Our last day of the trip we spent in Tucson. To start the day off we did a tree activity. In small groups we combined what we know collectively about immigration and border issues.
The tree:
Branches-problems, issues, and what is happening
Trunk- what agents are contributing to these problems
Roots-What underlying components make the system possible
Desert deaths, NAFTA,
peoples right to a better life, human traffic, terrorism,
drugs, violence, militarization of the border, hate, xenophobia, funnel effect
to danger zones, desperation, ignorance, Polleros, gangs, lack of immigration solution, hunger, empty promises, unemployment, ignorance, fear, de-facto segregation,
bad politicians, human rights protection
Big Business
-Mistreatment
-Known Hiring
Mexican Government
-Corruption
-Leadership
U.S. Government
-NAFTA
-Homeland Security
-Legislative Branches
Media
-Lack diverse opinions
-Framing as Terrorism issue
Greed, Maintenance of the status quo, Manifest Destiny, Globalization, Capitalism, Ignorance, Difficulty going against the system, Class system, Bootstrap myth, Lack of leadership
Day Labor Camp: After the tree activity and discussion we went to a church which offers a place for day laborers to wait for work. We talked with the pastor and got some history on the Sanctuary Movement, and what the church is currently doing to help laborers.
Sustainable Food Presentation: During lunch we participated in a presentation on sustainable food. Food production, specifically corn is directly related to immigration. Before 1994 (NAFTA) Mexico could feed itself corn tortillas and beans. Since 1994 there has been an influx of corn sold below the cost of production (US Subsidy) to Mexico. This has resulted in loss of work for farmers and increased migration north. For further reading on this topic: The Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan, The End of Food by Paul Roberts, and Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.
Operation Streamline: After lunch we went to the Federal Courthouse in Tucson to watch Operation Streamline. This zero-tolerance program prosecutes illegal entrants apprehended along the border. This program charges some migrants with criminal misdemeanors rather than following standard civil deportation proceedings. In the Tucson sector around 70 migrants are prosecuted daily, this is a random set taken from the 800-1200 migrants caught trying to cross daily in this sector.
The migrants are herded in the court with chains and handcuffs. Each migrant while we were there plead "culpable" or guilty. Most were given time served and will be deported back to Mexico. Taxpayers are paying millions of dollars for judges, public defenders, and detention facilities because of this criminalization of migration called Operation Streamline.
Isabel Garcia: She is a Public Defender and famous activist who has been on programs such as Anderson Cooper 20/20. We met with her after Streamline. This was a great supplement to Streamline and many students expressed that this was their favorite part of the trip. Isabel spoke about migrants becoming international criminals when the issue should be framed in a socioeconomic way. She believes instead of criminal deportation there should be only administrative deportation which is far cheaper. She gave us hope for a solution addressing:
1) Root Cause
-Why are immigrants continuing to come
2) Immigration Reform
-Work Permit, Immigrant Rights
3) De-militarize the Border
-Due process, stop funding the human rights crisis
"The number one responsibility of humanity is to take care of each other, this means immigrant students and people crossing the desert. Everything can move trees, water, air; we are the most intelligent species on the planet; why not us?"
Scholarships AZ:Finally we met with a group of Tucson students who are working on scholarships and advocating for the rights of undocumented students. This was very emotional and a very human way to end sum up the trip. We shared our collective knowledge and talked about what is being done for students. The students shared their stories of wanting to be educated and the importance of working hard in school. We talked about the thousands of students who have been here since childhood, they were educated in our public schools, their friends, family and lives are here. They are American in every aspect but paper....Why does the U.S government deny their legitimacy?
