Our Crowdfunding Groups
THANK YOU!
Thanks to your incredibly generous donation, twelve law students traveled to Tijuana, Mexico over winter break to volunteer with Al Otro Lado’s Border Rights Project. Professor Uzoamaka Nzelibe, clinical fellow Amy Martin, and CFJC legal assistant Laura Buttitta organized and led the trip. Maureen Stratton and Juliann Cecchi made the trip possible through organizing all aspects of fundraising, deposits, and reimbursement.
Our goal was to support Al Otro Lado’s mission to provide know-your-rights information to asylum-seeking migrants near the San Ysidro Port of Entry. During our three full days in Tijuana, students provided know-your-rights information to dozens of migrants about what to expect once they enter the United States. Students provided know-your-rights information in multiple languages, including Spanish, French, Arabic, and English. Our group also supported Al Otro Lado’s work in other important ways, such as data entry, entertaining children so that parents could meet with attorneys, and assisting with preparing and serving food to families visiting the office for legal help.
We met with migrants in various locations, including Al Otro Lado’s office near the border, migrant shelters dispersed throughout the city, and El Chaparral Plaza, where migrants congregate each morning waiting for their number to be called from “La Lista,” – a long list of asylum-seekers waiting weeks or months to present themselves to U.S. border officials.
Our group witnessed extremely difficult conditions and heard countless tragic stories of families fleeing their homes to embark on the long and dangerous journey to the border. These stories will stay with us for a long time.
Since returning, we have engaged in many activities to share what we learned with peers. A few students plan to return to volunteer at the border in the coming months. We would be glad to share more about our experience or be a resource for anyone interested in volunteering with this particular effort.
Thank you again for your generous support.
Keith Armstrong
Danielle Berkowsky
Stephanie Castillo
Hannah Conforti
Usama Ibrahim
Elliot Louthen
Emily McCormick
Caroline McHugh
Anne Prossnitz
Jacqueline Aimee Quenneville
Ben Seelig
Nora Snyder
