Border Congressmen to Hold Field Hearing, Community Rally on Immigration Reform, Border Enforcement Accountability and Militarization
On September 16th Rep. O’Rourke (El Paso, TX), Rep. Grijalva (Tucson, Az) and Rep. Vela (Brownsville, TX) in will listen from diverse border stakeholders and community members on the need to shape effective and accountable border policies
(El Paso, Texas). The current immigration reform debate has created an opportunity for some Members of Congress to, once again, push an ‘enforcement first’ approach and has led to proposals that would further militarize U.S. border communities. BNHR has been working with members of Congressional Border Caucus to push back on the negative consequences of these proposals and to highlight the positive cultural, economic and social contributions that the southern border offers the rest of the United States.
BNHR is partnering with Congressman Beto O’Rourke to hold a series of hearings, site visits and town halls along the border. This border legislative summit will culminate in El Paso on September 16, 2013 when three members of Congress representing border communities will convene a Congressional Field and a Community Rally to advance immigration reform that addresses the need for a roadmap to citizenship with accountable and balanced immigration and border enforcement.
Congressional Field Hearing to Discuss Border Security, Economic Development and Accountable Enforcement
El Paso City Hall Chambers on 300 N. Campbell St.
From 10am to 11:30 am
Monday, September 16th will begin with a Field Hearing with emphasis on the importance of a healthy, secure, and prosperous border with Mexico for border communities and the nation. Congressman O’Rourke will be joined by Congressman Raul Grijalva (AZ-3) and Congressman Filemon Vela (TX-34). The Congressmen will take testimony and ask questions of a diverse set of border stakeholders including El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles, Las Cruces Mayor Ken Mayagishima, BNHR Executive Director Fernando Garcia, El Paso Chamber of Commerce representative Kathleen Walker, IBC Senior VP Eddie Aldrete, Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project Legal Director Jed Untereker, Immigration Attorney Carlos Spector, and others.
Community Rally on Immigration Reform, Accountable Border Enforcement and the Consequences of Militarization
El Paso Natural Gas Conference Center at UTEP (Across for Library)
From 1 pm to 2:30 pm
At 1:00pm a Community Rally on immigration reform and border enforcement with the Congressional Border Caucus members will take place. During this event, community members will rally in support of a roadmap to citizenship with that does not militarize our region or sacrifice the civil and human rights of border residents.
The goal for these events is to analyze and bring attention to currently proposed immigration legislation dealing with borders and to identify gaps and remedies for negative consequences. BNHR will continue to work for a border enforcement system that is moves away from a militaristic approach, that is accountable to the needs of our communities, and that allows oversight mechanisms to prevent fiscal irresponsibility, abuse and mistreatment.
The Border Network for Human Rights, founded in 1998, is one of the leading human rights advocacy and immigration reform organizations located at the U.S./Mexico Border. BNHR has over 7,000 members in West Texas and Southern New Mexico.
