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One_liners
_ICE officials have signed off on a plan to separate families at the border, which is in direct contravention to our nation’s international human rights obligations.
_Seven Dreamers, including two Arizona border Dreamers, risked deportation to urge Congress to pass a Dream Act.
_California cities are calling for boycotts of border wall contractors.
_President Trump is planning to go to San Diego “very soon” to check out eight border wall prototypes.
_The Houston Chronicle writes an editorial about how border paranoia may make for good politics in some circles, but ultimately it makes for lousy public policy.
_We’ll be off next week, but from the entire SBCC team, we wish you joy and happiness this Holiday season.
Must reads
_Their hearts can’t be lumps of coal, right? Congress has further delayed passing a bipartisan Dream Act before the end of the year and during the height of the holiday season, which makes us wonder if there is a lump of coal where there should be a heart. These congressional members are going home today to happily spend the holidays with their families, seemingly oblivious to the plight of hundreds of thousands of immigrant youth and their families who are wondering if this will be the last time they spend the holidays together. We issued this statement expressing our heartbroken disappointment, but we also signaled our strong commitment for the new year.
_January, baby. We are_without hesitation and with more determination_getting back into the fight in January to urge Congress to pass a Dream Act and accountability for our border communities. While it might not seem like the movement is making progress, check the votes against a continuing resolution on Dec. 7 in the Senate (81 yays, 14 nays, 5 no votes) versus those that happened yesterday in the Senate (66 yays, 32 nays, 2 no votes). By today’s standards, that was quite an accomplishment. Thank you for your calls and direct actions in-district and in DC!
_The Welcoming Heart of Las Cruces. Thanks to the passionate work of NM CAFé and the ACLU Regional Center for Border Rights (both SBCC steering committee members), Hope Border Institute, faculty members at New Mexico State University, and community members, the Las Cruces City Council in New Mexico passed unanimously a resolution declaring Las Cruces a welcoming community for all, regardless of a person's immigration status. Go Cruces!
_The Heart of the Matter. Astrid Dominguez, immigrant rights strategist for the ACLU of Texas and member of the SBCC steering committee was quoted in this article that puts a human face on young immigrants who are giving their all. “These kids are fighting just so they can go to school, in spite of the DACA repeal and knowing Texas is trying to take away in-state tuition...For our Border Dreamers, this means our state is actively targeting us, putting more hurdles in our lives. It has a huge impact on them in their outside lives, and personally.”
_Heart and Soul. Border Dreamer Jesús Daniel Mendez Carbajal_who was an SBCC participant in a recent congressional forum hosted by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and the Congressional Border Caucus, had this to say about what it’s like living in the border region.
_We heart this. Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committee’s U.S.-Mexico Border Program in San Diego and SBCC steering committee member, wrote this heartfelt blog post noting the similarity between Joseph and Mary’s journey and today’s migrants. Some good holiday reading.
_No call to action. We don’t have a call to action this week, except to wish for time during the holidays where you can relax, refresh, and reconnect with family and friends. We also want to thank you for your support this year to help make border enforcement policies and practices accountable and fair, respect human dignity and human rights, and prevent the loss of life in the region. See you January 5, 2018.
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border_lines is published every Friday for your reading pleasure. If you’d like to submit an item for inclusion, please email Vicki B. Gaubeca at [email protected], by Wednesday COB.