Rallies Nationwide Against Border Militarization

Senate Plan: $47 Billion on Agents, Drones & Surveillance

by John Michaelson

AUSTIN, Texas – Rallies were planned in some Texas cities and across the nation July 17, 2013, in a national day of action against the proposed “border surge” as part of immigration reform.

Texas groups in opposition include the Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network and the Border Network for Human Rights, whose communications director, Cristina Parker, said the surge would create one of the most militarized border zones in the world.

“Border Patrol is already the largest paramilitary force in the United States,” she said, “and this calls for about $46 billion in spending on drones, helicopters, surveillance and radar equipment, doubling the wall and most significantly, doubling the Border Patrol.”

Parker said lawmakers must remember that 7 million U.S. citizens, residents and families live in border communities, and that immigration trends have changed.

“We are some of the safest cities in the country by far, and that’s been true for many years,” she said. “In addition, the border crossings are near zero and net migration from Mexico is now at below zero.”

The border surge is part of the bill passed by the U.S. Senate, which also includes a rigorous path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the country. The House has yet to take up immigration reform.

In Texas, rallies took place in Austin, El Paso, Houston and San Benito. More information about the events is on the Border Network for Human Rights website: http://www.bnhr.org/news/national-day-of-action-against-border-militarization.