Rally Today against Deportation of high school students in San Diego!

Rally Today against Deportation of high school
students in San Diego!

FAMILIES TO DENOUNCE RAID THAT RESULTED IN THE DEPORTATION OF LOCAL STUDENTS
Community Groups Announce Action to Call for a Stop to Indiscriminate
Immigration Raids on Trolley System

Press Conference:Friday, May 22 at 11 AM
American Friends Service Committee
3275 Market Street, Suite B, San Diego CA 92102.

Dear compañera/os,

Yesterday morning, as one of my 16 year old female students waited at the
Old Town trolley station to go to school, she was approached by border
patrol agents and asked for "papers" - she showed them her school ID and
explained that she was on her way to school, but she was continually
harassed and asked questions about her "status" here in the U.S. . . .
having called her parents during the exchange with officers, her uncle
(U.S. citizen) immediately went to the trolley station and explained to
officers that his niece was only 16, on her way to school, and he would
take her from there, HOWEVER, because she was "unable to provide proper
documentation", she was detained by the border patrol officers (with
several other people, including other minors) and taken to the Otay
holding station . .

as soon as myself and her parents got wind of what had happened we
contacted local advocacy groups who then contacted the Mexican consulate,
and we were hopeful that the consulate and their lawyers could get custody
of the student because of her age, and for the way she was unlawfully
questioned for identification at a public transit station . . .

additionally, several community members (teachers, principals, community
activists, etc.) immediately wrote numerous letters attesting to this
student's character, her academic excellence, and how she is revered both
at her school and in her community.

despite all of this, the student was deported to Tijuana within 6 hours of
detainment - a place where she knows no one, had no money and no resources
. . .

i don't think enough people are aware that this is happening. and i also
don't believe that anyone who now knows that this kind of indiscriminate
"rounding up" of our children is happening, can stand by and do nothing. i
will not stand by and allow my students' basic human rights to be violated
- our children especially should not be subjected to the fascist
operations/interrogations of local "law enforcement" and i ask that you
join me tomorrow, along with the American Friends Service Committee, to
protest these actions. . . .

i have included the flyer/information about the events that will happen
tomorrow:

1) a press conference at 11 am to denounce the racial profiling, raids and
subsequent deportation of students

2) a rally/demonstration at 5 pm to protest the interrogation and
deportation of our students - rally to take place at the trolley
administration building at 12th and Imperial

i thank you in advance for your support and participation - please
disseminate this information widely,