UUA Board Meeting

I’ve just returned from the UUA Board’s January meeting – and I’m confused, conflicted. Should I be disgusted and outraged at the tactics being used by the US government to deal with immigration issues or should I be inspired by the work being done by many organizations in border areas to support immigrants and bring some order to the immigration chaos?

Our January meetings aren’t what you’d expect a board meeting to look like. Yes, of course, we conduct the usual board meeting business, but for this meeting, we went to listen, to learn, to celebrate and get frustrated, outraged, disgusted, and angry. It was an “interesting” meeting. I’ll describe some of the business actions in a future post.

Several members of the Board prior to the meeting, sadly I could not be with them, traveled to Tucson and to the border (both sides). My colleague, Linda Laskowski, trustee from the Pacific Central District, was part of that group and provided an excellent description of that few days in her blog: http://pcdtrustee.blogspot.com/. Scroll down a ways to the entry entitled, “Me llamo Lourdes” You’ll probably note that Linda is much more politically correct that I tend to be. I’ve seen some of the border towns and, since I’m an old white guy, have only heard and read the stories. The reality is truly disgusting. I tend to be skeptical of stories told from only one side, but if there is any truth at all to the stories, my confusion and disgust are well founded.

We heard from members of the Board, UU ministers, members of Arizona UU congregations who had participated in the May 29th protest in Phoenix. From many we heard about their experiences of being arrested and incarcerated in the Maricopa County jail. I’m pleased to report that most of the criminal charges against these folks have been dismissed.

We heard stories of abuse of migrants who had crossed the border and had been arrested. When they were arrested all their possessions were taken from them (credentials [both US and foreign], money, cell phones, everything). They were deported with no money and no credentials and no way to contact family or friends. In some cases where families crossed the border together and were arrested, members of the family were deported (with no credentials, money or cell phones) to different cities in Mexico. Is this an anti-family tactic? It sure sounds like it. Such folks are dependent on charitable organizations working on both sides of the US – Mexican border to help them reunite with families, return home or find work. Yes, some cross the border, again, as soon as they possibly can.

We heard about operation “Streamline.” This is a US Justice Department program to expedite the deportation process where it is required. I’ve read written descriptions that validate what we heard in Phoenix. Detainees are held in commercial prisons where they are fed very little; shackled together, hands and feet (much like our penal systems shackle serial murders); brought into a court room with fifty or so similarly charged individuals; and as a group sentenced to deportation. On the record these folks are assigned a public defender attorney, but it is likely that they will never talk with that attorney. Public defenders are assigned forty or fifty detainees at a time. There is no time to actually talk with “clients.”

Next – WE MADE A DIFFERENCE – YEA!.