As Immigration Awareness Month draws to a close, Border Action Network has some thoughts we’d like to share with you. We have all witnessed the tragedy in Boston and our hearts go out to the city and the families affected by this tragic situation. We have also witnessed the birth of an Immigration Reform bill and sadly have seen those against reform attempt to tie it to the Boston crimes. Those that want to derail immigration reform will stop at nothing to reverse the movement. Please support reform by contacting your Senators and Congressional Representatives, let them know the American people do not want this process abandoned.
Last week BAN held a pressconference to respond to the bill presented by the Senate “Gang of Eight”. There are many things we agree with in the bill and many things we do not. As the bill progresses, we will share with you some of our thoughts on points in the proposal. Today, we post comments regarding the “Border Security” provisions from Executive Director of Border Action Network and Humane Borders, Juanita Molina: “More and more people are dying on the border already, even though immigration is down.This is a very heavy-handed response to economic migrants, and not proportionate to the risk they pose; the risk is from drug cartels, and that’s where the focus should be.”
Watch BAN's press conference below:
April 14th, Joel Smith of Humane Borders saw these vandalized water jugs on Ruby Road. When he stopped to examine them, he saw a body lying across the road, Joel went to check on the man and found he was still alive. The distressed man was from El Salvador and he asked Joel to call the Border Patrol, he said wanted to go home.
These situations are happening too frequently. Humanitarians are encountering more migrants that are dead or near death from their attempt to cross the desert and they are finding vandalism of water drops that are only meant to save human lives. In our efforts to secure our border, there is a human toll that must be addressed with compassion. Humane Borders and Border Action Network want humane solutions to be included in the immigration reform debate.
Links to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary's hearings on The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act
