Today, the more than 12 million people living in border communities continue to believe in a nation that is fair and just. Our expectation is that President-elect Trump will lead with these core values and that he will not govern based on the divisive statements he made during his campaign. The Southern Border Communities Coalition remains committed to ensuring the rights and dignity of border residents and those who travel through our region are protected and that our quality of life is preserved. We will continue to advocate for a reform of our country's immigration process to ensure fairness and dignity. We will also resist the unnecessary construction of a border wall and the further militarization of our communities. Preserving the sanctity of life and strengthening our cultural and economic vibrancy as a region will continue to be our top priority. Continue reading

Christian Ramirez, Director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC), issued the following statement on the swearing-in of Mark Morgan as the new chief of the U.S. Border Patrol: Continue reading

Washington/Southern Border Region — On Friday, September 30, 2016, representatives from the Southern Border Communities Coalition including; the Northern Border Coalition, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Immigration Council, the Women’s Refugee Commission and several other Washington  Non-governmental organizations (NGO), met with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) leadership to discuss policy recommendations for added transparency and accountability. NGOs regularly meet with CBP to discuss agency policies and procedures. Continue reading

    Southern Border Region – In response to the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to resume the removal of Haitian earthquake survivors arriving at the border, the Southern Border Communities Coalition released the following statement: Continue reading

Incoming Chief Mark Morgan urged to bring transparency and accountability reforms during key oversight committee hearing Washington D.C. –  Unaccountable, highly intrusive Border Patrol interior checkpoints have infringed on the quality of life of border residents, resulting in unchecked cases of excessive force, racial profiling and widespread civil and human liberties abuses  -- all at a high cost, but with questionable effectiveness. Continue reading

In response to the Department of Homeland Security’s recent announcement to review the use of privately-run immigration detention facilities, the Southern Border Communities Coalition released the following statement: Continue reading

In response to the Department of Justice's recent decision to end the use of private prisons, the Southern Border Communities Coalition released the following statement: Continue reading

  Southern Border Region - July 19, 2016 -  Last week, another life was lost during an encounter with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agency. According to CBP, on July 15, 2016, Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents subdued a male in Laredo, Texas near the river. While escorting the man to the vehicle, the man became unresponsive. Laredo Emergency Medical Services arrived and transported the man to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Continue reading

  Policy was scrapped in 2012 because it eroded community trust and made everybody less safe Washington D.C./Northern and Southern Border Regions - Today, border advocacy groups across the United States stand firm against the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol's (CBP) perplexing decision to reintroduce the so-called Interpretation Assistance policy. Continue reading

  Southern Border Region/Washington D.C. - The Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC) is disappointed by the National Use of Force Review Board's (NUFRB) findings of four use of force incidents involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and officers. The information released by CBP reveals that the agency still has a long way to go in how it reports use of force incidents to the public and how it holds agents accountable for their actions. Continue reading