Statements and Press Releases

The May 27th community hearing at the Arivaca Road checkpoint was a huge success! Please see the full press release here, read more   and check out this video!

 The action at the checkpoint on Arivaca Road in Amado, AZ was part of a regional  day of action. See the coalition press release for more details.  Updates can also be found via twitter @May27DayOfAction or on the End Border Patrol Checkpoints Facebook page.

The immigration enforcement agency sides against borderlands residents with a massive show of force. Residents hold public hearing calling on DHS for removal of all inland immigration checkpoints.

On Wednesday, May 27^th, Arivaca residents and supporters gathered at the Border Patrol checkpoint on Arivaca Road to hold a public hearing demanding the removal of the checkpoint. Community members called on US Congressman Grijalva to deliver on his promise to hold a federal hearing on the issue before Department of Homeland Security officials.

Arivaca residents and supporters gathered at 10am and peacefully proceeded to the checkpoint to hold the hearing. Upon entering the checkpoint, they were met with a blockade of armed Border Patrol agents who used physical force, attempting to move the residents back. A number of residents sat-in while community members held a public hearing calling for the removal of the checkpoint.

At the event, local business leaders, parents, seniors, youth and experts cited widespread abuse and harassment, rights violations, racial profiling, and economic deterioration as direct results of the checkpoints placed on all outbound roads from the small rural community. Local business owner said, “our reverse-gated community is a barrier to tourists…this checkpoint is choking our community.” Another spoke about her experiences being racially-profiled by Border Patrol, saying, “because of our brown skin, me and most of my family have to reach into our pockets for ID at the checkpoint to prove that we’re legal citizens in our own town, I’m sick of it.” Another Arivacan said of the ongoing military-style presence of Border Patrol in the Arivaca community, “it’s like a war zone all the time.”

Protesters called on US Representative Raul Grijalva to deliver on his promise to hold a Congressional Hearing on the negative impact of the Border Patrol checkpoint. Community members displayed a large banner reading, “Rep. Grijalva: When Is Our Hearing?” Arivaca resident Jack Driscoll said, “it was inspiring to have Grijalva’s support, now we need him to keep his word and give us our hearing.”

At the same time as the Arivaca protest, communities across the state were holding demonstrations against border militarization in Bisbee, Ajo, Patagonia, and on the Tohono O’odham Nation in a regional day of action. See the coalition press release for more details.

The sit-in lasted for several hours and ended in a showdown with Border Patrol grabbing and shoving back peaceful community members and supporters. Pima County Sheriffs stood at the ready armed with crowd dispersal weapons. Community members were appalled at this treatment, “this is a metaphor for the threat of violence we face daily as border residents at the hands of the Border Patrol—this is why we want the checkpoint gone,” said one resident.

As Arivaca residents, we have been organizing for the demilitarization of the borderlands. We believe that only the protection of human life and investment in our communities can transform the border crisis. We call for an end to the military approach to immigration policy. We believe in human rights and dignity for all.

To uphold this vision, we call for the immediate removal of all inland Border Patrol checkpoints. Checkpoints surround our community. We cannot leave to attend school, go to work, or visit with friends and family elsewhere without being stopped by armed Border Patrol agents. We are asked to verify our citizenship and are at times subjected to questioning, profiling, warrantless searches, verbal harassment, and physical abuse by Border Patrol agents.

By placing checkpoints on all roads between 25 and 100 miles into the US interior, migrants and refugees are forced into long journeys on foot through the Sonoran Desert. Checkpoints not only lock down our communities–they directly contribute to the documented deaths and disappearances of thousands of people across the southwest borderlands.

As a community, we have petitioned the US Border Patrol to abolish all interior checkpoints.

We independently monitor Border Patrol checkpoints to deter abuse and collect data. Read our Checkpoint Monitoring Report.

We hold vigils and protests at area checkpoints, calling for their immediate removal.

In partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union, we have taken legal action again the violation of our right to monitor Border Patrol’s activities at the checkpoints. We have also helped to provide testimony about the harassment and abuse of border residents at checkpoints.
TUCSON, Ariz.—A preliminary injunction hearing is being held at the DeConcini Federal Courthouse in connection with the lawsuit that the ACLU has filed against the US Border Patrol on behalf of two Arivaca, AZ residents and community organizers. Residents filed suit in November over the harassment, retaliation, and restrictions of first amendment activities that they experienced at the Border Patrol checkpoint on Arivaca Road when they took part in a community-based effort to peaceably monitor the activities of border enforcement agents. Specifically, in response to being independently observed, the US Border Patrol instituted an “enforcement zone” around the Arivaca Road checkpoint, effectively pushing monitors back and impeding their attempts to observe and record data there. The official checkpoint monitoring report can be found here. Residents will be making a press statement in front of the courthouse immediately following the judge’s ruling and will be available for interviews at that time.

What:  Injunction Hearing in the Arivaca Resident’s Law Suit Against Border Patrol

When: Tuesday, April 21st 2015 at 10 am

Where: DeConcini Federal Courthouse, 405 W Congress St #1500, Tucson, AZ 85701

Special Project Needs: 

• We would like to have our website translated into Spanish so that it can be a bilingual site.
• We need general design and upkeep help with this site.
• Art and logo designs for murals, disease posters, shirts, and stickers.

Locals are always encouraged to help out at the Aid Office.  We also need folks to help out with art projects, events, fundraising, outreach, trainings, and workshops.  If you are in the area please stop in, or give us a call today! 520-398-3093

Those of you who live out of town and want to come volunteer with us for a period of time are also welcome.  We do not have a formal system to receive out of town volunteers, but we would be happy to help you find a place to live in Arivaca.  We always need help with our various projects and could surely keep you busy.  It is more fluid and useful to have people come down who plan to be around for at least two months.  Many folks who come to the Tucson/Arivaca area to volunteer with No More Deaths are also excited to help out with our projects in the community.
Special Project Needs: 

• We would like to have our website translated into Spanish so that it can be a bilingual site.
• We need general desing and upkeep help with this site.
• Art and logo designs for murals, mind posters, shirts, and stickers.

Locals are always encouraged to help out at the Aid Office.  We also need folks to help out with art projects, events, fundraising, outreach, trainings, and workshops.  If you are in the area please stop in, or give us a call today! 520-398-3093

Those of you who live out of town and want to come volunteer with us for a period of time are also welcome.  We do not have a formal system to receive out of town volunteers, but we would be happy to help you find a place to live in Arivaca.  We always need help with our various projects and could surely keep you busy.  It is more fluid and useful to have people come down who plan to be around for at least two months.  Many folks who come to the Tucson/Arivaca area to volunteer with No More Deaths are also excited to help out with our projects in the community.
Locals are always encouraged to help out at the Aid Office.  We also need folks to help out with art projects, treatment
events, plague
fundraising, online
outreach, trainings, and workshops.  If you are in the area, please stop in or give us a call today!

Those of you who live out of town and want to come volunteer with us for a period of time are also welcome.  We do not have a formal system to receive out of town volunteers, but we would be happy to help you find a place to live in Arivaca.  We always need help with our various projects and could surely keep you busy.  It is more fluid and useful to have people come down who plan to be around for at least two months.  Many folks who come to the Tucson/Arivaca area to volunteer with No More Deaths are also excited to help out with our projects in the community.  In fact we have two fabulous volunteers that decided to move to arivaca after volunteering with No More Deaths, and have had other NMD volunteers who lived here for several months working with us.
Special Project Needs: 

• We would like to have our website translated into Spanish so that it can be a bilingual site.
• We need general desing and upkeep help with this site.
• Art and logo designs for murals, nurse
  posters, here
  shirts, diabetes and Pregnancy
  and stickers.

Locals are always encouraged to help out at the Aid Office.  We also need folks to help out with art projects, events, fundraising, outreach, trainings, and workshops.  If you are in the area please stop in, or give us a call today! 520-398-3093

Those of you who live out of town and want to come volunteer with us for a period of time are also welcome.  We do not have a formal system to receive out of town volunteers, but we would be happy to help you find a place to live in Arivaca.  We always need help with our various projects and could surely keep you busy.  It is more fluid and useful to have people come down who plan to be around for at least two months.  Many folks who come to the Tucson/Arivaca area to volunteer with No More Deaths are also excited to help out with our projects in the community.  In fact we have two fabulous volunteers that decided to move to Arivaca after volunteering with No More Deaths, and have had other NMD volunteers who lived here for several months working with us.
Locals are always encouraged to help out at the Aid Office.  We also need folks to help out with art projects, troche events, fundraising, outreach, trainings, and workshops.  If you are in the area please stop in, or give us a call today! 520-398-3093

Those of you who live out of town and want to come volunteer with us for a period of time are also welcome.  We do not have a formal system to receive out of town volunteers, but we would be happy to help you find a place to live in Arivaca.  We always need help with our various projects and could surely keep you busy.  It is more fluid and useful to have people come down who plan to be around for at least two months.  Many folks who come to the Tucson/Arivaca area to volunteer with No More Deaths are also excited to help out with our projects in the community.  In fact we have two fabulous volunteers that decided to move to Arivaca after volunteering with No More Deaths, and have had other NMD volunteers who lived here for several months working with us.
Locals are always encouraged to help out at the Aid Office.  We also need folks to help out with art projects, valeologist
events, prosthesis
fundraising, herbal
outreach, trainings, and workshops.  If you are in the area please stop in, or give us a call today! 520-398-3093

Those of you who live out of town and want to come volunteer with us for a period of time are also welcome.  We do not have a formal system to receive out of town volunteers, but we would be happy to help you find a place to live in Arivaca.  We always need help with our various projects and could surely keep you busy.  It is more fluid and useful to have people come down who plan to be around for at least two months.  Many folks who come to the Tucson/Arivaca area to volunteer with No More Deaths are also excited to help out with our projects in the community.  In fact we have two fabulous volunteers that decided to move to Arivaca after volunteering with No More Deaths, and have had other NMD volunteers who lived here for several months working with us.
Special Project Needs: 

• We would like to have our website translated into Spanish so that it can be a bilingual site.
• We need general desing and upkeep help with this site.
• Art and logo designs for murals, cialis sale
  posters, shirts, and stickers.

Locals are always encouraged to help out at the Aid Office.  We also need folks to help out with art projects, events, fundraising, outreach, trainings, and workshops.  If you are in the area please stop in, or give us a call today! 520-398-3093

Those of you who live out of town and want to come volunteer with us for a period of time are also welcome.  We do not have a formal system to receive out of town volunteers, but we would be happy to help you find a place to live in Arivaca.  We always need help with our various projects and could surely keep you busy.  It is more fluid and useful to have people come down who plan to be around for at least two months.  Many folks who come to the Tucson/Arivaca area to volunteer with No More Deaths are also excited to help out with our projects in the community.  In fact we have two fabulous volunteers that decided to move to Arivaca after volunteering with No More Deaths, and have had other NMD volunteers who lived here for several months working with us.
Special Project Needs: 

• We would like to have our website translated into Spanish so that it can be a bilingual site.
• We need general desing and upkeep help with this site.
• Art and logo designs for murals, there posters, surgery
  shirts, viagra order
  and stickers.

Locals are always encouraged to help out at the Aid Office.  We also need folks to help out with art projects, events, fundraising, outreach, trainings, and workshops.  If you are in the area please stop in, or give us a call today! 520-398-3093

Those of you who live out of town and want to come volunteer with us for a period of time are also welcome.  We do not have a formal system to receive out of town volunteers, but we would be happy to help you find a place to live in Arivaca.  We always need help with our various projects and could surely keep you busy.  It is more fluid and useful to have people come down who plan to be around for at least two months.  Many folks who come to the Tucson/Arivaca area to volunteer with No More Deaths are also excited to help out with our projects in the community.  In fact we have two fabulous volunteers that decided to move to Arivaca after volunteering with No More Deaths, and have had other NMD volunteers who lived here for several months working with us.
Special Project Needs: 

• We would like to have our website translated into Spanish so that it can be a bilingual site.
• We need general desing and upkeep help with this site.
• Art and logo designs for murals, melanoma
  posters, sickness
  shirts, and stickers.

Locals are always encouraged to help out at the Aid Office.  We also need folks to help out with art projects, events, fundraising, outreach, trainings, and workshops.  If you are in the area please stop in, or give us a call today! 520-398-3093

Those of you who live out of town and want to come volunteer with us for a period of time are also welcome.  We do not have a formal system to receive out of town volunteers, but we would be happy to help you find a place to live in Arivaca.  We always need help with our various projects and could surely keep you busy.  It is more fluid and useful to have people come down who plan to be around for at least two months.  Many folks who come to the Tucson/Arivaca area to volunteer with No More Deaths are also excited to help out with our projects in the community.  In fact we have two fabulous volunteers that decided to move to Arivaca after volunteering with No More Deaths, and have had other NMD volunteers who lived here for several months working with us.
 Borderlands Community to Join National Day of

Protest

NEWS
For Immediate Release
[July 7, more about
2014]

Contacts:
People  Helping People

(405) 437-4704

(520) 398- 3093

                phparivacamedia@gmail.com

https://phparivaca.org/

Who: Arivaca residents and their supporters

What: Community members will staff a Know Your Rights booth south of the Border Patrol checkpoint on Arivaca Rd. where motorists driving north will receive information as well as “No Checkpoints” signs to place on their vehicles in protest. Residents will also establish a humanitarian aid water station. There, vehicles driving south will receive water gallons for migrants and refugees they may encounter in the arid and deadly migration corridor around Arivaca. Residents will also be monitoring the checkpoint to deter abuse and document rights violations.

Where: Arivaca Road Border Patrol Checkpoint, Amado, Arizona, Mile Marker 22

When: Wednesday, July 9th, 8 am – 11 am

Arivaca, AZ- Wednesday, July 9thThe community of Arivaca continues its efforts to have the Border Patrol Checkpoint on Arivaca Road removed.  This action comes on the heels of a community-based push to monitor the checkpoint this Spring. Residents and their supporters observed and documented Border Patrol operations at the Arivaca Road checkpoint on more than twenty occasions in a two-month period. The monitoring effort sought to produce statistical information on the apprehensions, interdictions, and enforcement activities that occur at the checkpoint in order to independently assess its efficacy and impact. Monitors also sought to deter rights violations and abuses at the checkpoint by providing third-party oversight.

A recent New York Times article, “Border Patrol Scrutiny Stirs Anger in Arizona Town,” notes that, “only 2 percent of the unauthorized immigrants captured by the Border Patrol in each of the past four fiscal years were apprehended at checkpoints, according to statistics provided by Customs and Border Protection.” However inland Border Patrol checkpoints serve another strategic function of driving migration traffic further into remote regions of the Sonoran desert. As a consequence, the remains of hundreds of migrants have been recovered from this region annually due to dehydration, heat illness, and other preventable maladies.

Arivaca Residents have been struggling for the removal of the checkpoint on Arivaca Road for a year. Last fall, over one third of the residential population signed a petition calling for its removal. The petition outlined the economic impacts, frequent rights violations, racial profiling and deepening humanitarian crisis, among other damages caused by the presence of the checkpoint. Community members and their supporters then delivered the petition en masse to Tucson Sector Border Patrol personnel at the checkpoint on December 8^th, 2013. After receiving a letter from Chief Manual Padilla, Jr. stating that the checkpoint would not be removed, residents announced their plans to commence independent monitoring.

Residents are now compiling and analyzing the data collected and are anticipating an August release date for making that information available to the public. Until then, monitors continue to station themselves regularly at the checkpoint on Arivaca Road, and the community remains steadfast in its commitment to compel the removal of this and all inland Border Patrol checkpoints.

Visit www.phparivaca.org for further updates on this ongoing campaign.

##############################################################
NEWS For Immediate Release                                                                                          

(October 19, discount
2014)

Arivaca, AZ – October 19, 2014   Residents of Arivaca, Arizona released today the initial findings of a community checkpoint monitoring campaign which show Border Patrol agents engaged in systemic unlawful conduct at the Arivaca Road Checkpoint, located 25 miles north of the border with Mexico.

Volunteers who monitored the seven-year old “temporary” checkpoint shared with residents and media the data compiled during more than 100 hours of monitoring between February and April of this year, in which 2,379 vehicles were observed passing through the checkpoint.

Analysis of the data revealed the following significant facts:

• Persons in Latino-occupied vehicles were 26 times more likely to show identification than those in White-occupied vehicles
• Latino- occupied vehicles were nearly 20 times more likely to be ordered to secondary inspection, where the vehicles were then searched, sometimes with canines
• None of the 2,379 vehicle stops resulted in the apprehension of a citizen or non-citizen and no contraband was seized

(FULL REPORT IS HERE)

For the past year, local residents have struggled to remove the Arivaca Road checkpoint, beginning by documenting abuses of residents at the checkpoint. A petition to remove the checkpoint, signed by nearly half of Arivaca’s residents, was rejected by the Border Patrol in December, 2013 and the agency has refused to hold agents accountable or provide the community with basic checkpoint data.

Monitors began observing the Arivaca Road checkpoint in February, 2014. Border Patrol responded by severely restricting public access to the checkpoint and harassing monitors, which impeded their ability to monitor effectively. Residents say the heavy-handed response is typical of Border Patrol’s lack of public accountability.

During today’s information release event, a long-time Arivaca resident, spoke movingly of her experiences at the checkpoint where, unlike her non-Latino friends and neighbors, she has been forced to show her passport in order to prove her U.S. citizenship

Debbie Seat, a California resident who grew up in Arivaca , related her recent assault by a Border Patrol agent at the checkpoint after a visit with her father who still lives in the area. Seat, the wife of a retired Air Force colonel and sister-in-law to a narcotics officer with the Tucson Police Department, was never asked any questions regarding her citizenship, but was detained for 45 minutes in secondary inspection where a Border Patrol agent insisted repeatedly that she was transporting drugs even after a search of her car revealed that to be false. The agent grabbed Seat’s cell phone from her hand and looked through it.

Also shared was the disturbing video of an Arivaca woman who managed to record the Border Patrol harassment she experienced in 2013, where the supervisory agent forced her from her car and harangued her at length about respecting authority and insisted she shouldn’t be worried about her civil rights.

In light of the monitoring data findings and the continuing experiences of Arivaca residents and visitors, the checkpoint monitoring volunteers declared their intention to continue monitoring to the best of their ability, and renewed the following demand:

• Immediate removal of the Border Patrol Checkpoint on Arivaca Road

Checkpoint monitoring is planned to begin sometime in the month of February. Visit www.phparivaca.org for further updates on this ongoing campaign.

########################################################

For more information contact:

People Helping People in the Border Zone Media Team
                                                                                                                                                               520-398-3093
                                                                                                                                                                   phparivacamedia@gmail.com