Tucson, AZ -- The US-Mexico Border and Immigration Task Force hosts a meeting today with the U.S. Border Czar Alan Bersin, DHS Chief of Staff Marco Lopez, U.S. Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar, Assistant U.S. Attorney General Lanny Breuer, and other officials at a Homeland Security and Dept of Justice Border Policy Listening Session held this afternoon in Tucson, Arizona.
 
The group sees this Listening Session as a shift in the traditional approach used by the Administration to address problems and concerns of border communities. "We are witnessing unprecedented openness by officials to listen to the concerns, opinions and recommendations of border residents," said Jennifer Allen, Executive Director of the Border Action Network, a human rights community group in southern Arizona. "This will be the third time we have met with Mr. Bersin and other high-level officials. A drastic change was needed in how Homeland Security dealt with communities. This communication is the first step towards making much needed changes in border policy," added Allen.

More than one hundred individuals, representing various segments of Tucson, Douglas Sierra Vista, Nogales, Sahuarita, Green Valley, and Phoenix participated in the meeting. The participants include local elected officials, representatives of local law enforcement, faith leaders, member of the businesses community, academics, environmentalists and community activists.
 
Last month a similar meeting was held in El Paso, Texas and others are tentatively planned for south Texas and San Diego. "We have urged DHS to include conversations with the community when they come to the border from D.C." explains Mark Adams, a Presbyterian Pastor with the Frontera de Cristo in Douglas and Agua Prieta.

During the meeting Task Force members and others community leaders are presenting a number of concrete recommendations for changes in DHS and Justice Department policies and practices. "Border communities are the most effective eyes and ears on the ground," explain Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manny Ruiz, who is Co-chair of the US-Mexico Border and Immigration Task Force. "The participation of border communities can help create border security that is more cost-effective, humane, accountable and can ensure that our local economies benefit," Ruiz added.
 
In the hour-long meeting, the following speakers present the issues below:

Jennifer Allen, Border Action Network
   
Manny Ruiz, Santa Cruz County Supervisor and Chair of Border Counties Coalition

Mark Adams, Frontera de Cristo Bi-National Mission (Federal agent training, complaint processes and creating a national independent review commission)

Victor Gonzalez, City of Douglas Economic Development Office (Ports of entry and economic development)

Randy Mayer, Good Shepherd United Church of Christ (Local community advisory boards, community consultations and impact studies)

Alberto Melis, Douglas Chief of Police and Marty Moreno, former Sahuarita City Council (Separating local law enforcement from immigration enforcement)

Bates Butler, former AZ Attorney General and Danielle Alvarado, No More Deaths (Standards for short-term custody centers)

Press is invited to attend the last portion of the meeting at 4:50pm.

Presenters will be available after the meeting for interviews regarding recommendations presented, reactions and next steps.

Location: El Pueblo Neighborhood Center, Senior Center Building -101 W. Irvington Rd, Tucson, AZ

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Border Action Network / Acción Fronteriza
PO Box 384 • Tucson, AZ • 85702
Ph 520.623.4944 • Fax 520.792.2097
ban@borderaction.org • www.borderaction.org