Speakers discuss prospects for immigration reform

Rev. Randy Mayer of the Church of Good Shepherd in Sahuarita and Sarah Launius, Development Coordinator for Border Action in Tucson are continuing their efforts and endeavors hoping for immigration and border policy reforms.

Both spoke at Friday’s monthly meeting of the League of Women Voters.

Mayer told of his success in getting 90 water stations set up in the desert. Despite an initial impasse with Border Patrol, who said it was “aiding and abetting,” he pursued and 30-foot poles with blue flags now serve as location finders for water for those crossing the desert.

He said Pima County gives Humane Borders $25,000 a year for water knowing it helps to save lives. In addition to supplying water in the desert, Mayer said, Humane Borders picks up “tons of trash” left by migrants crossing the desert.

“Humanitarian aid is sometimes controversial in Green Valley. We have to realize our government has failed us. It’s a huge human crisis,” he said.

Until the U.S. government comes up with a humane way to solve the border problem, as a person of faith, he said he has to give food, water and medical care.

His hopes are for immigration to happen at ports of entry where a worker wanting to work in the U.S. would put up $2,000 for a two-year bond with the premise that they come to the U.S. to learn a skill or trade, then return to Mexico in two years and use the skill.

Mayer said such an approach addresses the root causes of the current immigration problem.

Launius said the Border Action Network’s national policy is 10 years old, and during that time, it has built credibility of voices within border communities.

“What do we need to do to make border communities safe places to live? Congressional people need actual safe solutions. A one-size-fits-all enforcement program doesn’t work,” she said, and called for an independent group to oversee the Department of Homeland Security.

Rather than pay lobbyists, Launius said Border Action has established task force delegations directly from border communities because they are much more capable of speaking to congressional officials.

“We’re sending a delegation task force to D.C. next week to meet with the transition government and hope to send another delegation in February or March to get more comprehensive border reform,” Launius said.

Speaking of having safe communities in the borderlands Launius said, “We’re feeling inspired; we can’t give up. Everything we do is relationship-based. There isn’t always immediate gratification.”

Border Action has created a detailed, eight-page plan titled, “Principles and Recommendations for Immigration and Border Policy Reforms in the U.S. to Uphold the Human Rights of Migrants and U.S.-Mexico Border Communities.”

For further information: www.borderaction.org.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.