Jim McKeever will be telling us about his experiences volunteering at the Tijuana/San Diego border recently, encountering the Border Patrol while they were doing a water drop, watching men climb over the fence, and preparing/serving many meals to migrants in Tijuana. Jim discovered our committee several years ago and usually attends even though he lives in upstate New York. There will be no December meeting.
Chris Olsen and Kate Clark from Jewish Family Services provided a very insightful update of their work with migrants at our last meeting. JFS and Catholic Charities each run a shelter system for asylum seekers who have just crossed the border. They are given a health screening and other services before they get transportation to their sponsor anywhere in the U.S.
Tour of Otay Mesa Detention Center
With the help of Congressman Scott Peters' office, I have arranged for a morning tour of the Otay Mesa Detention Center. They only take seven people in a group, so I have reserved two days: Thursday, November 17, at 10am, and Friday, November 18, at 10am.
There are two forms to fill out and submit in advance for clearance, so email berylf@lwvsandiego.org to express your interest this week. Please indicate which day you prefer to go and whether you cannot go on the other day. There is no cost. We can carpool from the League office parking lot, if you like (7710 Balboa Ave.) – meet there at 9am.
TRUTH Act Forum on November 15th
The LWVSD and LWV North County San Diego will testify at the TRUTH Act (Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds Act) Forum at the County Board of Supervisors special meeting in the evening of November 15. This is an annual requirement for the County because they have interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)–specifically, they allow ICE agents on their property to pick up undocumented people who are being discharged after serving a sentence; these people are often put in an immigration detention center and/or deported. ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, and the County are on a joint task force, working together to protect our borders, but Alliance San Diego is requesting that the County no longer work with them. The goal is to have many people testify on this. The League is preparing talking points which can be sent to you if you request them. You can testify in person or remotely.