TPS holders but for their families,
Attorneys representing plaintiffs, includ- communities, and for the entire country.”
ing TPS holders and their U.S. citizen
children, could appeal the Ninth Cir- Through organizing and advocacy, TPS
cuit ruling. That could kick off a series recipients and their allies are counteract-
of events within the courts that would ing the administration’s aggressive efforts
further delays terminations and the on- to deport millions of people with deep
set of enforcement actions. However, it is roots in our communities.
not guaranteed that the higher courts will
hear the case or its appeals. Bills have been introduced in Congress
that would protect TPS holders. The
If the courts reject a request to appeal this House has passed the Dream and Prom-
week’s ruling by the Ninth Circuit, DHS ise Act, which would offer a pathway to
could also terminate the automatic ex- citizenship for people with TPS, Deferred
tension of protection it negotiated with Enforced Departure (DED), or Deferred
plaintiffs’ attorneys. Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
It’s time for the Senate to follow suit.
TPS holders from Haiti are covered under
other lawsuits making their way through Take action today: Tell your senators to
the courts (including Saget v. Trump), provide permanent protection for TPS
which may affect their timeline. holders by creating a roadmap to citizen-
ship for TPS holders and all immigrants!
5. Only legislation—not litigation—will
provide a permanent solution to protect
TPS holders, ensuring they can remain in
the U.S. with their families and commu-
nities where they belong.
Litigation, while impactful, can only pro-
vide temporary relief for TPS holders,
their families, and communities. Ulti-
mately, only Congress can provide a per-
manent solution to protect TPS holders.
Without congressional action, the termi-
nations of TPS will lead to devastating
Alfredo Corchado,5 cosas que deberías saber sobre el
fallo sobre TPS
Por Peniel Ibe, 17 de septiembre de 2020
Desde que asumió el cargo, el presi-
dente Trump ha trabajado para poner 1. Existen múltiples desafíos legales
fin a las protecciones cruciales para a los esfuerzos de la administración
más de 300,000 inmigrantes de seis Trump para terminar con TPS.
países con Estatus de Protección Tem-
poral (TPS). Este programa que salva Los titulares de TPS, las organizaciones
vidas brinda protección contra la de- de defensa y otros aliados han estado
portación a personas de ciertos países trabajando para demostrar que la ad-
afectados por desastres naturales, ministración Trump se equivocó, y fue
guerras u otras condiciones peligro- discriminatoria, al terminar el TPS para
sas, lo que les permite vivir y trabajar los países afectados. Se han presentado
en los EE. UU. múltiples demandas impugnando la
terminación para detener su implemen-
Desde entonces, se han presentado tación. Las demandas también acusan
múltiples demandas que impugnan a la administración de poner fin al TPS
estas terminaciones. Desafortunada- para ciertos países debido a la discrimi-
mente, el Tribunal de Apelaciones del nación racial e infringir los derechos
Noveno Circuito emitió un fallo el 15 constitucionales de los titulares de TPS,
de septiembre que allanaría el camino entre otras cuestiones.
para que la administración avanzara
con los despidos para El Salvador, La demanda que se resolvió esta se-
Haití, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua y mana fue Ramos v. Nielsen. Los de-
Sudán. La decisión deja a cientos de mandantes en este caso, que incluyen a
miles de titulares de TPS, muchos de los titulares de TPS e hijos ciudadanos
los cuales han vivido en los Estados estadounidenses de titulares de TPS,
Unidos durante décadas, vulnerables a afirman que La decisión de terminar
la separación familiar y la deportación con TPS se basó en una lectura errónea
masiva. de la ley y fue impulsada por la agenda
racista, antiinmigrante y supremacista
Esto es lo que necesita saber sobre lo blanca de la administración.
que está sucediendo ahora con TPS.En octubre de 2018, Ramos contra que el gobierno federal pueda implemen-
Nielsen, combinado con otra deman- tar la terminación del TPS y comenzar las
da, Bhattarai contra Nielsen, resultó deportaciones.
en una orden judicial que impidió la
remoción de los titulares de TPS de La decisión significa que ya en marzo de
seis países (El Salvador, Haití, Hon- 2021, el Departamento de Seguridad Na-
duras, Nepal, Nicaragua y Sudán). cional (DHS) puede comenzar a deportar
a los titulares de TPS de Sudán, Nicaragua
2. Esta semana, el Noveno Circuito y Haití, y a partir de noviembre de 2021
falló en contra de los poseedores de para los beneficiarios de El Salvador. De-
TPS y sus hijos. bido a la combinación de los casos Ramos
v. Nielsen y Bhattarai v. Nielsen, el fallo
Después de una apelación por parte también podría desencadenar la termi-
de la administración Trump y de nación de los titulares de TPS de Hondu-
escuchar los argumentos orales, ras y Nepal.
el tribunal desestimó los reclamos
hechos por los titulares de TPS y sus Afortunadamente, esta decisión no afec-
hijos, y levantó la orden judicial que tará el estado de TPS de las personas este
impedía la deportación de los titula- año. Este año:
res de TPS.
Los titulares de TPS no pueden enfrentar
En una mayoría de 2-1, el panel de la deportación.
jueces dictaminó que el secretario del
Departamento de Seguridad Nacio- Los titulares de TPS aún pueden obtener
nal (DHS) está legalmente autorizado licencias de conducir.
a tomar decisiones sobre las determi- Las autorizaciones de trabajo de los titula-
naciones de TPS, por lo que los tri- res de TPS siguen siendo válidas.
bunales no tienen la autoridad para
revisar esas determinaciones. El fallo Según los acuerdos entre la adminis-
también implicaba que a pesar de tración y los abogados de los demandan-
que el presidente ha hecho comentar- tes, la administración no puede quitar las
ios racistas sobre los titulares de TPS protecciones a los titulares de TPS antes
y fue muy influyente en el proceso de cinco meses a partir del 14 de septiem-
de toma de decisiones para terminar bre de 2020 (la fecha de la decisión). Los
con TPS, no había suficiente eviden- titulares de TPS de El Salvador son una
cia de que los despidos fueran por excepción, garantizados 365 días a partir
motivos raciales. de la fecha de la decisión según un acuer-
do entre los Estados Unidos y el gobierno
3. Hay un tiempo limitado antes de salvadoreño.4. Continúan los desafíos legales a las dades. En última instancia, solo el Con-
terminaciones de TPS por parte de la greso puede proporcionar una solución
administración. permanente para proteger a los titulares
de TPS.
Los abogados que representan a los
demandantes, incluidos los titulares de Sin la acción del Congreso, la termi-
TPS y sus hijos ciudadanos estadoun- nación del TPS conducirá a devastado-
idenses, podrían apelar el fallo del No- ras consecuencias morales y económi-
veno Circuito. Eso podría iniciar una cas no solo para los titulares de TPS
serie de eventos dentro de los tribunales sino también para sus familias, comuni-
que retrasarían aún más las termina- dades y para todo el país ”.
ciones y el inicio de las acciones de eje-
cución. Sin embargo, no se garantiza A través de la organización y la pro-
que los tribunales superiores conozcan moción, los beneficiarios de TPS y sus
el caso o sus apelaciones. aliados están contrarrestando los es-
fuerzos agresivos de la administración
Si los tribunales rechazan una solicitud para deportar a millones de personas
de apelación del fallo de esta semana del con raíces profundas en nuestras comu-
Noveno Circuito, el DHS también po- nidades.
dría terminar la extensión automática de
protección que negoció con los aboga- Se han presentado proyectos de ley en
dos de los demandantes. el Congreso que protegerían a los titu-
lares de TPS. La Cámara baja aprobó
Los titulares de TPS de Haití están cubi- la Ley de Sueños y Promesas, que of-
ertos por otras demandas que se abren recería un camino hacia la ciudadanía
paso en los tribunales (incluido Saget v. para personas con TPS, Salida forzada
Trump), lo que puede afectar su línea de diferida (DED) o Acción diferida para
tiempo. los llegados en la infancia (DACA). Es
hora de que el Senado haga lo mismo.
5. Solo la legislación, no los litigios,
proporcionará una solución perman- Tome acción hoy: ¡Dígale a sus sena-
ente para proteger a los titulares de TPS, dores que brinden protección perman-
asegurando que puedan permanecer en ente a los titulares de TPS creando una
los EE. UU. Con sus familias y comuni- hoja de ruta hacia la ciudadanía para
dades a las que pertenecen. los titulares de TPS y todos los inmi-
grantes! ■
El litigio, aunque tiene un impacto, solo
puede brindar un alivio temporal a los
titulares de TPS, sus familias y comuni-“A Former Farmworker Oaxaca, Mexico, is hoeing asparagus on
the same farm where my family once
on American Hypocrisy” worked. He picks tomatoes in the sum-
mer and melons in the fall. He told me
(The New York Times, May 7, 2020) his employer has given him a letter —
tucked inside his wallet, next to a pic-
EL PASO — The other day, armed with ture of his family — assuring any who
a face mask, I was rushing through the ask that he is “critical to the food supply
aisles of an organic supermarket, sizing chain.” The letter was sanctioned by the
up the produce, squeezing the oranges Department of Homeland Security, the
and tomatoes, when a memory hit me. same agency that has spent 17 years try-
Me — age 6 — stooping to pick these ing to deport him.
same fruits and vegetables in California’s
San Joaquin Valley. I spent the spring “I don’t feel this letter will stop la migra
weekends and scorching summers of from deporting me,” Tino told me. “But
my childhood in those fields, under the it makes me feel I may have a chance in
watchful eye of my parents. Once I was this country, even though Americans
a teenager, I worked alongside them, my may change their minds tomorrow.”
brothers and cousins, too, essential links
in a supply chain that kept America fed, True to form, America still wants it both
but always a step away from derision, ways. It wants to be fed. And it wants
detention and deportation. to demonize the undocumented immi-
grants who make that happen.
Today, hundreds of thousands of immi-
grants from Mexico and Central Amer- Recently, President Trump tweeted that
ica are doing that work. By the Depart- he would “temporarily suspend immi-
ment of Agriculture’s estimates, about gration into the United States” — a threat
half the country’s field hands — more consistent with the hit-the-immigrant-
than a million workers — are undocu- like-a-piñata policy he spearheaded in
mented. Growers and labor contractors his 2016 campaign. Less than 24 hours
estimate that the real proportion is clos- later, the president backed down in the
er to 75 percent. face of business groups fearful of losing
Suddenly, in the face of the coronavirus access to foreign labor, announcing that
pandemic, these “illegal” workers have he’d keep the guest worker program.
been deemed “essential” by the federal In the past, the United States has reward-
government. ed immigrant soldiers who fought our
Tino, an undocumented worker from wars with a path to citizenship. Today,the fields — along with the meatpacking included my mom, brothers and cousins,
plants, the delivery trucks and the gro- would yell: “Haganse arco.” Duck!
cery store shelves — are our front lines,
and border security can’t be disconnect- The workers without documents would
ed from food security. stop hoeing and scramble. Run — if not
for their lives, then almost certainly for
It’s time to offer all essential workers a their livelihoods. We’d watch as the vans
path to legalization. of the Border Patrol came to a screech-
ing halt, dust settling. The unlucky work-
It might seem hard to imagine this hap- ers would make a beeline for the nearest
pening during the “Build the wall” ditch or canal. Some would simply drop
presidency, when Congress can barely to the ground, hoping for refuge amid the
agree on emergency stimulus measures. rows of sugar beets, tomatoes or cotton.
Many Republicans no longer support Sometimes the agents gave chase. We’d
even DACA, the program that protected always root for the prey.
Dreamers who grew up here and that
could be revoked by the Supreme Court On more than one occasion, agents took
this week. But the pandemic scrambles my mom and my aunt Teresa, locking
our normal politics. them in the cages in the back of the van,
because they didn’t have their green cards
“We have started talking about essential on them. We’d race home and fetch the
workers as a category of superheroes,” cards and make a mad dash to the immi-
said Andrew Selee, the president of the gration offices in Fresno some 60 miles
nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute away from our farm camp in Oro Loma,
and author of “Vanishing Frontiers.” If praying we’d make it before they could
the pandemic continues for a year or be deported. We were desperate to prove
two, he said, we should think “in a bold they had every right to be out in those
way about how do we deal with essential desolate fields, as if they were taking a
workers who have put their life on the dream job away from somebody else.
line for all of us but who don’t have legal One time, Aunt Teresa looked genuinely
documents.” disappointed at the sight of our smiling
faces. She was ticked off she hadn’t been
Maybe, he said, “they should be in the
deported.
pipeline for fast-track regularization, just
like those with DACA” are, for now. “I miss Mexico,” she said.
Of course, America has always been a Sometimes, the night after such raids, a
fickle country. I learned that lesson as a puzzling thing would take place. A labor
crop-picking boy, when my aunt Esper- contractor or farmer would drive up as
anza, who ran the team of farmhands thatwe’d gather for dinner of beef, green So, he continues in his $13.50-an-hour job.
chile and potato caldillo washed down
with tortillas. He’d compliment us for He works for, among others, Joe L. Del
the hard work we had put in that day. Bosque of Del Bosque Farms, one of the
And then he’d ask: Did we know any- largest organic melon growers in the coun-
one who might want to come and work try. Mr. Del Bosque employs about 300
alongside us? people on hundreds of acres, and his fruits
and vegetables are sold in just about ev-
He meant more Mexicans. ery other organic supermarket across the
The instructions were simple: Get the country, including the place where I now
word out, spread the farmer’s plea back shop in El Paso.
in our towns in Mexico because plenty
of rain had fallen that winter and now it “Sadly, it’s taken a pandemic for Ameri-
was summer and everything around us cans to realize that the food in their gro-
was ripe, aching for that human touch. cery stores, on their tables, is courtesy of
The season looked promising. Plenty mostly Mexican workers, the majority of
of crops to pick. them without documents,” Mr. Del Bosque
told me. “They’re the most vulnerable of
Today not much has changed. The vul- workers. They’re not hiding behind the
nerable — Dreamers working in health pandemic waiting for a stimulus check.”
care; hotel maids; dairy and poultry Along with other farmers, he has been
plant workers; waiters, cooks and bus- pleading with Congress for the past few
boys in the $900 billion restaurant in- years to legalize farmworkers, if not as part
dustry — still work to feed their fami- of comprehensive immigration reform,
lies while feeling disposable, deportable then as a bill focused on farmworkers, be-
by an ungrateful nation. cause “you need these workers today, to-
morrow and for a long time.”
Tino, the farmworker in the San Joa-
quin Valley, is worried about the coro- “With or without Covid,” he added, “we
navirus. He wonders whether it’s best, need to constantly replenish our work
after 17 years of hiding from immigra- force to ensure food supplies.”
tion authorities, to return to Oaxaca,
“where I’d rather die.” Some Democratic lawmakers, including
Representative Veronica Escobar of El
But Tino’s dreams outweigh his fears. Paso, are pushing to include legalization
He wants the best for his family, in- in any updated coronavirus relief package.
cluding a son born in the United States, “The hypocrisy within America is that we
who’s looking at colleges in California.want the fruits of their undocumented la- new agricultural workers to come. These
bor, but we want to give them nothing in people will be drawn not just from Mex-
return,” she said. ico, but increasingly from Central and
South America.
Even with unemployment projected to be
15 percent or higher, Mr. Del Bosque told Del Bosque Farms have been depen-
me he doubts he’ll ever see a line of job- dent on Mexican workers since Mr. Del
seeking Americans flocking to his fields. Bosque’s parents, also immigrants from
The rare few who have shown up at 5:30 Mexico, started hiring them in the 1950s
a.m. don’t come back. Some, he said, give under the Bracero Program, which be-
up the backbreaking work before their first gan during World War II. The program
lunch break. issued some five million contracts to
Mexicans, inviting them to come to the
He fears looming labor shortages. That’s United States as guest workers to help fill
not because of raids by U.S. Immigration labor shortages so Americans could fight
and Customs Enforcement resuming or a overseas.
wall keeping workers out. He worries about
a potential coronavirus outbreak, yes, but Hundreds of the workers who’ve toiled
his most immediate concern is that his at Del Bosque Farms over the years have
farmworkers are aging. Their average age is become legal residents, many more citi-
40. My old school, Oro Loma Elementary zens, including my father, Juan Pablo.
School, which was once filled with Mexi-
For many years my father spent the
can children, closed down in 2010.
springs and summers working in the
United States, but every November he’d
The fields are simply running out of Mexi-
high-tail it back to his village in Mexi-
cans as fewer men and women migrate
co, where he played in a band called the
each year, either because they’re finding
Birds with his five brothers. He didn’t
better jobs in Mexico or because of demo-
trust his American bosses to raise his
graphics. The Mexican birthrate is down
pay, and always worried about the pos-
from 7.3 children per woman in the 1960s
sibility of suddenly being deported, so
to 2.1 in 2018. Those who do come want
he wouldn’t commit to them. The Texans
higher-paying jobs in other industries.
especially, he thought, were prejudiced
against Mexicans.
The best way to guarantee food security in
the future is to legalize the current workers
The boys from Mexico worked so hard,
in order to keep them here, and to offer a
Texas ranchers argued during one of
pathway to legalization as an incentive for
America’s cyclical anti-immigrant peri-ods, that the hiring of Mexicans should rity guard, an educator and a prosthet-
not be considered a felony. Thus, the ics specialist. Cousins went off to fight
Texas Proviso was adopted in 1952, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or to help
stating that employing unauthorized run medical centers and corporations,
workers would not constitute “harbor- including Walmart in Arkansas. Others
ing or concealing” them. This helps ex- still grind away in the fields of Califor-
plain why Americans call immigrants nia and meatpacking plants of Colora-
“illegal” but not the businesses that hire do, work in nursing homes or clean the
them. houses of the rich. Many of us make an
annual pilgrimage to our home village
When the Bracero Program ended in in the Mexican desert. But we’re firmly
1964, amid accusations of mistreatment planted here.
against Mexicans, my father thought he
had enough of plowing rows on a trac- Without being thanked for it, we’re re-
tor and digging ditches. He dreamed of plenishing America. ■
running a grocery store in Mexico, rais-
ing his kids out where mountains em- Alfredo Corchado is the Mexico border
braced us. But he was such a hard work- correspondent for The Dallas Morning
er that his boss couldn’t fathom the idea News and the author of “Midnight in
of losing him. So he helped my father Mexico” and “Homelands: Four Friends,
get a green card for every member of Two Countries and the Fate of the Great
his family, including me. Later he began Mexican-American Migration.”
working for the Del Bosques.
Without legalization, he would have left
and probably never come back.
As a 6-year-old immigrant, I’d cry at
night under the California stars, home-
sick for Mexico, for my friends and
cousins. Then one night, as my mother
tucked me into bed, she caressed my
face. “Shhhh,” she whispered, “they’re
all here now.” And she was right.
Today my siblings include a lawyer, an
accountant, two truck drivers, a secu-Over 110 House Democrats Call for Immediate End of Remain in Mexico Policy Feb 12, 2020 Press Release WASHINGTON— Congressional leaders called on Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf to immediately terminate the Trump Administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy, otherwise known as the Migrant Protection Protocols. This policy has led to multiple human and civil rights violations at our border, while also causing the mass suffering of tens of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers. In the year since its implementation, at least 816 migrants have been assaulted, raped, or mur- dered while waiting under “Remain in Mexico.” “Under this dangerous and illegal policy, the Administration has forced tens of thou- sands of vulnerable children, families, and other asylum seekers into unsafe conditions before their asylum requests can even be heard. In the span of just one year, ‘Remain in Mexico’ has inflicted irreparable harm to nearly 60,000 asylum seekers. The Trump Administration has forced the United States to turn its back on our international le- gal obligations damaging our status as the global leader on refugee protection,” the Members wrote. “‘Remain in Mexico’ repeatedly jeopardizes the physical safety and emotional well-being vulnerable populations sought to escape from in the first place. This program undoubtedly causes further harm and inflicts unnecessary trauma on these populations. The Trump Administration must immediately terminate this cruel and illegal policy, provide all asylum seekers with meaningful access to a fair asylum process in the U.S., and restore the U.S. commitment to be a safe haven for refugees.” The letter was led by Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX- 20) and signed by 112 Democratic members of Congress: Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel (NY-16), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Judy Chu (CA-27), Congressional Black Cau- cus Chair Karen Bass (CA-37), Appropriations LHHSEd Subcommittee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Appropriations CJS Subcommittee Chairman Serrano (NY- 15), Judiciary Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-16), Foreign Affairs Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairman Albio Sires (NJ-8), Appropriations DHS Subcommittee Chairwoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA- 40), Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Ma-
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