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Border Action Network
Student’s
Name: Jack Black
A. Title of agency or organization: Border Action Network
B. Where is home base: Tucson, Arizona
C. Date founded 1999
D. Names of key spokespersons/officers
Border Action Network consists of staff, interns, a Coordinating
Council, a Tucson, Douglas and Nogales Organizing Committee,
volunteers and members. Jennifer Allen, the organization’s director
E. What/who is key constituency or audience?
Border Action Network formed in 1999 to ensure that those who are
most impacted by border and immigration policies are involved with
the movements in regards to human dignity and civil rights. Border
Action Network works with Latino immigrants and border residents in
Nogales, Douglas and Tucson to ensure that their rights are
protected. They are a membership-based organization that combines
grassroots community organizing, leadership development, litigation
and action.
F. What are the agency’s main activities?
Voter Turnout Increases by 20% in Border Communities! From June to
November 2004, Border Action launched an intensive campaign to
increase voter turnout in Nogales and Douglas, AZ by 20% and to
defeat Arizona’s disastrous anti-immigration ballot initiative,
Proposition 200. When the ballots were tallied, we met our goals and
demonstrated that Latino border communities should be counted!
No Immigrant Prisons-Victory! In March 2002 we won a successful
campaign that prevented the construction of up to four privately run
federal prisons for immigrants in Arizona and California. In May
2002, we also successfully mobilized a diverse and powerful Tucson
coalition to preserve the separation of local law enforcement and
the administrative powers of the INS. The Tucson police Department
agreed not to begin enforcing immigration laws.
Exposing Border Vigilante & Militia Groups-Victory! In December 2002
we released a ground-breaking report Hate or Heroism: Vigilantes on
the Arizona-Mexico Border and hand delivered it to the Arizona
Attorney General. The report and delegation made several concrete
recommendations that the governor and Attorney General could
implement to undermine the base of racist, anti-immigrant groups
that have invaded Southern Arizona. Our action enabled the voices of
the vast majority of border residents who oppose these groups to
finally be heard. The report brought local and international press
coverage to the growing opposition to anti-immigrant groups in
Arizona and launched an extensive campaign to stop vigilantes on the
border.
Environmental-Human Rights Alliances: Border Action Network is the
only organization in the southwest that confronts the injustices on
the US-Mexico from both an environmental and human rights
prespective. Our Arizona Border Environment Project brings together
the Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of
Wildlife and Sky Alliance, along side the Catholic and Presbyterian
churches, immigrant right and worker rights' groups. The result is a
powerful and comprehensive approach that hits the Border Patrol with
everything from their racial profiling to unpermitted road
construction!
Organization Building and Leadership Development: After a momentous
all-voluteer 3 years, in February 2002 Border Action hired two
full-time staff and a full time organizer, opened an office,
received generous donations of state-of-the-art computer equipment
and developed an active Board that is integrally involved in our
programs! At the same time, we have strengthened the leadership
skills of our members, particularly women and people of color. We
have held trainings on desktop publishing, using environmental laws
in grassroots organizing, using the Freedom of Information Act,
community organizing and outreach. This education and skill
development has been integral to members' participation from the
beginning. (All taken from the Border Action Website)
G. Mission statement? (Not Found)
H. What are the key im/migration issues of concern to this
agency: Human/Civil Rights.
I. As best as you can determine, on what
evidence/sources/research/community does this agency base its
informational statements issued, press releases, reports, etc.?
U.S. TARGETS
HUMAN TRAFFICKING -
MEXICO ON WATCH LIST FOR NOT ADDRESSING PROBLEM
Arizona Republic, The (Phoenix, AZ)
June 4, 2005
Author: Billy House, Republic Washington Bureau
Staff reporter Daniel González contributed to this article.
Estimated printed pages: 4
J. Any
publications: Yes
www.borderaction.org/
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