XOXO, Border Angels

We are so grateful to be awarded 2021 Community Organization of the Year by the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium.

"Border Angels for collaborating with organizations in Tijuana to form the Chaparral Humanitarian Alliance to get almost 1000 migrants across the border through Huisha Title 42 exemptions and provide humanitarian aid to migrants in the encampment; offering testimony in congressional hearing; bringing back mother of deported military officer Rocio Rebollar; supporting 17 shelters in Tijuana, weekly water drops in the desert, placing 100 bonds for imm/migrants in detention, participation in Immigrant Day, playing a leading role at the TRUTH Act Forum, and advocating for the VISION Act."

We also recognize the winners of their respective categories: CAL FIRE San Diego Protection District, Guillermo Mendez, Haitian Bridge Alliance , APALA San Diego, Al Otro Lado, ans UURISE. As well as the other nominees like our partners Borderline Crisis Center and so many more for a year filled with dedication and hard work advancing immigrant and refugee rights and helping immigrant and refugee communities in 2021!
Eviction at the "El Chaparral" Encampment

The residents of the “El Chaparral” encampment were evicted by authorities, the Municipal Police, and the National Guard in Tijuana yesterday at 4:00 AM without previous notice, leaving families unprotected, without a place to go and in a complete unsheltered situation.

350 elements of the municipal police and National Guard were deployed for the eviction of 86 family units, a total of 326 people, outnumbering the number of migrants. Migrants stated that they felt fear, panic, confusion, and terror when they were awakened at 4:00 AM by this violent action; children being the most affected. The officers carried batons and riot gear, generating more trauma for those who have already suffered violent attacks by authorities or organized crime.

The confusion generated by the surprise operation caused several people to lose or fail to retrieve important belongings, which were later destroyed and discarded by the authorities. This included important documents, food, water, clothing, children's toys, tents, blankets, grills, pots, and much more.

The information given to migrants by the authorities is that they are to be relocated to several shelters. However, these shelters have no certainty of a long stay, and they have indicated a 15-day limit. Some of the families have been at the El Chaparral encampment for as long as 9 months.

To read the full press release by El Chaparral Humanitarian Alliance
Click Here ([link removed])
PROGRAM UPDATES:

Last weekend we started to make what could be the beginning of our final passes with cold supplies in these mountainous areas, as the next time we come back through these routes the weather may be a lot warmer.

We climbed steep mountainsides, crawled over rocks and pushed through bushes in order to get all of our drop sites stocked with food, water and warm winter clothing items.

For any questions regarding our Water Drop program, please email [email protected]. Until further notice, we are still not taking any new volunteers.

Until further notice, we are still not taking any new volunteers. Click here to donate ([link removed]) 💧
We are on a roll with our Green Cards for Kids program, and have added one more case: A 5-year old! We're able to take on these cases now that we have a second attorney for this program and are looking forward to starting Special Immigrant Juvenile Status proceedings with the hopes of securing legal permanent residency.

Click here ([link removed]) to donate to our Green Cards for Kids program.
Spaghetti and ribs for our migrant siblings in Tijuana! Thanks for your continued support of our Shelter Aid program and helping the directors feed families in 18 different shelters, and the El Chaparral migrant encampment.

We’re so happy to be part of moments like these and providing a little love and comfort amidst so much uncertainty. Hit the button above to donate and join the Tijuana shelter dinner tables!

To support our Shelter Aid Program Click Here ([link removed])
"Killing journalists won't kill the truth"

Margarito Martínez Esquivel, a renowned police news photographer, was shot dead outside his home in Tijuana on January 17.
His death dismayed the community of journalists on both sides of the border who, still not recovering, greeted the year with the murder of Lourdes Maldonado López, a veteran journalist who was also shot to death outside her home in Tijuana on January 24. Before these two heartfelt losses in Tijuana, on January 10, unknown individuals stabbed journalist José Luis Gamboa to death in Veracruz. January wasn't over yet, when, on January 31, three unknown assailants shot and killed a lawyer working for a media outlet, Roberto Toledo in Michoacán.

The three murders of journalists confirm the statements of Reporters Without Borders, which qualifies Mexico as the most dangerous country to practice journalism, even with more significant risk than covering a nation at war. The rating of Reporters Without Borders for Mexico in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 is shaping up along the same path.

The journalists murdered in January had each warned they feared for their lives or that they all denounced threats. None of the governments in Mexico did anything to prevent these deaths.

We are heartbroken to learn of these heinous crimes against those committed to shedding light on the facts and making necessary information public.

“Matando periodistas no se mata la verdad/Killing journalists does not kill the truth.’

Images by Mexican journalist and Border Angels staff member Manuel Ocaño.
Save the Date:
Save the Date for our upcoming event Immigration and Inclusion: A talk on migration, inclusion, and persons with disabilities. With motivational speaker, author, and activist Alex Montoya. Alex Montoya is a thought leader who has written eight books – including a children’s one about inclusion. His company, A-MOtivational Communications, creates inspiring in-person and virtual talks. In 2020 he also launched The Alex Montoya Podcast and The Alex Montoya Foundation to celebrate disability and immigrant communities. Check out the next slide to read a little bit more about him!

Join us as we discuss the importance of inclusivity in relation to the immigration journey on Friday, Feb 25th at 2 PM. There is no need to register, this talk will be broadcasted live on our Website, Facebook Live, and Youtube channel!
BA and Via International

Via International has been one of our longest-standing partnerships for educational water drops, day labor outreach, friendship park visits, and many more opportunities. We are so grateful to Rigo and his team for always sending wonderful and eager-to-learn groups our way. This Educational Water Drop was one of our last in-person opportunities with some wonderful folx from Santa Clara University.

As we once again navigate the "new normal" we are thankful for partnerships like this one who work with us to find new and exciting educational opportunities. For more info on remote and virtual opportunities email us at [email protected]
BA IN THE NEWS

The story of the Chula Vista and San Diego team that helped 1,000 migrants cross the border
The Chaparral Humanitarian Alliance Coalition, which includes Border Angels, AFSC, APALA SD, Psicologos Sin Fronteras, Unified US Deported Veterans abs Bordeline Crisis Center helped about 1,000 vulnerable migrants to cross the border.

The asylum process activated for a few weeks in 2021 during the year President Joe Biden took office, which was a time that a team in Chula Vista and San Diego used to help about 1,000 migrants cross the border.
The Biden administration refused to activate the asylum process, but the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) won a lawsuit that allowed the most vulnerable migrants waiting at the border to gradually pass through.

“What we did was that we organized ourselves as a group and went where the other organizations did not dare, to the El Chaparral camp in Tijuana, in search of those vulnerable cases,” attorney Dulce García told Chula Vista Today.

Read Full Article Here ([link removed])

Hundreds of migrants kicked out of makeshift camp by Mexican government
This discussion comes after 300 migrant men and women and children were woken up by the Mexican military carrying batons and riot shields. They forcibly kicked these families out of their makeshift camp, before sunrise.

“The government perpetuated this xenophobic narrative that they are criminals and deserve to be treated with this kind of violent force,” said Garcia.

Migrants of the camp say the military treated them worse than criminals. While others add they were not even given the chance to pick up belongings. They ended up leaving valuables and perishables.

“The children were scared, they were traumatized by this eviction. So imagine you are sleeping at four in the morning where you have been staying for months, some were staying for nine months. And it was ten days short of the anniversary,” said Garcia.

Read Full Article Here ([link removed])

[link removed]
San Diego proposes new street vendor law, immigration advocates concerned:
Street vending became legal under a 2018 state law aimed at encouraging a new class of small entrepreneurs among California’s low-income residents. But in San Diego, the journey to legally selling goods from a public park or on the street is not yet complete.
In the city’s latest proposal on sidewalk vending, there would be new limits on street vendors, from where they operate, to the months they can do business. It includes limits to street vending in some communities during summer months, and year-round in certain parts of popular tourist areas, like the Gaslamp Quarter.
“For us, street vending is a matter of economic equality, of equity, for these people,” said Dulce Garcia, executive director of the nonprofit organization Border Angels. She said many immigrant families survived the pandemic by turning to street vending. “This is an issue that we know disproportionately affects Black and brown communities. And even more vulnerable within that subsection is our undocumented community,” Garcia said.

Read Full Article Here ([link removed])

Three San Diego Nonprofits Recognized for Good Governance by USD Institute
Stephen Chin, chair of the Nonprofit Institute’s advisory board, praised the three organizations for the “exceptional work of their boards in providing crucial leadership, guidance, and oversight to the nonprofits they serve.” Border Angels seeks to reduce the number of fatalities along the U.S.-Mexico border through education, water drops in the desert, outreach to day laborers and support for migrants and and asylum seekers.

We are still so excited to have received such an extraordinary recognition! Thanks again to USD, our board, staff, and supporters! You can find the full ceremony in our link in bio under 18th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium.

Read Full Article Here ([link removed])
DON'T FORGET THE MERCH:

We have everything from t-shirts, to totes, to water bottles! All merchandise purchases go towards our programs and life-saving work.

Visit our online shop here ([link removed]) .
Looking for asylum-seeking resources? / Busca recursos sobre asilo?

Visit our page on the link below for the most up-to-date asylum information, including the latest Know Your Rights session presented by Borderline Crisis Center.

Visite nuestra pagina web en el enlace de abajo para la information mas reciente sobre el asilo incluyendo la sesion mas reciente de Conozca Sus Derechos presentada por Borderline Crisis Center.

Click Here ([link removed])
Border Angels Youtube Channel ([link removed][0]=AT0P45H2q2-G7hh2HJVCdSovBnNvl1GxplLNLpBF7cPAHW5QODu_mUxSRz65v6vumRlDjbWhdf3MsPC5WZy9Zj2tiqZTvoGcHvKqlMYz_MDxhCLNT5l14aWAW9ynRja12ju4HCeFh3Ezv7-Zkl8SnIO0GXFu96wh5q6pc94y_RsXpUnZTjEfi966GZRK4R7e2qnEVKc&mc_cid=0ffe5ceddd&mc_eid=UNIQID)

A quick reminder that there are many ways to support us and get involved with Border Angels!

DM, FB message, or email us any of your questions at [email protected]

We appreciate you!!
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