Migrant Justice Newsletter - February 2024
Welcome to IRTF’s February 2024 newsletter on Migrant Justice and the current situation at the US-Mexico border. After you’ve looked through the articles, we hope you can take a few minutes to see the TAKE ACTION items at the bottom.
In this newsletter, please read about
(1) Necropolitics, the Rationale of US Immigration Policy
(2) Border Crossings in January Fell by Half
(3) ICE Air: Update on Removal Flight Trends
(4) At the Border: Recent Incidents at and around the US-Mexico Border
(5) How to Understand Regional Migration in an Election Year
(6) Texas Builds Military Base on the Border, as Razor Wire, Legal Battles, and Tragedy
(7) Untold Accountability for “Gross Violations of Human Rights” at Open-Air Detention Sites at US-Mexico Border
(8) Book Recommendations
TAKE ACTION NOW
Here is what you can do to take action this week in solidarity with migrants and their families. (See details at the bottom of this newsletter.)
A) Stop Using Asylum as Bargaining Tool
B) Protect Mauritanians Here in Ohio
C) End the Monroe Doctrine
D) Get Connected: NEO Friends of Immigrants
E) Volunteers Needed: call for artists, writers for Ohio Migration Anthology
F) Volunteers Needed: database help for migrants who were deported
A legislative spotlight falls on the bipartisan TPS for Mauritania Act of 2024, advocating for Temporary Protected Status for Mauritanians due to ongoing challenges of slavery and terrorism in their home country. The bill, introduced by Senator Sherrod Brown and Representatives Mike Carey, Joyce Beatty, and Greg Landsman, reflects a concerted effort to address humanitarian crises.
Delving into the theoretical realm, the concept of Necropolitics, coined by Achille Mbembe, is explored to unravel the racialized exclusion embedded in U.S. immigration policies. The analysis underscores the deadly consequences of deterrence-focused strategies and calls for a more humane approach grounded in acknowledging human dignity.
The next sections provide updates from the US-Mexico border, highlighting incidents, tragedies, and clashes between federal and state authorities, such as the intensifying conflict in Eagle Pass, Texas. These narratives bring to the forefront the immediate, tangible impacts of immigration policies on individuals and communities.
A critical examination of 'Gross Violations of Human Rights' at open-air detention sites further emphasizes the urgent need for accountability and systemic reform. Organizations file a federal complaint against the Department of Homeland Security, underscoring the importance of upholding human rights standards in the treatment of asylum seekers.
Religious voices resonate in the letter from fifty Catholic organizations urging the Senate to preserve the right to asylum, highlighting the moral imperative to uphold human dignity in immigration policies. Simultaneously, lawmakers challenge the longstanding Monroe Doctrine, aiming to reshape U.S. relations with Latin American and Caribbean nations.
Shifting gears, the document outlines Mexico's negotiation tactics with the U.S. regarding immigration enforcement. The intricate dance between the two nations reflects a broader geopolitical context, emphasizing the interconnectedness of regional challenges and the importance of collaborative solutions.
Concluding on a local note, the spotlight turns to grassroots initiatives like Americans Making Immigrants Safe (AMIS), which has been providing crucial support to asylum seekers in Cleveland since 2019. The narrative underscores the power of community-driven efforts in mitigating the challenges faced by newcomers.
The call to action section invites readers to engage with various initiatives, advocating for asylum rights, challenging the Monroe Doctrine, calling for the closure of Guantanamo Bay, and participating in solidarity trips to witness firsthand the conditions along migratory paths.