This past month, the KBI was awarded a grant for educational programming, and Father Sean Carroll, S.J. received an honorary degree for his work with the KBI. We also share details about KBI presentations and immersion experiences. Valley Leadership Youth Grant: The KBI is honored and grateful to receive a Valley Leadership Youth Grant to support Kino Teens educational programming. Brophy College Preparatory student Tony Mattalino nominated the KBI for the grant, and board member Dora … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2019
KBI Media Report: May-June 2019
Our report this month includes news stories about the damaging effects of detention; the criminalization of humanitarian aid; and the journeys still ahead for released asylum seekers. Asylum Seekers in Detention: Though seeking asylum is a civil process, applicants often find themselves incarcerated in maximum-security, criminal-style prisons as they wait months or longer for their court dates. This indefinite confinement in overcrowded and substandard conditions is, in fact, endured by all … [Read more...]
Paloma’s Story: Unexpectedly Seeking Asylum
Single mom and small business owner Paloma never expected to have to flee her home in Mexico, much less seek asylum. That changed when she couldn’t afford the payments demanded by a local cartel, and wouldn’t turn over her 9-year-old son to work for them. After an extreme beating and six weeks in the hospital, Paloma found herself with few options and little choice—now she and her son wait at the U.S.–Mexico border to seek asylum. About three months ago, Paloma (25), and her son … [Read more...]
Unlawful Turnbacks: Another Barrier to Asylum
Against a backdrop of numerous attempts to discourage or block asylum seekers, the Trump administration has employed turnbacks—first sporadically, then broadly—at the U.S.–Mexico border. This practice of refusing admittance to individuals and families who express fear or ask for protection is illegal, and it continues to obstruct paths to safety, create backlogs, and endanger lives. In recent years, asylum seekers at the U.S.–Mexico border are encountering more and more obstacles in … [Read more...]
Defund the Remain in Mexico Policy
The “Remain in Mexico” policy was piloted in the San Diego-Tijuana area in January 2019, and has since expanded to other border cities. Under this policy, some asylum seekers are being returned to Mexico for the duration of their asylum claims. The Remain in Mexico program has expanded rapidly since January, and over 10,000 migrants have currently been returned to Mexico. Its scope and numbers are likely to grow further. This program has added, and will only continue to add, to the suffering … [Read more...]