From Patrick Taylor <[email protected]>
Subject Listening, Learning & Advocating
Date September 28, 2023 7:37 PM
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We must take action to advocate for our immigrant neighbors and border
solutions.
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

 

 

 

Listening, Learning & Advocating
Good afternoon,

In August, I was able to visit the U.S.-Mexico border while helping
facilitate a graduate course for faith and community leaders. We visited
migrants and community volunteers on both sides of the border, El Paso,
Texas and Juárez, learning from various presentations to help us better
understand the current legal process, law enforcement, and narratives
around the migrant crisis.

In Juárez, while visiting a migrant shelter and getting to meet the
people staying there, our group was able to hear why these families were
seeking entry to the United States. We heard stories about family
members they were looking forward to seeing again, jobs they had lined
up, skills they were hoping to bring to the U.S., and their dreams for a
better future. It was an oasis of joy and hope in the heat of the desert
and the waiting.

In El Paso, we heard the many heart-breaking reasons people had for
leaving their home countries while spending an afternoon in an
immigration court, where the quiet solemnity of the courtroom and the
seriousness of the proceedings highlighted the challenge that people
face on both sides of the border. The judge we observed was noteworthy
in the El Paso court system because her denial rate was just under 70%,
contrasting with the over 90% denial rate of the other judges. Following
our crash-course in immigration law, it was surprising how easy it was
to follow the proceedings; we were able to see how quickly changes to
immigration policies affect the court proceedings and relief given to
those seeking shelter.

As we volunteered at the Casa del Sagrado Corazón, a migrant shelter in
El Paso, we were able to experience some people's first moments of
welcome after being granted entry. The welcome was emotional, as they
were told, "Bienvenido. ¡Estás libre!" Welcome. You're free! Tears
often followed. The relief in finding safety, however temporary, was
palpable. So many had dire reasons that led them to leave the homes and
communities they had known and seek entry into the U.S. As for our
group, we were gifted with new reasons to work for the immigration
reform our country and neighbors desperately need - as well as many
reasons to hope.

Narratives and headlines shape public imagination on immigration, but in
the shelters, courtrooms, and our own communities are the beating hearts
of our immigrant neighbors, full of aspirations, hopes, dreams, and
gifts to offer. In our own states, assisting in opening avenues for
refugee resettlement can bring us close enough to hear the life-giving
stories of our immigrant neighbors. Advocating for meaningful reforms
in our immigration system directly affects
those who need it most. If Congress would act to find a bipartisan
legislative solution for the border, to help
the overwhelmed judges and years-long backlog of cases, it would go a
long way. I know coming back from the border that I will not make them
wait on me to do what I can to better advocate for positive change.

Stay hopeful and committed,

Patrick    

**Patrick Taylor**
BBB Mobilizer for South Carolina
National Immigration Forum 

**NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:**

****

**FORBES:**Looming government shut down could impact immigration cases

**CBS NEWS:**U.S. aims to resettle up to 50,000 refugees from Latin
America in 2024 under Biden plan

**AP:**Mexico pledges to set up checkpoints to 'dissuade' migrants
from hopping freight trains to US border

**CNN:**

****The number of migrants crossing the US-Mexico border is likely to
keep growing. Here are 3 reasons why

**NBC NEWS:**Whistleblowers say U.S. government's poor oversight may
have led to migrant kids' working in unsafe and illegal jobs

**NPR:**Biden extends Temporary Protected Status to nearly 400,000
Venezuelan Migrants

 

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