Border Network for Human Rights

A group of El Pasoans will turn themselves in at the County Jail in Downtown El Paso to be voluntarily arrested, to send the message: We are Hispanics, Latinos and immigrants and the Arizona law makes us criminals. Will we let racial profiling permeate our law enforcement? Time: Noon.

BNHR is working with County Commissioners to present a resolution at the El Paso County Commissioners Court, condemning SB 1070 law in Arizona and calling for a boycott. Commissioners Court starts at 9:30 am.

March and rally for comprehensive immigration reform  April 10, as part of a national effort. Start: 3 p.m. at Leech Grove on the UTEP campus. Rally around 5 p.m. at San Jacinto Plaza. We expect more than 1,500 participants including elected officials.

Vamos a Washington, D.C.! La Reforma No Puede Esperar!

Please join us to support the Texas Caravan going to Washington, DC, to demand a just immigration reform.

Presenting: Frontera Bugalu (Cumbia/Mambo); Stanton Street Collective (Poetry/Jazz); La Familia (Dance); Crissy Gurrola (Acoustics)

Enjoy: Antojitos; Aguas Frescas; Justice

When: Noon, Sunday March 14

Where: BNHR office, 2115 N. Piedras, El Paso, Texas 79930

The Border Network for Human Rights and Human Rights First organize a listening session for the Department of Justice, the State Department and other federal agencies about the status of human rights at the border. The event is not open to the public.

The Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA) will travel to Washington, DC, as the Texas Caravan for America with 4 buses, over 200 people, to participate in the March for America on Sunday, March 21, 2010.

We will march on Washington, DC to demand immigration reform and economic justice for all Americans. Our vision of reform includes immigrants and native-born U.S. citizens working shoulder to shoulder to achieve better wages, working conditions, and labor protections, and of an American that’s back to work, with a fair balance between Main Street and Wall Street.

We will come together as one voice on the National Mall for a strong America – for families, for workers, for businesses, and for security.

Join the Texas Caravan for America and thousands from across the country in the March For America in DC on March 21st, and demand Congress act NOW to pass immigration reform!

To join the Texas Caravan, please contact:

Austin/Houston: Caroline Keating-Guerra, Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition, caroline@austinirc.org, 512-476-2472

El Paso: Martina Morales, Border Network for Human Rights, mmorales@bnhr.org, 915-577-0724

Dallas: Rev. Owen Ross, La Fundación de Cristo, pastor@christsfoundry.org, 214-497-9552; Lori Stafford, Welcoming Immigrants Network, lstaf@sbcglobal.net , 214-649-2233

Ft. Worth: Douglas Interiano, Coalition for Immigration Reform of DFW & North Texas,  douglas.interiano@proyectoinmigrante.org, 817-922-0280

Statewide: Adriana Cadena « RITA, acadena@bnhr.org, 915-253-2262

Texas Caravan for America Itinerary

Friday March 19

El Paso Bus Departs to travel over 650 miles to Dallas to join Texas Caravan

Austin/Houston Bus Departs to travel over 200 miles to Dallas to join Texas Caravan

Ft. Worth Bus Departs to travel 50 miles to Dallas to join Texas Caravan

9:00 PM          Texas Caravan for America Press Conference

Lovers Lane United Methodist Church

9200 Inwood Road (corner NW Hwy and Inwood Rd)

Dallas, TX  75220

10:00 PM        Texas Caravan for America Departs to Washington, DC!

Saturday, March 20

PM                  Texas Caravan arrives in Washington, DC

Sunday, March 21

AM                  Texas Caravan Members Tour the Nation’s Capitol

1:00 PM          Texas Caravan Members join the March for American Events

Evening           Texas Caravan Returns to Texas

Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA) Participating Organizations

«  Austin Immigration Reform Coalition (AIRC), Austin

«  University Leadership Initiative, Austin

«  Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR), El Paso

«  Jóvenes Fronterizos por un Mismo Sueno, El Paso

«  Catholic Charities of Dallas Justice for Immigrants, DFW

«  Christ’s Foundry United Methodist Church, DFW

«  Coalition for Immigration Reform of Dallas / Ft. Worth & North Texas (CIR DFW), DFW

«  Dallas Peace Center, DFW

«  Justice for Our Neighbors – United Methodist Church (JFON), DFW

«  Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, DFW

«  North Texas Conference United Methodist Church, DFW

«  Proyecto Inmigrante, Inc., DFW

«  Welcoming Immigrants Network (WIN), DFW

«  American Dream Community Agency, Houston

«  La Unión del Pueblo Entero, Rio Grande Valley

«  Movimiento del Valle por los Derechos Humanos, Rio Grande Valley

«  Texas Dream Act Alliance (TDAA)

Sponsors:

«  Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC)

«  Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR)

«  Church World Service (CWS)

«  General Board of Church & Society UMC (GBC&S)

«  Global Board of Church & Society UMC (GBC&S)

«  Jóvenes Fronterizos por un Mismo Sueno, El Paso

«  North Texas Conference United Methodist Church (NTC UMC)

«  Reform Immigration for America (RIFA)

«  Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA)

«  Caravan participants and individuals.

Immigrants in Texas represent 16 percent of the population, more than the national average of 12.5 percent. These men, women and children may not have been born in Texas, but they are proud Texans just the same. They are hard-working and law abiding families. Some of them are forced to live in the shadows by a broken immigration system that keeps them from contributing fully to their adopted country.

The United States and Texas need a comprehensive immigration reform in 2010. It’s good for the economy, good for security and good for families.

Community members, advocacy groups, elected officials and allies from all around Texas will convene in Austin on February 20 for a convention on immigrant integration. At least 500 participants are expected.

Please join us for this important event.

VISIT OUR EVENT WEB PAGE AND REGISTER TODAY!

Texas Convention on Immigration Integration

“A Call for Reform”

1-5 p.m.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Travis County Expo Center

7311 Decker Lane, Austin

Texas 78724

Cost: Free

Information: (915) 577-0724.

More information about the Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA): This alliance is a multi-sector, statewide network dedicated to building support for a sensible immigration policy. Visit us at www.reformimmigrationfortexas.org.