Why the Southern Border is “The New Ellis Island” 

New report showcases a new way to look at the border, from the perspectives of border leaders — local law enforcement, academics, faith leaders and local government officials

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) –  On Wednesday, May 8 a group of border stakeholders released their report, “The New Ellis Island: Visions from the border for the future of America.”

The release of the report comes a day before markup is scheduled to begin on the border enforcement provisions of the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.”

A major concern for these stakeholders is the lack of consultation with border communities when it comes to setting border policy. Another concern, and the purpose of the report, is that there is a prevailing false narrative about the border. This report aims to set the record straight while offering a vision for the future of the border and the rest of the U.S.

As the amendment process to the current immigration reform proposal in the Senate moves forward, it is the hope of those at the border that their voices will be heard in the debate. The report is a collection of those voices and offers an alternative to the aggressive expansion of the already-militarized border enforcement system. Instead we can choose to prioritize community security, development in border regions and the protection of human rights of all who live at the border.