Border Angels Weekly Newsletter
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Thank you so much Marian for being such a wonderful part of our team!
You immediately fit in with all of us since you joined Border Angels. Your knowledge and kindness shows up effortlessly in all that you do. We appreciate you for all of your amazing work.
Your self-motivation and dedication has been inspiring. We look forward to witnessing your future accomplishments.
Gracias Marian,
Eres un verdadero angel!
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We have the luxury of being well fed, rested, and hydrated before heading to the desert. We hike with the knowledge that we are safe and the privilege to be able to call for help if necessary. We are never truly alone. We hike with abundant water, electrolytes, air conditioned cars waiting for us with ice chests full to cool us off....and still it is difficult.
Every single year we learn more about how little we know about the true journey of desert migration and gain even more respect for the mission at hand. Every year we see signs of people being pushed further and further in already unimaginable circumstances.
Despite a deadly global pandemic and their practices having already funneled thousands to their death in the desert, Border Patrol remains in the desert, mountains, and checkpoints ensuring that those seeking safety must travel exponentially longer distances in dangerous conditions.
Apprehensions, detention, deportations, all these practices persists despite the risks to everyone involved and we expect they will continue regardless of how long this particular crisis lasts and how much death and danger results. Which is why we have not, and will never leave the desert. As long as people are crossing through, we’ll be there.
For any questions regarding our desert trips during Covid-19, please email Water Drop Co-Director James Cordero ([email protected])
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We are grateful for educators like you that are promoting change, compassion and equality in your classroom! We were touched by bright young minds that are determined to change the world in the future.
The world and education systems have changed so drastically given the global pandemic, and we commend all teachers and students for being so resilient. Listening to your students speak about a subject that is so current, and how they are questioning power structures and promoting activism, fills us with hope for the future.
Thank you!
Please email us at [email protected] if you're interested in having us speak to your class or on a panel.
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Familias Reunidas Bond Program
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Yafeu, a young gay asylum seeker from Ghana, was released on bond thanks to our Families Reunidas Bond Program. Due to a vicious attack in his home country, he has to use a walker; this attack forced him to flee Ghana. During that attack his life partner who he loved very much, was tragically beat to death in front of him.
Our country’s unjust policies kept this disabled asylum seeker, who is in need of surgery, incarcerated at the Otay Detention Center for four and a half months. The LGBTQ+ migrant community faces harassment while they're detained from both the guards and from other migrants.
Thankfully Yafeu made a friend while detained who provided him with much needed support (more on him on our next post!). We know that we cannot make up for all that Yafeu has lost in Ghana, and everything that he went through during his journey to the US. But, his freedom, humanity, and moments of happiness are what we CAN help provide for him.
Yafeu's story is incredibly inspirational. He wanted his story to be shared and we are in awe of his bravery and resilience. Let this story serve as a reminder of all the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers that are waiting in horrid detention centers. Yafeu represents so many others subjected to racist and inhumane policies, and we must not forget the urgency of advocating for people to be released from detention.
It is a continuous honor to work with Minority Humanitarian Foundation. We will continue to share the journey of all of the amazing individuals that have been fortunate to have been released.
We have to continue to uplift their stories and to use of voice and power to keep proactively working to stop the persecution of black and brown folks in America -- for Yafeu, for all of us!
We thank everyone that has supported this bond fund. Continue to help us free more migrants from detention.
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This week we had the honor to collaborate with Freedom for Immigrants. Together we were able to get two individuals from Eritrea out of the Otay Mesa Detention Center through our Familias Reunidas Bond Program.
Tesfay and Isaias were released on the same day. They are excited to begin their new life in Oakland surrounded by a community that supports them! They're both so happy and thankful to be free after having spent four months in detention.
Their spirits and positivity serve as an example of the resilience and strength of our beloved migrant community. We celebrate this huge victory amidst such trying times, and we are hopeful that we will be able to continue getting more people released. Every day spent inside the Otay Mesa Detention Center is one day too many.
Let Tesfay and Isaias's story serve as a reminder of all of the hundreds of migrants waiting in horrible conditions while in the custody of our government. Let us work together and continue advocating for systems and policies that treat everyone with dignity and respect.
We are proud to work alongside organizations that share our values and promote a culture of love as we do. We are also proud to have now freed over 30 people from detention!
Again, we thank you for your support and ask you to continue to help us make sure immigrants are #FreeAndAlive.
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Today we share another story of one of the recipients from our Families Reunidas Bond Program, Elias. On May 2nd, this young man was finally released from the Otay Mesa Detention Center.
Upon being released he was able to play piano, drink wine and talk until his family was able to pick him up. He was fortunate to experience a bit of joy and normalcy after everything he was subjected to.
Elias is a nurse and a political activist fleeing persecution from the Venezuelan government. He initially went to Colombia, but he was not safe there either and he set out for Mexico with the goal of seeking asylum in the US. Elias was able to finally apply for asylum one year ago.
During this last year he was subjected to a combination of racist policies. He was forced to wait in Mexico pursuant to this administration’s illegal “metering” policy and then under the despicable Migrant “Protection” Protocols (MPP). The immigration judge assigned to his case is notorious for denying asylum. After his final court hearing, he was taken to la hielera (the icebox), which are tiny, crowded, and freezing holding rooms, only to end up detained at the Otay Mesa Detention Center.
The ICE deportation officer assigned to his case wasn't very helpful and after two months of asking her about the status of the parole request, told stated that she never received it. Elias's attorney had to file a habeas petition in federal court which was successful; however, he was given an unaffordable bond amount of $15,000.
ICE refused to reduce his bond amount and federal judges refused to release healthy people from Otay Mesa despite COVID multiplying from 1 case to over 100 cases in only a month.
On May 2nd Elias’s luck changed. He was released because of the relentless work of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium and our Border Angels team. We are incredibly thankful to all of you who have shared and supported our program.
We are especially thankful to our board and program committee member, Kirsten Zittlau, for all of her hard work on this case. As she said, “It takes not only a village these days, it takes a community.”
Let this story serve as a reminder of all the mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers who are simply seeking a place or a part in this country. Elias represents so many others that are met with racist and inhumane policies.
We must not forget the urgency of advocating for migrants to be released from ICE detention centers. This pandemic continues to be unforgiving and we will not allow any more lives lost.
Again, we thank you for your support and ask you to continue to help us make sure immigrants are #FreeAndAlive.
Donate by clicking the button down below!
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Our Executive Director, Dulce Garcia, along with Erin Grassi and other members of SDIRC (San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium), called on Senator Toni G. Atkins to take action in support of Health4All Seniors.
Lobbying legislators in person is not currently an option due to the pandemic, however we fortunate to be able to virtually participate. We are committed to ensuring that the needs of our communities are heard by politicians.
Remember your voice is one of the most important tools you have. Use it to be the change YOU want to see in YOUR community!
Email Governor Newsom using the form below and let him know that seniors need coverage NOW.
https://secure.everyaction.com/MFIy0uiBIkOC_nIxo30VdQ2
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With our new Green Cards for Kids program, we are so lucky to be able to work with immigration attorney Fabiola Navarro who will be representing these children
It is crucial that we help these children as they have already suffered enough abuse, neglect and/or abandonment.
With your continued support, we can help pay for the legal representation these children deserve in this critical time of their lives.
Please consider donating! No amount is too small!
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Con nuestro nuevo programa de Green Cards for Kids, tenemos la suerte de poder trabajar con la abogada de inmigración Fabiola Navarro, quien representará a estos niños.
Es crucial que ayudemos a estos niños ya que ya han sufrido suficiente abuso, negligencia y / o abandono.
Con su continuo apoyo, podemos ayudar a pagar la representación legal que estos niños merecen en este momento crítico de sus vidas.
Por favor considere donar, ¡Ninguna cantidad es demasiado pequeña!
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You can donate to Border Angels when you shop on Amazon.
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible items to Border Angels!
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Tienes la oportunidad de donar a Border Angels cuando compras en Amazon.
Amazon nos donará el 0.5% del precio de compra de artículos elegibles!
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Despite the growing challenges of this pandemic, Border Angels remains determined to protect and support the community we have pledged to serve. Even though we are currently unable to accept physical donations, we are always accepting monetary donations to support:
1. Our Shelter Aid Program❤️: Especially now that we are unable to receive these items, we need your help to provide funds for groceries, hygiene products, utility bills, rent, clothes, etc.!
2. Familias Reunidas Bond Program👨👩👧: Given the severity of this outbreak, we NEED to get as many people out of the Otay Mesa Detention Center as we can. With your help we can post bond for more individuals! (Link in highlights under Bond Program)
3. Water Drop Program💧: Even after having to postpone public water drops, our team is still constantly in the desert scouting and dropping the supplies necessary for survival. Their work never stops, because the need never stops.
Thank you for your continued support.🖤🦋
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