Southern Border —  Today on Día de los Muertos, the Southern Border Communities Coalition remembers the more than 280 lives lost by fatal encounters with U.S. border agents including the 20 lives lost in 2023 alone. As we remember the victims of the culture of violence and impunity within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), we denounce the increase of use of force incidents resulting from the biggest law enforcement agency in the country.

CBP just released a reported record number of 1,081 use of force incidents in fiscal year 2023, almost doubling the number from 2020. The U.S. government can end the violence and protect human lives by changing the federal law enforcement use of force standard from “reasonable” to the human rights-centered standard of “necessary and proportionate.”

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Sign the petition to change the use of force standard for U.S. law enforcement and support these Dia de los Muertos events: 

Immigration & Law Justice Network invites you to join a virtual space to remember the lives lost in the Arizona desert and recommitment to a humane immigration system. Register here. 

Detention Watch Network invites you to join this virtual event to remember those who have lost their lives in ICE and CBP custody, learn about the cultural significance of this day, get an update on the national state of detention and take action to support local and national efforts to end detention and defund these agencies. Register here.

Voces Unidas Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville, Texas, invites you to honor the lives lost due to border militarization.The event includes bike riding, prayer, art & music. More information here.

ABOUT THE SOUTHERN BORDER COMMUNITIES COALITION

The Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC) brings together organizations from San Diego, California to Brownsville, Texas, to ensure that border enforcement policies and practices are accountable and fair, respect human dignity and human rights, and prevent the loss of life in the region.