BNHR applauds County Resolution Re: Arizona; plans more events

Contact:

Louie Gilot

Policy Director

Border Network for Human Rights

(915) 274-0541

lgilot@bnhr.org

May 3, 2010

**Noon Wednesday: 30 El Paso Hispanics turn themselves in at the county jail**

BORDER NETWORK APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF COUNTY RESOLUTION,

ESCALATES RESPONSE TO ARIZONA LAW SB1070

El Paso, TX –The Border Network for Human Rights praises El Paso County Commissioners’ Court for passing a resolution today opposing Arizona law SB1070 and calling for its repeal. The Border Network fully agree with the text of the resolution that says,

“The County of El Paso will oppose any attempts in the Texas Legislature to shape immigration policies or to create state laws and regulations that foster racial profiling or discrimination based on race, ethnicity or national origin and attempt to enact immigration laws that should be within the jurisdiction of the federal government, and which mandate that local property taxpayers shoulder the burden of enforcing federal laws.”

The resolution also calls for a boycott of Arizona companies, travel to Arizona and Arizona events. The Border Network recognizes the leadership of County Commissioners Veronica Escobar, Anna Perez and Willie Gandara who listened to the community and took action to protect El Pasoans’ rights.

The Border Network will continue to escalate its response to Arizona law SB 1070 with a symbolic action Wednesday and is inviting the media to join us.

What: About 30 El Pasoans, handcuffed, will turn themselves in at the county jail in Downtown El Paso.

When: 11:45 a.m. Wednesday. Please be on time.

Why: The Arizona law makes Hispanics criminals, liable to be arrested if they look like undocumented immigrants. Is that the kind of society we want to live in?

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More information on the Border Network for Human Rights: This organization, founded in 1998, is one of the leading immigration reform and human rights advocacy organization in the United States. Based in El Paso, the BNHR counts about 4,000 members in El Paso and Southern New Mexico.