"The Southern Border Indigenous Nations continuously faces abuse of authority and violation of rights by the current and proposed U.S. anti-immigrant legislation and by border enforcement policies and practice.
The Alianza Indígena Sin Fronteras (Indigenous Alliance Without Borders) strongly opposes a permanent U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 19.
This permanent checkpoint is just another manifestation of a policy that has hurt indigenous peoples.
Since 1990, indigenous peoples on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border have been profoundly and negatively affected by the U.S. and Mexican governments' ongoing domestic "wars" - the War on the Poor, the War on Illegal Immigration, the War on Drugs and now the War on Terrorism.
We are especially concerned about the continuous policy-fueled militarization of the southern border region.
This militarization has funneled undocumented migrant traffic into dangerous and environmentally sensitive areas and sacred sites, bringing these domestic wars onto indigenous borderlands.
The safety of indigenous border residents - including elders, women and children - is at risk. "
Get the Story:Jose R. Matus: Border group opposes I-19 checkpoint (The Tucson Citizen 6/20)
