Thread by @axidentaliberal

The rule of law applies equally to EVERYONE in America regardless of how they arrive

That’s why @lawyers4goodgov created

PROJECT CORAZON

to help refugees at the border

HERE IS ONE LAWYER’S TALE

Please donate so we can continue our mission

<Thread>

lawyersforgoodgovernment.org/project-corazo…

4 LAWYERS, 5,000 REFUGEES, 19 HOUR DAYS

On November 10, 2018, Spanish-speaking immigration attorney attorney Nancy Arevalo traveled to Mexico, with support from the #L4GG Foundation, to provide legal help to people in the migrant caravan

This is her experience

I arrived at midnight on Saturday the 10th and met the other three U.S. immigration attorney volunteers whom I was going to work with for the weekend - Rebecca, Charlene, and Graham. That was the entire legal team for those days, for over 5,000 people in the caravan.

Everyone woke up at 4 a.m., started packing and began walking by 5 a.m. Our team of lawyers started the day passing out bread, water, toilet paper and other small donations that we had. We wore our bright orange “Preguntame del Asilo” (“Ask Me About Asylum”) hats.

We loaded our van with blankets people could not carry, and other heavy items. We also had room to give a ride to a few people so we took a mother with her baby and her four adorable daughters.

Our van was fully packed, and we were out of Queretaro.

Once we arrived in Irapuato, we quickly begin setting up and talking to people. As the immigrants slowly started arriving, we noticed their exhaustion, broken strollers, worn out shoes and bare feet, and their hunger. Nonetheless, they also seemed happy to have made it.

PREGUNTAME DEL ASILO-ASK ME ABOUT ASYLUM

People got in lines for food. I grabbed a megaphone and strategically went around the facility to talk to people. I talked to them about what to expect, what asylum is, how they could ask, and that they would likely be detained.

Most people did not know information about asylum so these group presentations were useful. After each one, people waited around to ask me questions. I heard many horror stories of what they had suffered in their home countries. I tried to answer as many questions as possible.

I did this until 10:30 p.m. By the end, I was recognized as “la abogada” and people were asking more questions.

This was a 19-hour day and we had to wake up at 4 a.m. because the caravan was moving on. We barely had time to eat, definitely did not shower, and slept in the camper

The next morning the refugees started walking again. We passed out some more donations. Some people hugged us, and thanked us.

The majority of the people that I spoke to had valid asylum claims, so explaining to them how to navigate the process was a huge accomplishment.

There were more immigrants who were traveling alone and had stopped for food and rest before continuing. I gave another presentation to about 30 more people and answered many more questions. Then, we headed to San Miguel de Allende.

I came back to the US the next day.

This trip was one of the toughest things I’ve done in my life. I saw thousands of vulnerable refugees: children, women, families seeking a last chance.

They were sleeping outside in the cold, walked for hours every day, carrying babies, toddlers and the basics for survival.

And the horror stories of the lives they’d fled in their home countries:

women raped and trafficked

a family that will only be safe from gangs if one brother kills the other brother

people who refused to sell their vote to the president and now the government wants them dead

large groups of Nicaraguan protesters/activists with broken teeth/scars from the beatings they endured

a man who was tortured with his brother who died – he showed me multiple scars on his arms and face and his mutilated fingers

survivors of domestic violence

former police officers who refused to be corrupt so now the police/gangs want them dead

people whose family members were killed by the police

witnesses to crimes perpetrated by the police

Hondureños who had lived in Mexico but were also persecuted there

A lot of these people should qualify for asylum. And asking for asylum in the US is LEGAL.

THIS IS REAL LIFE.

These human beings deserve compassion.

Thank you, Nancy, for sharing your time, knowledge and compassion. I’m sure it made a TREMENDOUS difference

At Lawyers for Good Government, whether it’s helping immigrants, protecting voting rights, working to slow climate change or more, you’ll find us there, on the front lines

So this holiday season, as you think of those who are powerless, those treated inequitably, and those who cannot speak for themselves, we hope you will remember that some of us will fight for them

Please, consider supporting Lawyers for Good Government

lawyersforgoodgovernment.org/2018-year-end-…

And remember:

Never give up. Never give in. Always #resist

May your holidays be filled with peace, love and joy

Thanks for your time.

#L4GG #FamiliesBelongTogether