1	"Trip to the Southern Border" Trip to the Southern Border: Spring ’06
2	How it all started… Immigration symposium Activist workshop Purpose of trip Structure of the presentation Divided into themes
3	From Grinnell IA to El Paso TX
4	A closer look
5	Human Rights
6	Macehualli Day Labor Center (Phoenix AZ) Established in 2003 by the city of Phoenix with the collaborative efforts from por la Causa, Friendly House, Valle del Sol, and Tonatierra City granted $120,000 for the project Anti-Labor Law (HB2592,) established in 2005 in Arizona prohibits work centers in state: “A county shall not construct or maintain a work center if any part of the center is to facilitate the knowing employment of an alien who is not entitled to lawful residence in the United States.” Still open because it was built before the law was passed and thanks to private funding and donations from the day labor themselves http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2005/05/27252.php www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/47leg/1r/laws/0285.htm Vistas del Valle Sol Newsletter- Volume 11, Issue 1. February of 2004
7	Legal Observing (Phoenix AZ) Minutemen are a vigilante anti-immigration group Verbal and physical intimidation of day laborers We were trained as legal observers, watched and recorded the Minutemen’s activities Counter-protest to the Minutemen
8	Annunciation House/Casa Vides (El Paso TX) House first February of 1987 Goal: hospitality for the homeless poor, however because of their location (El Paso Texas) and the large population of undocumented immigrants, decided to primarily serve the undocumented During the 80’s many Central Americans and although today their guests are predominantly Mexican, Annunciation house upholds their goal of serving those in need Casa Vides opened in March of 1992 Goal: house guests who are in the process for political asylum or whose plans require a medium or long term stay. http://www.annunciationhouse.org/
9	Militarization of Border
10	Physicality Disproportionate militarization of American side indicative of stances on border control Welding Trench Fence differences Consequences -poverty and pollution evidence on border sides in terms of Juarez/El Paso
11	Border Patrol (Douglas AZ) Tour of the Douglas, AZ Border Patrol station and met with an officer $23 million for the facility More border patrol officers are stationed at Douglas than anywhere else Several lines of defense for preventing border crossing Fence, ditch, lights Officers stationed along the fence Cameras at the station
12	Balloon Theory Thought that reinforcement of border will stop immigration Targeted the points of entry (mainly 5 areas) Funneled immigration to the desert Increased deaths http://www.ccis-ucsd.org/PUBLICATIONS/wrkg27.pdf Unintended consequences
13	No More Deaths/No Más Muertes NMD’s work Desert camps Samaritan patrols Water stations Advocacy The desert: Arivaca conditions belongings
14	Politics and Legislation
15	Border Protection, Anti-Terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (HR 4437) “Unlawful presence” would now be considered a crime and a felony “Assisting” an individual without documentation liable for criminal penalties and five years in prison Expedited removal of potential asylum-seeker without providing an opportunity to appear before an immigration judge 700 miles of fencing along the Southwest border State and local law enforcement authorized to enforce federal immigration laws Document fraud considered aggravated felony subject to deportation and bar to re-entry “Dangerous alien” Diversity visa lottery program eliminated (www.justiceforimmigrants.org)
16	Protests Sen. John Kyl Phoenix Kyrsten Sinema 20,000 protestors Tucson Border Action Network 1,000+ protestors
17	Humanitarian Aid (Shanti’s Case) Shanti Sellz, 23 years old arrested, along with Daniel Strauss, by the US Border Patrol in July 2005 Followed the NMD training protocol Face prosecution and a potential 15-year sentence. Outrageous provisions of HR 4437 Problem: includes any charity church or neighbor i.e. Shanti and Daniel’s case More problems: criminalizes other people’s work Annunciation House Las Americas - Legal advocacy branch organization of Annunciation House that helps with legal procedures for seeking asylum. This organization is especially concerned with how women and children fit into immigration laws.
18	Bringing it home… Des Moines rally April 9th Grinnell march April 10^th National Walkout Day May 1^st Events on Grinnell in support Open Forum at noon Forum Beach Immigration group at 4:15pm
19	Huge thanks to all our sponsors, Luis Fernandez, Kyrsten Sinema, Ray Ibarra, and the rest of our contacts in AZ and TX. Also thanks to the students on campus for their interest and support.