Militarized Response to Humanitarian Crisis
As I detailed in a previous post, Title 42 is nearing its end on May 11, 2023 and as a result many changes in processing of asylum seekers at the border are going to take place. In conjunction with the migration plan announced last week, the Biden administration earlier this week, stated its plans to send 1,500 active duty troops to the southern border. It is claimed the troops will provide assistance with administrative duties so that Border Patrol agents have more time to perform “law enforcement” duties.
Due to Operation Lone Star, our southern border is currently staffed with not only Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents, but also Texas National Guard military members and Texas Department of Public Safety officers (DPS). Sending active duty troops to the southern border is again, a militarized response to a humanitarian crisis created by policies like the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), Title 42, and the CBP One application, all of which forced asylum seekers to remain in precarious situations in Mexico.
The cost of Operation Lone Star alone has been over 4 billion dollars and in 2022 Customs and Border Patrol had a budget of 16.3 billion dollars. With active duty military joining forces at the southern border with CBP agents, DPS officers, and Texas National Guard this brings roughly close to 25,000 law enforcement/military personnel into southern border communities to respond to a humanitarian crisis.
Welcoming with Dignity Response
What the southern border needs is not more militarization of our communities but instead many non-governmental organizations (NGO) working directly with asylum seekers will detail the urgent need for food, water, toiletries, shelter, safety, medical assistance, legal assistance, language access, and welcoming volunteers, among other resources.
One of the many consistent NGOs welcoming asylum seekers with dignity on a daily basis is Team Brownsville at their Welcoming Center. As stated on their website: “Team Brownsville was founded in July 2018, by a small group of like minded educator volunteers. Since that time, our membership and our mission has expanded with the help of volunteers and donors from around the globe.” Team Brownsville has diligently worked in service of asylum seekers and has been flexible in adjusting their work as policies change. They have been able to sustain welcoming of asylum seekers in great part thanks to many donations and volunteers from all over the world.
Call to Action: Volunteer with Team Brownsville
Now is the perfect time to put our faith into action. Team Brownsville is in need of all hands on deck volunteers to assist them in many capacities from welcoming asylum seekers to preparing the food or toiletry bags distributed. If you are not able to volunteer in person a monetary donation can be made to help Team Brownsville continue to provide welcoming to asylum seekers or support and share their Amazon wish list here:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3T96CDK6G1TG5/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2
Most current needs are:
- T-shirts for Men and Women, sizes S,M, L
- Men’s sweatpants, athletic pants or knee length shorts – all drawstring in sizes S,M,L.
- Women’s Leggings in sizes S,M,L.
- Belts
- Cases of water
If you are interested in volunteering with Team Brownsville and/or learning about other ways to get involved while witnessing and getting a big picture understanding of immigration policy and implications please contact me at fabi@texasimpact.org
