As the border deal fails to secure enough votes in Congress, attention has pivoted to push for the passage of H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act. However, a closer examination of the bill reveals alarming provisions that pose significant risks to the well-being and rights of migrant children –those they claim to protect.
Here's a breakdown of what is included in H.R.2:
Read MoreNo hay manera de que los soldados romanos que pusieron la corona de espinas sobre Jesús reclamaran que no sabían que estaba mal y era insultante. Tampoco, podían alegar que no sabían que Jesús estaba siendo crucificado por agenciarse facultades exclusivas al Mesías, poniendo de relieve que hoy ni el César ni Herodes eran el Hijo de Dios.
Read MoreThe Roman soldiers who put the crown of thorns on Jesus knew that it was wrong and insulting. They also knew that Jesus was being crucified for claiming to be the Messiah, highlighting that neither Caesar nor Herod were the sons of God. And yet, at the end of the day, there was no way to prevent the Kingdom of heaven from being at hand.
Read MoreThe Biden administration has begun preparing to end Title 42 –the COVID-19 order that authorizes the rapid expulsion of migrants, primarily to Mexico– on May 11. The administration will impose penalties for those who enter the U.S. without inspection, while at the same time opening new programs for migrants to come to the U.S. Unfortunately, the efforts the administration is taking largely exports our immigration dilemma to other countries, militarizes our border, and fails to fulfill our legal obligation to allow people to seek asylum in the United States.
Read MoreOn Nov. 30th, more than 600 migrants who are stranded in Matamoros, Mexico - just across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas - were given an orientation on U.S. immigration processes by Elket Rodriguez, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship U.S.-Mexico border field personnel, with the coordination of Pastor Eleuterio Gonzalez of Valle de Beraca Church.
Read MoreMás de 600 migrantes varados en Matamoros, México – justo al otro lado del Río Grande de Brownsville, Texas –fueron orientados el 30 de noviembre sobre los procesos migratorios en los Estados Unidos por el personal de campo del Compañerismo Bautista Cooperativo para la frontera entre México y Estados Unidos, Elket Rodríguez, con la asistencia del pastor Eleuterio González de l iglesia Valle de Beraca.
Read MoreEl presidente Biden convirtió en ley la semana pasada un proyecto de ley de inmigración respaldado por Fellowship Southwest, que brinda esperanza a las decenas de personales de campo o misioneros que trabajan directamente con inmigrantes y refugiados.
Read MoreAn immigration bill supported by Fellowship Southwest was signed this week by President Biden—giving hope to many who welcome and resettle immigrants and refugees.
Read MoreThe Biden administration has become addicted to Title 42 –the order that authorizes the rapid expulsion of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border due to the threat of COVID-19. And like all addictions, the real problems are avoided.
Read MoreRemain in Mexico no more. In the midst of so much legal uncertainty, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday in Biden v. Texas that the President has discretionary authority to terminate the Migrant Protection Protocols, better known as the Remain in Mexico policy or MPP.
Read MoreElket Rodríguez is now an officially commissioned field personnel on behalf of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship for his transformative work on the United States-Mexico border. "Field personnel" is the preferred terminology by CBF for what is more commonly called a missionary. Elket's work encompasses mission work, but it is so much more. As an attorney and a minister, Elket offers trainings and workshops to migrants and asylum seekers to help them navigate the legal immigration system. He advises the network of border pastors supported by Fellowship Southwest on U.S. and Mexican immigration policy. And he represents CBF and FSW in national immigration advocacy coalitions.
Read MoreOn April 1, 2022, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced the termination of Title 42 –the COVID-19 order that authorizes the rapid expulsion of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border– on May 23. The decision caused the COVID-19 relief deal to be blocked in the Senate and a bipartisan group of Senators to call for a delay in its ending. The CDC and Biden Administration made this decision despite that more than half of Americans agree with maintaining immigration restrictions at the border.
Read MoreUnnoticed by many due to the war in Ukraine is the silent and sinister war against migrant children. Leaders in Texas, Florida and Tennessee are politicizing the treatment, care, and protection of vulnerable migrant children.
In Texas, the Attorney General prevailed in court preventing the Biden administration from exempting migrant children from expulsion to Mexico under Title 42 –the policy that authorizes rapid expulsion of migrants at the border due to COVID-19 precautions. The result of this lawsuit would hand over unaccompanied migrant children to the dangers awaiting in México.
Read MoreTitle 42 – the policy that authorizes rapid expulsion of migrants at the border due to COVID-19 precautions– may have its days numbered.
The reduction in COVID cases has weakened the rationale for its implementation, and recent court rulings have questioned its reach. Recently, Fellowship Southwest, along with more than 300 immigrant, human rights and faith-based organizations sent a letter to the President demanding the end of this policy.
On Thursday, January 6, hundreds of refugee families along the U.S.-Mexico border, in Matamoros, Mexico received gifts and supplies in celebration of Epiphany or Three Kings Day, a significant Hispanic holiday, thanks to the effort of many Fellowship Southwest’s partner churches and organizations. The goods were distributed in the Esperanza (Hope) and Corazón (Heart) migrant shelters, and in a slum in Playa Bagdad (Baghdad Beach) – on the Gulf coast 25 miles from Gateway International Bridge between Brownsville and Matamoros– where hundreds of Hispanic and Haitian refugees have relocated.
Read MoreMexico is in the process of implementing its own migrant protection protocol (MPP). But do not worry. This new plan has nothing in common with the recently relaunched U.S. policy, better known as “Remain in Mexico,” which does not actually protect migrants at all.
On the contrary, this MPP is an agreement between various churches, denominations, civil organizations and three levels of Mexican government to holistically address the needs of migrants in the state of Sonora, Mexico, across the border from Arizona.
Read MoreAll along the U.S.-Mexico border, the pastors who comprise Fellowship Southwest’s Immigrant Relief Ministry are facing a nuanced and complicated migratory flow. The number of Mexicans fleeing violence has skyrocketed, due to an ongoing cartel turf war in the southwestern states of Michoacán, Veracruz, Guerrero and Chiapas.
Read MoreThe wall dividing the Biden administration from nongovernmental organizations that assist refugees on the U.S.-Mexico border is growing taller.
Read MoreFellowship Southwest and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship have joined a broad coalition of faith organizations and faith leaders who have urged the Biden Administration to hold U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers accountable for abusing Haitian migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border.
The coalition has asked the administration to pursue all possible procedures that would guarantee humanitarian protection for the Haitians.
Read MoreThousands of Haitian migrants are stranded in northern Mexico following the largest mass-expulsion of migrants by the U.S. government, in Del Rio, Texas.
Many of the deported Haitian migrants relocated to Matamoros, Mexico—across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas—waiting for a chance to enter the United States officially.
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