"More than 1,000 immigrants have died in the Rio Grande Valley since 2005, the majority of whose bodies remain unidentified, because local authorities lack the resources to investigate their deaths and to extract their DNA."
There will finally be some closure for families who have no idea what happened to their loved ones. There will finally be a funeral, a burial, a service of mourning.
However, can we just take a few minutes and take in that number? 1000 UNIDENTIFIED migrants. That does not include the migrants who died with IDs or whose bodies were identified. 10 years. That's 100 unidentified bodies every year.
That's on us, America. Our programs for visas are inadequate. Our paperwork is lengthy, strict and has a process attached to it. It has been made nearly impossible to complete legally. And then, we have NGOs out placing water while the border guards cut open the jugs. It's like a game to them.
It's time to wake up and start taking this problem seriously. Donald Trump has some ideas for a wall. There is already a wall in place. Others say that migrants should go through the process legally. This is actually what every migrant I've spoken with says they would have preferred. Who WANTS to travel dangerously... and then live in fear of being deported? But if we don't have an easier system in place, they're going to risk it for the chance of a better life for their families.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Did you know... (human rights edition)
The big news right now in the United States is the Supreme Court's decision to uphold that marriage is not only for one man and one woman, but an option for any two consenting adults. Did you know that it was declared a universal human right by the United Nations over 65 years ago? For being such a first world country, we really are slow to recognize these rights. We claim to be "all about that freedom" but we struggle to achieve these thirty basic rights.
I understand that my citizenship of the United States is such a privilege, and that without this privilege, I wouldn't be able to say the things I'm about to say. Fortunately, I do not have fear of death or imprisonment for speaking out against my government (yet). Unfortunately, many don't recognize the power of their voices, so I hope that mine gets picked up and heard loudly and clearly.
So... let's just discuss some of those Human Rights.
Article 5 - No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
So, USA, what's up with this?
Article 9 - No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.
So, USA, what's up with this?
Article 13 - Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Article 14 - Everyone hast he right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
So, USA, what's up with this?
These are just four of the thirty. We've got a lot of work to do, America. A LOT of work to do.
I understand that my citizenship of the United States is such a privilege, and that without this privilege, I wouldn't be able to say the things I'm about to say. Fortunately, I do not have fear of death or imprisonment for speaking out against my government (yet). Unfortunately, many don't recognize the power of their voices, so I hope that mine gets picked up and heard loudly and clearly.
So... let's just discuss some of those Human Rights.
Article 5 - No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
So, USA, what's up with this?
Article 9 - No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile.
So, USA, what's up with this?
Article 13 - Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Article 14 - Everyone hast he right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
So, USA, what's up with this?
These are just four of the thirty. We've got a lot of work to do, America. A LOT of work to do.
Maquiladoras
Annotated Bibliography
Check out my annotated bibliography containing interesting articles I've found regarding the maquiladoras along the US/Mexico border.
Check out my annotated bibliography containing interesting articles I've found regarding the maquiladoras along the US/Mexico border.
Child Migration
Even Pakistan is covering the news of the child migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico attempting to enter the United States. What are your thoughts?
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Census Data
Because I am from Grand Rapids, now living in Staten Island, these are two places I often think about. I also often follow social and political news for both of these locations and their states (Michigan and New York, respectively).
In doing research, I am often told by Michiganders that Michigan is overrun "with Mexicans." I also hear similar sentiments about New York. Many feel that they see more migrants in their hometown than anywhere else in the world and feel as though seeing the same family every day means that their town is overrun with "outsiders." I want to give you the semi* truth.
* Recognizing that many of these statistics were estimated because undocumented residents feared responding to the census for fear of discovery and deportation.
In doing research, I am often told by Michiganders that Michigan is overrun "with Mexicans." I also hear similar sentiments about New York. Many feel that they see more migrants in their hometown than anywhere else in the world and feel as though seeing the same family every day means that their town is overrun with "outsiders." I want to give you the semi* truth.
* Recognizing that many of these statistics were estimated because undocumented residents feared responding to the census for fear of discovery and deportation.
Central American Minors Detained Increased by 49%
Could you imagine?
First of all, could you imagine living in a world experiencing extreme and continuous poverty, as well as violence so bad that you had to fear for your life whenever you left your home? Could you imagine growing up and not really having any options for your future besides being in a gang?
Then, could you imagine leaving your family behind and taking with you either your life savings or just the clothes on your back... and then traveling through maybe one, maybe two, maybe three different countries in order to try to reach the United States? And doing it all based on a hope that maybe, just MAYBE you will be able to sneak in and get a job in the fields somewhere.
Could you imagine traveling on the top of trains in the middle of the summer days? Could you imagine risking your life by riding the trains, not from the heat or train crashes, but by the gangs and traffickers that patrol the trains?
Could you imagine even getting on top of those trains? Personally, I wouldn't make it to the roof. I'd get my legs caught in the belly of "la bestia" or "the beast" and that would most certainly be the end of me.
Could you imagine?
And now, after reading "The Culture of Cruelty" that was referenced in my last post, could you imagine being detained by border patrol and subject to their abuse? As a teenager? As a teenage girl? I can't.
First of all, could you imagine living in a world experiencing extreme and continuous poverty, as well as violence so bad that you had to fear for your life whenever you left your home? Could you imagine growing up and not really having any options for your future besides being in a gang?
Then, could you imagine leaving your family behind and taking with you either your life savings or just the clothes on your back... and then traveling through maybe one, maybe two, maybe three different countries in order to try to reach the United States? And doing it all based on a hope that maybe, just MAYBE you will be able to sneak in and get a job in the fields somewhere.
Could you imagine traveling on the top of trains in the middle of the summer days? Could you imagine risking your life by riding the trains, not from the heat or train crashes, but by the gangs and traffickers that patrol the trains?
Could you imagine even getting on top of those trains? Personally, I wouldn't make it to the roof. I'd get my legs caught in the belly of "la bestia" or "the beast" and that would most certainly be the end of me.
Could you imagine?
And now, after reading "The Culture of Cruelty" that was referenced in my last post, could you imagine being detained by border patrol and subject to their abuse? As a teenager? As a teenage girl? I can't.
3 Social Justice Organizations Along the Border
Here is a link to a powerpoint presentation
I created and I wanted to share it with you with the assistance of
Jing. Unfortunately, Jing has a 5 minute cap on all creations, so the
video at the end was cut off. Below is the video I would like to show you.
Also, here is the Executive Summary of "A Culture of Cruelty," the report published by No More Deaths in 2011 regarding "abuse and impunity in short-term US Border Patrol custody."
Hundreds Stranded at the Border
Hundreds of migrant workers were stranded at the border because officials were unable to process work visas due to a computer glitch. Here's the News Story.
My first thought, as a greedy cherry lover, was "oh, no! This will make the price of cherries rise significantly because now an entire crop has gone to waste." This is the extent of my economics knowledge: supply and demand.
However, what about those workers? They were unable to work, which means they were unable to make any money, which means they were unable to send money back to their families, which may mean that families had to go without food, shelter, clean water, clothing... the basic human needs. All because of a computer glitch.
So, while you were having a rough week, just remember how blessed you were compared to others during that time.
My first thought, as a greedy cherry lover, was "oh, no! This will make the price of cherries rise significantly because now an entire crop has gone to waste." This is the extent of my economics knowledge: supply and demand.
However, what about those workers? They were unable to work, which means they were unable to make any money, which means they were unable to send money back to their families, which may mean that families had to go without food, shelter, clean water, clothing... the basic human needs. All because of a computer glitch.
So, while you were having a rough week, just remember how blessed you were compared to others during that time.
An Introduction
Welcome to my blog project for my most recent endeavor, graduate school. I am currently pursuing a Masters in Arts degree in Global Development and Social Justice. For an introduction to me, you can read my "about me" section. However, I would much rather introduce you to the program with which I have been given the opportunity to further my education.
St. John's University is a Catholic university with top ranking academics. St. John's University is hosted by three boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island) as well as in Oakdale, NY. Campuses are also hosted in Paris, France as well as Rome, Italy. I had an opportunity to study in Rome for the first two weeks of the masters program. I will (Lord willing) return to Rome in two years to graduate. The Masters in Global Development and Social Justice program is a multidisciplinary online/distance learning program with in person courses offered at both the beginning and end of the coursework.
Personally, I was looking for a way to further my education. Many people in my field of work hold a masters in social work. I was not interested in obtaining this degree, but was interested in continuing toward some degree. I have had a huge interest in human rights throughout the majority of my adult life and felt that perhaps the only way to continue to work in this field was with a law degree. I'm so thankful that I was wrong.
If I could have created a program of my own, I would have created a program that nearly mirrors this program. It is primarily online, allowing me to continue to do my work with Project Hospitality. It also covers a broad variety of courses - economics, religion, inequalities, migration, food and water, health... everything that one could claim as important for a well-rounded education in Global Development and Social Justice. Another great advantage of this program is that we are studying with the same cohort of people from around the world through all of our courses. Facilitated through face-to-face courses completed in Rome, we got to know our classmates/cohort. Following these two weeks, we will return to our homes and continue to work together from great distances. What an amazingly fun opportunity!
St. John's University is a Catholic university with top ranking academics. St. John's University is hosted by three boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island) as well as in Oakdale, NY. Campuses are also hosted in Paris, France as well as Rome, Italy. I had an opportunity to study in Rome for the first two weeks of the masters program. I will (Lord willing) return to Rome in two years to graduate. The Masters in Global Development and Social Justice program is a multidisciplinary online/distance learning program with in person courses offered at both the beginning and end of the coursework.
Personally, I was looking for a way to further my education. Many people in my field of work hold a masters in social work. I was not interested in obtaining this degree, but was interested in continuing toward some degree. I have had a huge interest in human rights throughout the majority of my adult life and felt that perhaps the only way to continue to work in this field was with a law degree. I'm so thankful that I was wrong.
If I could have created a program of my own, I would have created a program that nearly mirrors this program. It is primarily online, allowing me to continue to do my work with Project Hospitality. It also covers a broad variety of courses - economics, religion, inequalities, migration, food and water, health... everything that one could claim as important for a well-rounded education in Global Development and Social Justice. Another great advantage of this program is that we are studying with the same cohort of people from around the world through all of our courses. Facilitated through face-to-face courses completed in Rome, we got to know our classmates/cohort. Following these two weeks, we will return to our homes and continue to work together from great distances. What an amazingly fun opportunity!
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