February 2017

PEOPLE OF
THE BORDER
Westminster Presbyterian Delegation to Arizona and Sonora
 MEXICO

USA
Westminster Presbyterian Church delegation
Monday
Tucson
Josh Dunlap, John Washington
& Rev. Elizabeth Smith
Delegate Leaders, BorderLinks

BorderLinks coordinates educational delegations and

leads workshops in the U.S. and Mexico, giving groups a
variety of experiences to deepen their understanding of
borders, immigration, and social justice.
Green Valley, AZ
Shura Wallin
Co-founder, Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans

An organization comprising people of

conscience who offer humanitarian aid
to migrants in the Arizona-Sonora
borderlands.

Founded in 2005 by Shura Wallin and

Pastor Randy Mayer

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so

doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
Hebrews 13:2
Arivaca, AZ
US Border Patrol Interior Checkpoints
More than 35 permanent checkpoints operating 24/7 in
9 of 20 Border Patrol sectors. Pew Trust 2015
Patty & Carlotta
People Helping People in the Border Zone, Arivaca AZ

Humanitarian Aid Office where they

support border residents by providing
crisis relief.
Campaign for the abolition of inland
Border Patrol checkpoints and
the demilitarization of the borderlands
Partnership with No More Deaths to
provide food, water, and harm-
reduction resources to displaced
persons in Sasabe, Sonora.

“My heart told me to do this work.” - Carlotta

Todd Miller
Author, Border Patrol Nation

Todd worked with BorderLinks 2001-2004

and with Witness for Peace in Mexico
beginning 2004.

He is a journalist writing about

economic and drug issues along the
border (as well as books).
Tuesday
Tucson
Lois Martin
End Streamline Coalition
Founded in response to Operation Streamline,
which was started in Texas in 2005.
Seeks the decriminalization of migration, an end to
private prisons and immigration reform that
addresses the root causes of migration
Lois Martin (social worker and teacher and
advocate for Central Americans since 1970)

“I could try to get in and send money back home or I could stay home
and watch my kids starve.” – Told to Lois by a migrant
The Questions
◦ Do you understand the rights you
are giving up?
◦ Are you pleading guilty voluntarily
and of your own free will?
◦ Are you a citizen of the United
States?
◦ Did you enter the United States
without coming through
a designated port of entry?
◦ How do you plead?
Cost of Detention
Sentences Migrants Costs
30 days 25 men $119,250
60 days 14 men $133,560 Exceeded
75 days 11 men $131,175 $850,000 in
105 days 5 men $83,475
120 days 1 man $19,080
90 minutes
150 days 4 men $95,400
165 days 1 man $26,235
180 days 9 men $257,580
$865,755
Negar Katirai
Director, Community Law Group, University of Arizona

Provides direct representation to

survivors of domestic violence and
sexual assault by helping to obtain
immigration status, typically through U
Visas, VAWA Petitions, and asylum.
Helps children who have been
abused, abandoned, or neglected
obtain immigration status through
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
Wednesday
Douglas
Joca Gallogos
Leader, Frontera de Cristo

Frontera de Cristo is a Presbyterian border

ministry located in the sister cities of Agua
Prieta, Sonora and Douglas, Arizona working
in six primary areas of ministry including
migrant support, health ministry and
women’s programs.
The Wall
In 1990s people crossed
back and forth easily. Agua Prieta, MX Douglas AZ

Border Patrol helped them

buy groceries which were
cheaper in the U.S. than in
Mexico (agricultural
subsidies in U.S. but not in
Mexico).

Construction of the border

wall began in 1994 with
Operation Safeguard.
The U.S.-Mexico border fence system today. Pedestrian fence is colored dark orange.
January 22, 2017
Crossing the Border
Agua Prieta, Sonora
DouglaPrieta Trabajan

DouglaPrieta Trabajan began in 2003 as a

grassroots self-help project in Agua Prieta,
Sonora, just across the border from Douglas,
Arizona.
Its purpose is to assist individuals and families
in colonias populares, or poor
neighborhoods, by developing local
capacities for economic self-sufficiency.
Café Justo

Justo Coffee started in 2002

helping farmers of Chiapas
in Southern Mexico harvest
coffee and process for
market in partnership with
Frontera de Cristo.
Grupo Beta Migrant Center
Grupos Beta (Beta Groups) is a service by
the National Institute of Migration of Mexico offering
water, medical aid, and information to immigrants at
risk.
The first Grupos Beta was started in Beta Tijuana in
1990.
Grupo Beta's primary role is to protect the Human
Rights of migrants regardless of their immigration
status as stated in their motto, “vocation,
humanitarianism and loyalty.”
Cortez Wencesla'o Beila,
Artist
Insert
photo Migrant Shelter CAME
Thursday
Tucson
Immigration In the News

“President Trump has directed his

administration to enforce the nation’s
immigration laws more aggressively,
unleashing the full force of the federal
government to find, arrest and deport those
in the country illegally, regardless of whether
they have committed serious crimes.”
Jorge Rosa
Manager, Southside Worker Center

Jorge crossed the border at Tijuana in the

trunk of a car at age 25.
The worker center runs daily out of Southside
Presbyterian Church, helping to connect
day labor workers, many of them Spanish-
speaking immigrants, with employers.
It works to ensure fair wages and safe/fair
treatment of workers.

“No matter where you are from, we’re glad you are our neighbor.”
Yessinia
Mariposas Sin Fronteras

A Tucson, AZ based group that seeks to end

the systemic violence and abuse of LGBTQ
people held in prison and immigration
detention.
Rev. Alison Harrington
Southside Presbyterian Church
The Southside Presbyterian Church led the
Sanctuary movement in the 1980s under the
guidance of Rev. John Fife.
Under the current pastor, Rev. Harrington,
Southside continues to offer Sanctuary
including to "Rosa" recently for 15
months. ICE observes the sanctuary
traditions of a safe space.
Over 9,000 “We Stand With Rosa” were
posted throughout Tucson.

"I take my Executive Orders from Christ and I'm going to follow them."
Rev. Ken Kennon
Activist, Author
Rev. Ken Kennon, Disciples of Christ retired
minister and leader of the Sanctuary
movement.
Worked in the Sanctuary movement since
1981 in small churches.
Protested at School of the Americas and
served six months in prison.
Collected migrant’s stories and helped
bond them out of prison when arrested.
Last Day, Lasting Friendships
Tucson