Border Action Network www.borderaction.org Buliding the Voice for Human Rights Free Fall 2010 Arizona Español al Reverso ¡ Ya Basta! Border Action Network formed in 1999 and works with immigrant and border communities in Arizona to ensure that our rights are respected, our human dignity upheld and that our communities are healthy places to live. We are a membership- based organization that combines grassroots community organizing, leadership develop- ment, litigation and policy advocacy. IN THIS ISSUE Page 2 Fight for Arizona Continues Page 3 President Obama Signs Border Bill Page 3 Community Groups’ Border Plan Page 4 Secure Communities Program Page 5 Peace, Justice & Freedom Committee Page 5 Immigration Reform in the Senate Page 6 SB1070 Injunction Page 6 New Staff By Hilary Tone, Communications Coordinator In response to the human rights crisis in Arizona, including the signing of Senate Bill 1070 in April, a group of 10 non-profit community organizations across the state joined forces and formed the One Arizona campaign to raise immigrant and Latino voices for the 2010 midterm elections. Through the summer and all the way up to Election Day on November 2, volunteers from these organizations walked in dozens of neighborhoods knocking on doors, delivering non-partisan voter edu- cation guides, registering new voters and most importantly, signing them up to permanently vote by mail. “Only 17% of more than half a million eligible Latino voters in Arizona usually voted before 2010,” said Judith Ordaz, the Civic Engagement Campaign Director for Border Action. “The One Arizona coalition increased that number by not only registering new voters, but by making voting easy and convenient with vote by mail. Latinos vote from the comfort of their own homes, and have three weeks before the election to turn in their ballots.” Before Election Day, organizations in the One Arizona coalition had collectively registered approximately 23,000 new Latino voters and had signed up around 47,000 to vote by mail. Though official numbers will not be available until February, it is estimated that the coalition turned out at least 18,000 voters on November 2, an unprecedented number for Latinos in the state. Latinos Go to the Polls in Record Numbers for Midterm Elections Border Action Network and other organizations in statewide “One Arizona” campaign register new Latino voters, sign thousands up to vote by mail for 2010 elections continued on page 2 A Border Action volunteer registers a new voter. By Hilary Tone, Communications Coordinator On Thursday, October 28, a delegation of Summit residents gave a press conference and delivered a report to Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik’s office detailing an incident on May 10, 2010 that has caused widespread con- cern within the Summit community and their interactions with law enforcement authorities. Last May 10th, as children at Summit View Elementary were finishing the school day and parents were on their way to pick them up, sev- eral vehicles from the Pima County Sheriff’s Office were stationed in front of the school stop- ping passing vehicles for no clear reason. One driver, the father of a Summit student, was taken out of his car, arrested, walked in handcuffs through the school’s parking lot and placed inside a deputy vehicle parked there. Another parent was stopped for a purported violation, which led to a Sheriff’s deputy calling Border Patrol. As a result of these events, fear and mistrust of law enforcement have spread throughout Summit, especially among children who are afraid to go back to school. “When we contacted the Sheriff’s office for information on this incident, we were told it was part of the ‘Beware Undercover Sheriff’ or BUS program, which targets drivers who ignore the stop-arm on the sides of school buses,” said Jaime Farrant, Border Action’s Policy Director. “Based on accounts from school officials and commu- nity members, officers carried out a very Pima County Sheriff Risks Children’s Safety in Summit Community Local residents express concern over law enforcement actions on Summit View Elementary school grounds Human Rights Promoter Clarisa Flores speaks to the media. continued on page 2
Transcript
Border Action Network www.borderaction.org Buliding the Voice for Human Rights
Free Fall 2010 Arizona Español al Reverso
¡Ya Basta!Border Action Network
formed in 1999 and
works with immigrant
and border
communities in Arizona
to ensure that our
rights are respected,
our human dignity
upheld and that our
communities are
healthy places to live.
We are a membership-
based organization that
combines grassroots
community organizing,
leadership develop-
ment, litigation and
policy advocacy.
IN THIS ISSUEPage 2 Fight for Arizona
ContinuesPage 3 President Obama
Signs Border BillPage 3 Community Groups’
Border PlanPage 4 Secure
Communities ProgramPage 5 Peace, Justice &
Freedom CommitteePage 5 Immigration Reform
in the SenatePage 6 SB1070 InjunctionPage 6 New Staff
By Hilary Tone,CommunicationsCoordinator
In response to the human rightscrisis in Arizona, including thesigning of Senate Bill 1070 inApril, a group of 10 non-profitcommunity organizations acrossthe state joined forces and formedthe One Arizona campaign to raiseimmigrant and Latino voices forthe 2010 midterm elections.Through the summer and all theway up to Election Day onNovember 2, volunteers from theseorganizations walked in dozens ofneighborhoods knocking on doors,delivering non-partisan voter edu-cation guides, registering newvoters and most importantly, signingthem up to permanently vote by mail.
“Only 17% of more than half a millioneligible Latino voters in Arizona usuallyvoted before 2010,” said Judith Ordaz,
the Civic Engagement CampaignDirector for Border Action. “TheOne Arizona coalition increased thatnumber by not only registering newvoters, but by making voting easyand convenient with vote by mail.Latinos vote from the comfort oftheir own homes, and have threeweeks before the election to turn intheir ballots.”
Before Election Day, organizationsin the One Arizona coalition hadcollectively registered approximately23,000 new Latino voters and hadsigned up around 47,000 to vote bymail. Though official numbers willnot be available until February, it isestimated that the coalition turnedout at least 18,000 voters on
November 2, an unprecedented numberfor Latinos in the state.
Latinos Go to the Polls in RecordNumbers for Midterm ElectionsBorder Action Network and other organizations in statewide
“One Arizona” campaign register new Latino voters, signthousands up to vote by mail for 2010 elections
continued on page 2
A Border Action volunteer registers a new voter.
By Hilary Tone, CommunicationsCoordinator
On Thursday, October 28, a delegation ofSummit residents gave a press conference anddelivered a report to Pima County SheriffClarence Dupnik’s office detailing an incident onMay 10, 2010 that has caused widespread con-cern within the Summit community and theirinteractions with law enforcement authorities.
Last May 10th, as children at Summit ViewElementary were finishing the school day andparents were on their way to pick them up, sev-eral vehicles from the Pima County Sheriff ’sOffice were stationed in front of the school stop-ping passing vehicles for no clear reason. Onedriver, the father of a Summit student, was takenout of his car, arrested, walked in handcuffsthrough the school’s parking lot and placed
inside a deputy vehicle parked there. Anotherparent was stopped for a purported violation,which led to a Sheriff ’s deputy calling BorderPatrol.
As a result of these events, fear and mistrust oflaw enforcement have spread throughoutSummit, especially among children who areafraid to go back to school.
“When we contacted the Sheriff ’s office forinformation on this incident, we were told it waspart of the ‘Beware Undercover Sheriff ’ or BUSprogram, which targets drivers who ignore thestop-arm on the sides of school buses,” said JaimeFarrant, Border Action’s Policy Director. “Basedon accounts from school officials and commu-nity members, officers carried out a very
Pima County Sheriff Risks Children’s Safetyin Summit Community
Local residents express concern over law enforcement actions
on Summit View Elementary school grounds
Human Rights Promoter Clarisa Flores speaks to the media.
continued on page 2
Border Action Network www.borderaction.org Buliding the Voice for Human Rights
Page 2 ¡Ya Basta! Fall 2010
As part of One Arizona, Border Action Network identified and contactedover 8,000 voters in five counties — Cochise, Santa Cruz, Yavapai,Yuma and Pima — who received home visits, phone calls, and mail urg-ing them to vote. Volunteers walked in local neighborhoods for severalhours every week, including evenings and weekends, and often broughtfriends and family members to help reach even more potential voters.Before November 2, Border Action registered more than 100 new votersand signed up more than 1,000 to vote by mail.
“Though getting out the Latino vote was a crucial part of our work inthis coalition,” said Ordaz, “Border Action and our fellow organizationsmore importantly created a sustainable framework within Latino andimmigrant communities. Through this campaign, coordinators and vol-unteers created an infrastructure that will fortify the Latino vote for yearsto come, and most importantly, for future elections.”
Eligible voters can still register and sign up to permanently vote by mailfor elections in 2012. Please contact the Border Action Network office at520.623.4944 to find out more.
Latino Vote continued from page 1
different operation, one that was used to spread fear and chaos, andalienated officers from this community.”
Since May, the Summit community has invited Sheriff Dupnik to twomeetings to discuss the incident and possible solutions for better com-munity relations and law enforcement operations in the future. On bothoccasions, the Sheriff refused to attend or to send a representative.During the press conference, however, a representative from the Sheriff ’soffice agreed to attend a forum in Summit before the end of the year.
“We respect and support law enforcement in our community and theirefforts to protect us,” said Angelica Zarazua, a member of the Summitdelegation. “But they must carry out their designated operations in away that is mindful of basic human rights, especially in the presence ofchildren. If they do not, they must hold themselves accountable.”
Pima County Sheriff continued from page 1
By Jennifer Allen, Executive Director
Though Federal Judge Susan Bolton blockedparts of SB1070 from going into effect onJuly 29th, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer andState Senator Russell Pearce (R-18) arealready fighting back with appeals and liningup next year’s slate of anti-immigrant bills.
There’s a long road ahead before Arizona canbe transformed into a state that respects andupholds the human rights and dignity of all.It will require a sustained movement in thecourts, the streets, the polling booths, withour wallets and house-to-house, school-to-school, and church-to-church. To keepArizona moving down that path, BorderAction Network recently launched “GetInformed, Be Prepared and Take Action,” astatewide community education campaign.
The campaign combines communicationstechnology with grassroots organizing andeducation to put the knowledge, skills andtools necessary to take back Arizona from thehands of those who want to turn it into a“papers please” state.
Some of the campaign’s key elements include:
Education and Preparation, House-
Meeting Style:
With the collaboration of the Applied ResearchCenter, Border Action is developing a 3-partseries to help build the confidence and pre-paredness of Spanish-speaking families at risk ofracial profiling and detention in Arizona. Eachcomponent includes a DVD and accessible,detailed materials for use in small-scale presen-tations in homes, schools, workplaces orchurches. The content includes 1) a carefulstudy of 1070 and the injunction; 2) Arizona
traffic and vehicle laws and how to interact withlaw enforcement; and 3) family preparedness incase of detention, deportation and even legaliza-tion.
New website:
At www.ban1070.com you will find updates,tools, and actions to register to vote, informationon the law’s legal challenges, economic boycotts,mobilizations & non-compliance campaigns,community education resources and a form toreport incidents of racial profiling and localpolice enforcing immigration law. The site iscompletely bilingual (to view it in English, justchange the language in the upper-right corner).
New Hotline and Documentation
System:
Myths, lies and misinformation dominatethe immigration and 1070 debate. Tobreak through the misinformation, BorderAction is documenting practices of racialprofiling, the impacts of police enforce-ment of immigration and other relatedincidents. To encourage reporting we offerthree easy approaches: 1) toll-free hotline1.877.908.1070; 2) online reporting atwww.ban1070.com; and 3) person-to-person reporting with one of BAN’strained volunteer Human Rights AbuseDocumenters spread across the state.
Public Service Announcements:
In partnership with the production team at“El Break,” Border Action is circulatingshort audio and video announcementshighlighting people’s constitutional rightsand encouraging reporting incidents. Theannouncements are viewable atwww.ban1070.com.
Easy Updates on Actions, Events
and News:
Through an easy-to-use text message sys-tem, Border Action Network is sending Spanishand English alerts, reminders and quick actionsto subscribers all over the state. To sign up,send “BAN1070eng” (for English) or“BAN1070esp” (for Spanish) to 25827.
At a time when fear, distrust and resentmentdivide our state, this campaign provides somerelief through information, preparation andcommunity organizing. If you would likemore information, call Border Action at520.623.4944.
The Fight for Arizona Continues with Launchof SB1070 Community Education Campaign
Border Action Network www.borderaction.org Buliding the Voice for Human Rights
Fall 2010 ¡Ya Basta! Page 3
By Hilary Tone,Communications Coordinator
Border Action Network condemnsPresident Obama’s signature ofH.R. 6080, a $600 million bill thataims to put more equipment andagents along the US-Mexico bor-der, including more unmannedsurveillance drones, 1,000 moreBorder Patrol agents, 250 moreImmigration and CustomsEnforcement agents, and 250 moreCustoms and Border Protectionofficers.
“This bill is a politically expedientmove crafted by legislators who areout of touch with the realities onthe border,” says Jennifer Allen, ExecutiveDirector of Border Action Network. “Recentstudies show that border areas are among thesafest in the country. Instead of focusingquality resources on real solutions to the prob-lems caused by failed border and immigrationpolicies, this bill will only undermine our
national security and alienate border commu-nities.”
Despite calls for a “no” vote, including morethan 350 emails from BAN supporters toCongress Members in 12 hours, the bill waswidely approved in both the House and Senateprior to sending it to President Obama, which
he signed on August 13. StatesAllen, “The President, as ournation’s highest leader, shouldknow that this is not what the bor-der needs, nor what bordercommunities want. We must focusnot on the quantity of agents andequipment, but on reforming ourbroken immigration system andimplementing effective border pol-icy that provides quality services forthe region and nation.“
People and organizations along theUS-Mexico border have long calledfor not only national immigrationreform, but for humane border pol-icy that allocates resources to actualthreats in the region while protect-
ing border residents’ human rights.
Concludes Allen, “We are disappointed inPresident Obama’s signature, but we will con-tinue to fight for effective border policies thatconsider the voices of border communities,improve their quality of life and protect anduphold the civil rights of its residents.”
President Obama Disregards Voices of Border Communities, Signs $600 Million
Border Enforcement-Only Bill
The Border Wall in Palominas, Arizona.
By Jaime Farrant, Policy Director
While the immigrationdebate has heated upacross the country,renewed attention hasshifted to the US-Mexico border. In thiselection year, calls formore walls, more troops,and more agents haveechoed through the hallsof Congress. Bordercommunities, essentialstakeholders in thisprocess, have beenmostly ignored and shut out of the discussion.Notwithstanding statistics showing that citiesacross the southwest border have had adecrease in criminal activity, these communi-ties have been called everything from “lawless”to “out of control”. Elected officials across thecountry, in politically motivated moves, arenow calling for the increased militarization ofthe border, without any regard for the realitiesand complexities of border life.
In order to respond to these accusations witha united voice that advocates for effective lawenforcement across our communities, over 40
persons representing organizations and institu-tions from the four southwest Border Statesand the Tohono O’Odham Nation, met June25-26 in San Diego, CA. This meeting builtupon six years of Border Action Network’swork and three years of the US-Mexico Borderand Immigration Task Force’s efforts to bringtogether broad leadership from the border todevelop coordinated, effective strategies forborder policy.
The participants gathered to discuss thenational immigration landscape, particularly as
it relates to borderenforcement policies andpractices, and exploredmechanisms to worktogether as a coalition oforganizations and insti-tutions based inUS-Mexico border com-munities. Participantstrust that this was justthe beginning of a bor-der-wide effort to pushfor a border that is safeand secure and whereauthorities work in effec-tive and transparentmanners that protect
and ensure human rights and allow for localbusinesses to thrive.
The meeting concluded by laying out a seriesof agreements and next steps including legisla-tive and administrative strategies to pursue inWashington, communications strategies toensure our voices are heard in the media, andcommunity organizing strategies to strengthenthe capacity of immigrant and border com-munities to lead the struggle and advance ourvision of a border as one where those that livealong it and those that cross it can lead liveswith dignity and prosperity.
US-Mexico Border Community Groups Outline Plan for Safe and Dignified Borders
Border community groups speaking in Washington, D.C., in 2007.
Border Action Network www.borderaction.org Buliding the Voice for Human Rights
Page 4 ¡Ya Basta! Fall 2010
By Hilary Tone, CommunicationsCoordinator
In July, Department of Homeland Security(DHS) Secretary Napolitano announced thatthe “Secure Communities” program wouldbe deployed to all 25 US counties along theSouthwest border.
According to BAN Executive DirectorJennifer Allen, this announcement is anotherpolitically motivated measure to appeartough on enforcement even though there isno convincing evidence that SecureCommunities actually makes our communi-ties more secure, especially in the absence ofmuch needed comprehensive immigrationreform.
Secure Communities is a program that allowsImmigration & Customs EnforcementOfficers to use biometric information takenfrom arrested individuals and use it to verifytheir immigration status. According to DHS,its initial goal was to improve and modernizeefforts to identify aliens convicted of a crime,sentenced to imprisonment, and who maythen be removed from the United Statesonce they are judged deportable.
The effectiveness of this program, however,needs to be clearly established before it isextended across the Southwest. Its guide-lines have not been shared with theAmerican public, and all signs show that itis not fulfilling its mission. According to areport released using government data,about one-quarter of persons deportedthrough Secure Communities did not havecriminal records and thus did not meet the“aliens convicted of a crime” standard set inthe program’s mission.
According to Allen, at a minimum, SecureCommunities should be stopped pending arigorous review. “The program is being usedby some police in Arizona to engage inracial profiling by engaging pretextualarrests of generally law abiding Latino resi-dents so that they can be subjected toimmigration checks, instead of targeting theserious criminal elements outlined in theprogram’s mission.”
Allen continues, “The federal governmentseems so intent in implementing this pro-gram that it is failing to ascertain whetherthe program is being used correctly by localand federal officers, whether it holds
accountable any officers or agencies whomisuse it, whether it is actually making ourcommunities more secure, and whether itmakes law enforcement more effective intheir work.”
Given the data that shows 25% of all per-sons deported through the program are notconvicted criminals who pose a public safetythreat to American communities, BANPolicy Director Jaime Farrant states thatSecretary Napolitano should have called forthe suspension of the program pending afull review of its effectiveness. “Instead,”says Farrant, “the American people get anannouncement to further expand whatseems to be an ineffective initiative.”
Border Action Network continues to call onfederal authorities to establish programs thatwork in accordance with their mission andthat protect the constitutional rights of ournation’s residents, and to pass comprehen-sive immigration reform. Furthermore, theorganization calls on the federal governmentto suspend and terminate initiatives likeSecure Communities, which only castwedges between communities and lawenforcement and reject good communitypolicing principles and practices.
Dept. of Homeland Security DeploysControversial ‘Secure Communities’ Program
throughout Southwest Border Counties
The US-Mexico Border in Nogales, Arizona.
Border Action Network www.borderaction.org Buliding the Voice for Human Rights
Fall 2010 ¡Ya Basta! Page 5
Pima County Welcomes Border Action’s “Peace, Justice and Freedom” Committee
By Hilary Tone, CommunicationsCoordinator
On September 29, Senator Robert Menendez(D-NJ) introduced comprehensive immigra-tion reform legislation in the United StatesSenate for the first time since 2007.
“We commend Senator Menendez for hisstrong leadership and we look forward toworking with him and others on this bill,”said Jennifer Allen, Executive Director ofBorder Action Network. “It’s a serious pro-posal that contains legislation critical tocomprehensive reform. Arizonans know thatimmigration reform is a national priority andwe have been working all over Arizona tomake immigration reform a reality.
“We especially applaud the bill’s inclusion ofborder policies that reflect the voices of organ-izations working along the Southwest border,”Allen continued. “Revision of 287(g), reevalu-ation of Operation Streamline, and reviewand improvement of border agents’ trainingare just a few of the fundamental components
our country needs to create a just andhumane border policy.”
Senator Menendez’s legislation will:
Create millions of new taxpayers byrequiring undocumented immigrants toregister, go through background checks,pay taxes, and study English on their wayto becoming full U.S. citizens. This path-way to earned legalization would honor
the hard work of immigrants and our tra-dition as a nation of laws.
Enhance our national security by focusingour enforcement and security measures onthe most dangerous threats to America.
Protect and respect workers and help witheconomic recovery.
Promote and respect families by keepingspouses together and children with theirparents.
Border Action Network is ready to work withSenators John McCain and Jon Kyl toimprove this legislation. Said Allen, “Withoutcomprehensive reform, we will perpetuate asystem that abuses American and immigrantworkers, needlessly tears families apart, wastesbillions of tax dollars so that politicians cansound tough, stifles economic growth, andcontributes to the loss of American intellect.Our country and border need reform, andSenator Menendez’s legislation is a seriousstep forward to implementing sensible solu-tions for Arizona and the United States.”
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Introduced in US Senate
Border Action commends Senator Menendez on border policy improvements
Senator Robert Menendez
By Julissa Villa, OrganizingCoordinator
After several months participat-ing in a series of talks about civiland constitutional rights, focus-ing on things such as how toorganize in one’s communityand how to participate in eventsagainst SB1070, an active andcommitted group of BorderAction Network membersdecided to formalize its commit-tee, giving it a name that willhonor their work in Tucson and PimaCounty. The “Peace, Liberty and Justice”Committee is composed of members of bothsexes and all ages to represent their schoolsand families in the struggles in Arizona andacross the country.
Francisca Piña, a member of the Committee,expressed the following about the group’sformation:
“I first heard about Border Action in a classcalled Know Your Rights in the parent class atSafford School, which was an informative classfor anyone, no matter what his legal status inthis country might be. From there, I got involvedin an active way with Border Action Network,but without being a member of any committee.The arduous and interesting work of BorderAction was one of the main reasons why I
decided to become part of the “Peace,Justice, and Freedom” Committee.The name arose because for us,Border Action is based on these threethings. Another reason why I ampart of a Border Action committee isto give the immigrant community alittle bit of the knowledge that Ihave received through my work withthis organization: this is how BANenables us to educate as many peopleas possible in our communities.”
“Peace, Justice and Freedom” is the eleventhcommittee to be inaugurated by Border ActionNetwork. It joins five others in Pima County,four in Cochise County and one in Santa CruzCounty. All eleven committees representBorder Action’s efforts to uphold the dignity ofall by training and educating Arizona immi-grants in how to assert the rights and raise theircollective voice.
The “Peace, Justice and Freedom” Committee.
Border Action Network www.borderaction.org Buliding the Voice for Human Rights
Page 6 ¡Ya Basta! Fall 2010
By Jaime Farrant, Policy Director
On July 28, while anxiously waiting for JudgeSusan Bolton to grant Border Action Network’srequest to stop SB 1070 from being imple-mented on July 29 and preparing to resist thelaw’s implementation, BAN received a messagesaying that Judge Bolton would emit a decisionthat morning on the federal government’srequest to temporarily stop SB 1070.
Shortly thereafter, BAN’s lawyers informedthem of the Judge’s decision. After analyzingboth the federal government’s and GovernorBrewer’s arguments, she had reached a decision:within 15 hours of 1070’s scheduled implemen-tation, Judge Bolton decided to partially grantthe Federal Government’s request and tem-porarily stop several parts of 1070 from goinginto effect, as she believed that the administra-tion had a high likelihood of successfullyarguing that these parts are unconstitutional.The 36-page order stopped the following partsof 1070 until a full trial is held:
The section that requires police to make a rea-sonable attempt to determine the immigrationstatus of a person stopped, detained or arrestedif they have reasonable suspicion that the per-son is unlawfully present in the US. She alsostopped the sentence that mandates that everyperson arrested cannot be released until his orher immigration status is determined.
The section that creates a state crime for failureto apply for or carry alien registration papers.
The section that creates a crime for an undocu-mented migrant to solicit, apply for, or performwork in Arizona.
The section that allows police to arrest a personwithout a warrant if they have probable causeto believe the person has committed a publicoffense that makes him/her removable from theUS.
Judge Bolton, however, did not stop the follow-ing sections of SB 1070, and thus came intoeffect last July 29:
The section that establishes a state crime for aperson, while committing another criminaloffense, to transport or harbor an undocu-mented migrant or encourage or induce anundocumented migrant to come to Arizona.
The section that allows for the removal orimpoundment of a vehicle to permit impound-ment of vehicles used for transporting orharboring of unlawfully present migrants.
The section that prohibits Arizona entities fromlimiting in any way the full enforcement of fed-eral immigration law.
The section that requires state officials to workwith federal authorities on immigration issues.
The section that allows Arizona legal residentsto sue any state agency that adopts a policy thatrestricts the full enforcement of federal immigra-tion law.
The section that creates a state crime for stop-ping a vehicle to pick up day laborers and forday laborers to get in a motor vehicle if itimpedes the normal movement of traffic.
The sections that amend the crimes of know-ingly and intentionally employingundocumented migrants.
The section that requires employers to keep e-verify records of their employees for the longerperiod of 3 years or while the person remainsemployed with the employer.
The section that creates the gang and immigra-tion intelligence team enforcement missionfund.
Governor Brewer quickly informed her displeas-ure with the Judge’s decision, appealing it thenext day in the US Ninth Circuit Court ofAppeals. She asked that court to hear the case in
September. The court promptly denied thatrequest, and scheduled the appeal’s hearing forNovember 1.
In this hearing, both sides continued makingsimilar arguments to the Appeals Court, withthe Governor’s attorney arguing for a lifting ofthe injunction, and the Department of Justicearguing for the court to confirm Judge Bolton’sorder. Amidst various arguments, GovernorBrewer’s attorneys claimed that SB1070 is con-stitutional because it mirrors federal law. TheDepartment of Justice, on the other hand,argued that it is unconstitutional because theUS can only have one foreign voice with regardsto immigration.
Although BAN is disappointed that JudgeBolton did not stop all of 1070 in July, theorganization is pleased that the worst provisionsof the law were stopped, and it hopes for theAppeals Court to uphold Judge Bolton’s ruling.Furthermore, BAN is committed to continue tofight the law in the courts and the streets, andwill not stop until all of 1070 is overturned.
It is important for all in Arizona to remainvigilant during this time, and promptlydenounce any police operations that are doneby using unconstitutional racial profilingmeasures. Individuals must also denounce anyattempts of city and sheriff police to enforcefederal immigration law, as it might be done inways that contradict the Judge’s order. For thispurpose, Border Action Network has estab-lished two different mechanisms for peopleto denounce abuses committed by lawenforcement: through www.ban1070.com,and the toll-free line: 1.877.908.1070. If youor someone you know feels that they are victimsof these unconstitutional practices, pleasedenounce it to BAN as soon as possible. Theorganization hopes to document as many casesas possible to show the world these unconstitu-tional acts and ensure that Arizona’s authoritiesconduct their work in a way that respects andprotects the human and civil rights of all.
SB1070 Injunction: What It Is and What It Means
Two New Directors Join Border Action StaffJaime Farrant, Policy DirectorJaime Farrant is a human rights attorneywith extensive international law and man-agement experience. He joined BorderAction Network in April after relocating toArizona from Bolivia, where he worked asField Office Director for InternationalJustice Mission (“IJM”), a Washington DC-based non-governmental international
human rights organization that advocates on behalf of victims of sexualabuse, exploitation, violence and other forms of oppression. Mr.Farrant received his B.S. in Marketing and OrganizationalManagement from Marquette University, and his legal degree (JurisDoctor) from the University of Puerto Rico Law School, graduatingwith cum laude honors. He obtained a Masters in International LegalStudies (LL.M.) from American University, Washington College ofLaw. He is authorized to practice law in Puerto Rico and New York,and looks forward to working for a prosperous Arizona as well asnational comprehensive immigration reform.
Gisella Ramirez, Campaign &
Organizing DirectorGisella Ramirez was born in Nuevo Laredo,Mexico, raised in East Los Angeles andrecently moved to Tucson from Oakland,California. Her work in community organiz-ing began in Los Angeles where she workedin various roles, from canvasser to rally con-tingent leader, to youth spokesperson andlogistics coordinator. Ms. Ramirez developed her organizing techniquesin the urban streets of Los Angeles with organizations such as October22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality and the Bus Riders Union. Shelater refined her skills in East Oakland High Schools and communityorganizations such as the Avenues Project, Center for Media Justice andmost recently, the Center for Third World Organizing. Gisella receivedher BA from San Francisco State University in cultural anthropologywith an emphasis in urban education. She looks forward to expandingBorder Action through new Human Rights Committees, Promotersand strengthened community relationships.
Border Action Network www.borderaction.org Buliding the Voice for Human Rights
Fall 2010 ¡Ya Basta! Page 7
Border Action Network www.borderaction.org Buliding the Voice for Human Rights
Page 8 ¡Ya Basta! Fall 2010
Membership allows you to be “part of the solution,” not just a bystander. Your contributiondirectly impacts the lives of our communities across Arizona. Border Action trains, educates, andhelps people raise their collective voices to stand up for the basic rights and dignity of all.
Apart from fighting SB1070, Border Action has continually been establishing human rightscommittees and training human rights promoters throughout Arizona, as well as advocating forpolicy change in the state, along the border and across the country. There is still much workto be done to get Arizona back on track, and with Border Action Network, you can be part ofthe fight.
Joining Border Action Network is easy. If you want to join via mail, Committee Members andPromoters can supply you with membership forms and envelopes to mail in your dues. If youhave Internet access, you can click the “Donate Now” button at www.borderaction.org and usea debit or credit card to renew or join. Membership dues are $25 per year for an individualand $50 per year for a family. If you are already a member but have not paid dues in 2010,please renew your membership now with a new contribution. Membership dues are annual andcover each calendar year.
In addition to receiving Border Action emails, action alerts, publications and invitations toevents, members also get the benefit of power: the power to fight anti-immigrant legislation andhuman rights abuses, the power to stand with communities, the power to contact policy makersdirectly, and most importantly, the power to win.
Win with Border Action Network. Become a Member today.
Thank you!
Jill Nunes Membership and Events Coordinator
Be Part of the Fight for a Better ArizonaBecome a Member of Border Action Network!
Members rally against SB1070 in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo by Robert Haasch.
