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Welcome home, Rocio! She was deported to Mexico on January 2, 2020, after she applied for Parole in Place, an immigration process that is strictly for immediate family members of those in the military. She has US citizen children, including her son who is an officer in the US Army.
We are full of joy knowing that she will no longer be away from her children! Join us in welcoming her back home.
Our immigration system needs to stop separating families. Our community deserves better!
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Watch our IG Live from May 20th!
"Deported mother of active military officer returns home today!
We did a thing!
Rocio Rebollar was deported on January 2, 2020 although she applied for parole im place because her son is an active military officer.
Today, she is getting home after we applied for her permission to enter the U.S.!!
Thank you for supporting Rocio and other deported moms! ❤️"
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May 8th's Water Drop was heavy, but very productive. On Saturday we had two groups venture out, one in the desert and one in the mountains. The group that went out to the desert was able to resupply multiple drop sites along multiple routes. They found that all of the supplies previously left at the sites were consumed or taken. These areas were cleaned and heavily restocked. It is important for us to restock these areas before the temperature increases to the triple digits. This area experiences some of the hottest temperatures during the summer.
The group that went into the mountains explored an area that we recently learned about, and they were able to leave supplies. Through intense research and scouting, we were able to locate the scene where there was a BORSTAR rescue attempt and where three sisters from Oaxaca passed away just about 15 months ago to the day. This route required extreme bushwhacking, mountainside climbing, and snake hole dodging. With years of hiking experience and some good fortune on our side, all our team members made it through this long and arduous route without any issues.
We cleaned up years of discarded items, from food cans and water bottles to broken backpacks and clothes damaged from the extreme terrain. We invited a Franciscan Brother that used to work and provide humanitarian aid along migrant trails in Arizona who is now working in California to come out to the site of the tragic passing and the nearby shrine to provide blessings for those sisters, and those who will pass through that area on their journey.
As difficult as it is to process tragedy and needless death, we recognize that the best way to do so is to honor those lives lost and show up with consistency to do whatever we can to prevent this from happening again.
For any questions regarding our Water Drop program, please email [email protected]. Until further notice, we are still not taking any new volunteers.
Click here to donate🖤💧
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We were able to start the month May with a good start! Our DLO coordinator and two longtime volunteers were able to distribute over 75 packages of snacks, water, and hygiene products to workers. They were even able to go twice this month. We were happy to hear that no injustices of harassment or labor violations have occurred recently.
The day laborers that we speak with are encouraged to report any adverse incidents that they are faced with, and whenever possible, we help them get in contact with legal support.
If you are interested in donating you can email us at [email protected] to donate assembled care packages with masks, neon T-shirts, and hand sanitizers.
We are always looking to partner with restaurants willing to donate prepped meals. For more info or questions please feel free to email us!
Donate to our DLO, click here.
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Thanks to your continued support, we were able to fund this Mother's Day celebration at Puerta de Esperanza, a shelter committed to offering a support system and the opportunity of new beginnings to women and children that have recently been deported.
We are grateful to celebrate the strong women who make sacrifices to better their children's future. Your donations helped make this happen!
To donate to our Shelter Aid Program click here.
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#VocesDeEsperanza
More than 1,500 people at the #LaEsperanza Encampment at El Chaparral, Tijuana, are mostly women, children and adolescents. The authorities have still not listened to them, thus exposing them to risks to their physical, psychological and emotional integrity. In addition, they are targets of racism and xenophobia.
Ana is a Honduran woman who left her country one year and eight months ago to seek asylum in the United States. However, after all of this time, her voice continues to be silenced. That is why it is urgent that the corresponding authorities make contact and listen to the people who are seeking asylum in order to attend to their needs for international protection and basic necessities.
To donate to our Shelter Aid Program click here.
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We freed the 80th person from for-profit immigration prison! Elvin is an asylum seeker from Guatemala who spent a month inside the Imperial Regional Detention Center. He was released one week before his 41st birthday.
There are many reasons as to why people flee Guatemala, an ethnically diverse country in Central America. They are escaping gang threats and unruly violence that has claimed the innocent lives of many. The country has faced immense droughts during the last 5 years, devastating crops and causing agricultural workers and small-scale farmers to migrate.
Our goal this year is to free 100 people from immigration detention, and we need YOUR help.
When you donate to our Familias Reunidas Immigration Bond Fund you are helping a mother hug her son, a husband hug his spouse, friends be together again, and so much more!
DONATE HERE
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SAVE THE DATE!!
We hope you will join us for Healing While Undocumented: An interactive workshop for the undocumented community addressing trauma and prioritizing mental health with activist, DACA recipient, and Clinical Psychology doctoral candidate Norma Ramirez.
June 18th at 4 PM/PST.
Registration link available soon!
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Our Border Angels Logo T-shirts and Face Coverings are now available. Head to our Online Shop here: https://www.borderangels.org/shop.html
to get yours now before we’re out!
You can still stock up on Tu Vida Vales shirts, Black Lives Matter shirts, water bottles, hats, and other merchandise.
Be on the lookout for new merch very soon!
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Last week Grace Sesma joined us for a discussion on central land acknowledgment, community and curanderismo.
We thank her for sharing her wisdom with us!
Click the video above to watch or click here!
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On May 18th we got a very special message in the mail!
Thank you to Joanna and to every single one of you who has supported us in some way, you are the reason we can continue our life-saving work!
If you would like to donate or host a fundraiser on
behalf of Border Angels head to our website or email us at [email protected].
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Take a look at the Border Angels electrical box that was part of the 'Barrios Limpio Project' to beautify electrical boxes all around Barrio Logan!
These beautiful designs can be found near our office by Sherman Heights Community Center. All of the designs exemplify the work and values of Border Angels.
A huge thank you to Maricruz Velasco, Xochitl Flores, Jessica Petrikowski and Misael Ruiz !
for gracing us with their beautiful artwork!
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We are happy to announce that we are partnering with Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Resource Center in Barrio Logan to increase access to resources for community members!
The Community Resource Center exists to advocate for and assist those in need by providing programs and services in collaboration with other local organizations. Those services include CALFresh, Calworks, COVID-19 appointments, food, job preparation, mental health support, utilities and so much more.
We look forward to being a part of the many valuable tools and services offered here!
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Immigration lawyers warn of 'notario' fraud
Licensed immigration attorneys worry that with the border crisis, notario fraud will increase.
By Abbie Alford
"SAN DIEGO — Migrants on both sides of the border are being targeted by fake attorneys.
It’s called notario fraud - scammers posing as lawyers and extorting vulnerable immigrants.
Just on the other side of the San Ysidro border at El Chaparral encampment in Tijuana are 2,000 immigrants who are waiting to enter the U.S.
“These folks are very vulnerable, very desperate,” said Dulce Garcia, Esq., an immigration attorney.
Under the guise of an immigration attorney, predators are snaking their way through El Chaparral and obtaining immigrants' personal information and extorting them.
“They have been receiving calls saying, ‘we have all your information now, you better pay us money before you are able to cross over to the U.S and if you don't we know where you are going to be, who you are and who your family is in the US,’” said Garcia.
She is a licensed immigration attorney and the executive director of the nonprofit, Border Angels, and has spent the last two weeks at El Chaparral with the immigrants and has heard their stories of being targeted by scammers."
Read full article
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San Diego County will provide immigrants with lawyers
By Associated Press
"SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego County will provide attorneys to immigrants facing deportation proceedings under a pilot program approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.
The 3-2 vote orders work to begin on a $5 million, one-year pilot program administered through the county’s public defender’s office. It would provide lawyers for free to those detained at Otay Mesa Detention Center, the local federal immigration detention facility.
County staff have 90 days to report back on a plan to fund and operate the program permanently in partnership with immigrant defense and non-profit groups."
Read full article
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