What is going on at the border?
The situation is dire. The conditions are inhumane. Children separated from their respective families. The New York Times has reported migrants are dying, going hungry, and have no beds to sleep in. During one congresswoman’s visit to a detention center, border patrol told the detained to drink from the toilet. The camps violate basic standards of human rights. By any measure they are concentration camps. The federal government has repeatedly violated both court orders and federal law. That’s just in the state of Texas.
There are detention camps all across the country, even in Lower Manhattan. The overwhelming majority of detained immigrants do not have legal representation. Courts are backlogged, leaving thousands in limbo. The Trump administration’s xenophobic, anti-immigrant policy is one of its more successful policies. The Muslim ban came first, followed by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and now the ramped up border detention camps. The media has been reporting on expected mass ICE raids that are will sweep up tons of undocumented individuals while targeting marginalized and vulnerable communities.
Here at the Afghan Diaspora for Equality and Progress (ADEP), we have struggled with how to respond. The moral stance is clear to us but knowing what to do and how has been a challenge. Here’s what we have come up with:
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
HAVE FREE TIME:
Al Otro Lado “welcomes volunteer attorneys, doctors, mental health professionals, tech professionals, social workers, and any other individual who is passionate about immigrant rights!” You can volunteer remotely or make a trip to Tijuana to help on the ground efforts.
VOLUNTEER IN NYC:
Know your rights canvass in the Bronx.
VOLUNTEER IN DC:
If you speak, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu or Bangla, the folks at South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) can use your help.
ARE YOU IMPACTED:
The Afghan diaspora is not immune from ICE and BPC. Need help finding a detained family member? Visit here to search for them.
Need to contact your member of Congress for help?
Visit here on how to do just that.
DONATE:
Vera Institute of Justice:
Helping detained immigrants with counsel in New York.
RAICES:
Provides free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant, children, families and refugees.
Angry Tias & Abuelas:
Delivers financial support to shelters, transportation and other donations to families seeking asylum. They do work near the border.
Human Rights First:
Provides pro bono legal services in TX, CA, NY and DC.
Do you speak Spanish & have legal experience?
The Texas Civil Rights Project needs your help.
Donate goods:
You can be helpful by donating goods like clothing, books, stuffed animals to a shelter.
Want to help by being part of rapid response teams/accompaniment training?
Email us info@adeprogess.org or contact us via social.