Immigrant Youth and Community Members From Border States Demand #FreedomForImmigrants
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bruna Bouhid | bruna@unitedwedream.org | 202.850.0812
Isaac De Luna (NM) | idelunanavarro@unitedwedream.org | 505.633.0270
Chris Valdez (TX) | chris@unitedwedream.org | 713.352.8197
Tornillo, TX – Today, hundreds of ‘freedom warriors’ from across the Southwest – TX, NM, AZ and CA – shut down the Port of Entry in Tornillo, TX to demand #FreedomForImmigrants. Members of United We Dream, New Mexico Dream Team, United We Dream Texas, Arizona Dream Act Coalition, Mijente, and more shut down the border crossing and called for an end to the deportation force which is terrorizing immigrant communities and which threatens the liberties of all people. See www.AbolishICEandCBP.com for more on the campaign.
Today’s action is part of a series of escalating activities along the border and nationwide calling for the abolishment of the racist deportation force. During the event, ‘freedom warriors’ put their bodies on the line to show the nation that people of principle will not stand for a deportation force that separates families and workers at the border or inside our country.
Community leaders will continue their call for Congress to defund the deportation force, for local officials to pass regulations to keep the deportation force out and for all people to rise up to stop them.
Estephanie de la Cruz (second image), DACA recipient and leader with United We Dream Austin who traveled over 500 miles to the Tornillo child detention camp, said:
“The racist deportation force has attacked and separated communities of color for decades. Now, these agencies have been exposed for what they are—brutal forces hunting down my community and putting us in cages, and we demand that elected officials abolish ICE and CBP. We will not back down, and our work will keep fighting until we see freedom and justice for all communities.”
Johana, Deportation Defense team leader from the New Mexico Dream Team, a branch of United We Dream, said:
“Estar aquí hoy siento tristeza por los niños que son enjaulados y separados de sus padres. Me siento afortunada por tener el poder de estar aquí y exigir que abolimos ICE y CBP — están aterrorizando a nuestras familias y debemos de ponerle fin a sus operaciones.”
“Being here today I felt sadness for these children who are caged, and separated from their parents. I’m fortunate to have the power to be here and demand that we abolish ICE and CBP — they are terrorizing our families and they must be stopped.”
Gabriela Cruz, California leader with United We Dream said:
“I drove 17 hours with 12 other immigrant youth from California to be here because we wanted to take a stand against ICE and CBP not only in Our home state, but in neighboring border states. ICE has become a rogue organization that has continued to terrorize and traumatize our communities.”
Karina Ruiz, Executive Director of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, a United We Dream local group said:
“I traveled here with my three U.S. born children because I wanted them to see it first hand, especially my 16 year son who will vote in the next presidential election. It terrifies me that I could be separated from my son because of my undocumented status, but I wanted them to know I will keep fighting for the children in detention camp and for our family to finally have freedom.”
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United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation, a powerful network made up of over 400,000 members and 48 affiliate organizations across 26 states. UWD’s vision is to build a multi-racial, multi-ethnic movement of young people who organize and advocate at the local and national levels for the dignity and justice of immigrants and communities of color in the United States.