A Letter to El Paso Local, State and Federal Representatives to Act and Support for Inclusive Solutions During Pandemic Crisis
The Border Network for Human Rights with the Peace and Justice Ministry of the Catholic
Diocese of El Paso and the undersigned organizations are calling on all legislators representing
El Paso, from city to federal levels, to take action to create financial resources for all those
members of our borderland community who have been left out of the federal stimulus packet,
who lack the means to seek health and medical services and have no access to unemployment
benefits or to emergency assistance funds at our local level.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created havoc in our lives, disrupted our daily routines, made us
change the ways we do things and pushed a considerable number of workers into joblessness.
Many of them worked in essential businesses, but will not receive any financial support
because they are undocumented immigrants, or file their tax return with an ITI number or
might not have economic means to face this crisis. Many, such as a large number of
farmworkers, may not have lost their employment, as they are essential to cultivate food, but
at the same time do not qualify for financial assistance and needed health services.
COVID-19 testing, medical care, food assistance, no tenant eviction, and no utility shut-off
orders are available for everyone in our borderland independent of their immigration status.
That is very good and important, but not enough. Rent and utility bills must still be paid,
medicine and other items that Food Banks do not supply must still be bought, etc. All of this, in
turn, helps our economy not to stall further. Additionally, when everybody is protected,
regardless of their status, all the community is protected and all members of El Paso community
are safe.
Therefore, BNHR, the PJ Ministry of the Catholic Diocese, and all the undersigned organizations
to this letter, request that the legislators representing El Paso at the various government levels,
including city council members, county commissioners, state representatives and senators, and
federal congress representatives, to pass resolutions and other legislations pertaining to the
level of government that will direct city, county, state, and federal government to create access
to the necessary financial resources for all the members of our borderland community who
have been left out in all previous financial resources.
For the El Paso City council members, we ask that you:
1. Work collaboratively with the private and public sectors to create an alternate fund,
which the members of our community who have been excluded from other forms of
financial help can apply and receive financial assistance;
2. Expand the set of qualifications necessary to access existing city funds (CDBG grants), so
the members of our community who have been excluded from financial support, may
qualify to receive needed resources;
3. Pass a City of El Paso RESOLUTION requesting that our federal representative in
Congress press forward the passage of a fourth (4th) stimulus packet, which will include
financial help to all the above-mentioned members of our community.
For the El Paso County Commissioners, we ask that you:
1. Work collaboratively with the private and public sectors to create an alternate fund,
which the members of our community who have been excluded from other forms of
financial help can apply and receive financial assistance;
2. Expand the set of qualifications necessary to access existing county funds (General
Assistance Fund), so the members of our community who have been excluded from
financial support, may qualify to receive needed resources;
3. Pass a County of El Paso RESOLUTION requesting that our federal representative in
Congress press forward the passage of a fourth (4th) stimulus packet, which will include
financial help to all the above-mentioned members of our community.
For the El Paso State Representatives and Senator, we ask that you:
1. Support goals 1 and 2 above for the City and County;
2. Write a Statement of Support request that our federal representative in Congress press
forward the passage of a fourth (4th) stimulus packet, which will include financial help to
all the above-mentioned members of our community.
For the El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, we ask that you:
1. Support goals 1 and 2 above for the City and County;
2. Press forward the passage of a fourth (4th) stimulus packet, which will include financial
help to all the above-mentioned members of our community.
Thanking you for all that you have already done to help our city overcome and face the
challenges posed by this unprecedented pandemic crisis, avoid an overload of our healthcare
system, and save lives, we request that you take the above mentioned actions to further
respond to this crisis, save even more lives from collapsing, help sustain our economy, and
shine even more brightly as an El Paso united and strong does not leave anyone behind but
knows how to include everyone.
Border Network for Human Rights
Peace and Justice Ministry of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso
Border Agricultural Workers Center
Most Reverend Mark Seitz, Bishop of El Paso
Annunciation House
Coalition Against Violence Toward Women and Families at the U.S.-Mexico Border
Columban Mission Center
Community First Coalition of El Paso
Desert ADAPT
El Paso Equal Voice Network
El Otro Lado Border Immersion Program- Cathedral High School
Familias Unidas del Chamizal
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center
San Vincent de Paul Diocesan Chapter
Marist Brothers Community
Maryknoll Lay Misssionaries of El Paso
Maryknoll Sisters of El Paso
Paso del Sur
