Hope Border Institute (or simply Hope) is an independent grassroots community organization which addresses issues concerning migration and the Mexico–US border. It works from a perspective founded in Catholic social teaching.[1]

Hope Border Institute
El Instituto Fronterizo Esperanza
AbbreviationHOPE
Formation2015
TypePolicy Institute
PurposeJustice and human rights advocacy, community organizing.
HeadquartersEl Paso, Texas.
Director
Dylan Corbett
Deputy Director
Marisa Limón Garza
Websitewww.hopeborder.org

About

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Hope Border Institute is one of a number of organisations operating in El Paso which has been involved in recent events at the US-Mexican border concerning United States immigration policy. Its founding was a direct result of Pope Francis's direction that the Catholic Church should dedicate greater resources to supporting migrants in the Americas.[2] It is a designated 501(c)(3) organisation.[3]

Border Refugee Assistance Fund

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The institute has provided support to initiatives and shelters, such as Annunciation House, which are responsible for the humanitarian needs of migrants in Ciudad Juárez.[4] This has been in partnership with the Diocese of El Paso.[5] This activity is directly connected to the U.S.-Mexico border crisis.

Remain in Mexico

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In January 2019, the Department of Homeland Security instituted the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) or "Remain in Mexico" policy. This policy causes some asylum seekers to spend extended periods of time waiting in Mexico after arriving at the US-Mexican border with the intention of claiming asylum.[6] The institute has been involved in policy campaigning concerning this issue, alongside providing support for migrants affected by this policy change and leading local community groups organising against the policy.[7] One policy research analyst at the organisation highlighted the conditions Mexican asylum seekers endured as a result of the Remain in Mexico Policy, pointing to the freezing conditions for people sleeping beneath the three bridges between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso.[8]

Family Detention

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Hope Border Institute has been vocal in criticizing the Trump administration family separation policy, in part because much of this separation has occurred in El Paso.[9] The organisation has provided advice concerning both the details of this policy development, and how to mount effective challenges to it.[10]

Immigration Policy Research

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In 2017, the Hope Border Institute and the Borderland Immigration Council (BIC) launched a report detailing the human impact and moral consequences of developments concerning the United States' immigration system, and the alleged militarization of the southern border.[11]

Publications

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  • Simon, Theodora; Tapia, Edith; Corbett, Dylan. 'Discretion to Deny: family separation, prolonged detention, and deterrence of asylum seekers at the hands of immigration authorities along the US-Mexico border.' Borderland Immigration Council, (February, 2017)
  • Tapia, Edith; Perez-Bustillo, Camilo; Beller, Elli. 'Sealing The Border: the criminalization of asylum seekers in the Trump era.' Hope Border Institute, (January, 2018).[12]
  • 'Principles for Comprehensive Immigration Reform', Hope Border Institute, (2019).
  • Tapia, Edith. 'Border Observatory: US Immigration Court Observation Manual.' Hope Border Institute, (2019).

References

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  1. ^ "Hope Border Institute (HBI) | Devex". www.devex.com.
  2. ^ "The church walks the walk on immigration | National Catholic Reporter". Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  3. ^ ProPublica, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Ken Schwencke, Brandon Roberts, Alec Glassford (9 May 2013). "Hope Border Institute – Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Staff Report (July 29, 2019). "Bishop Seitz, HOPE Border Institute announce 'Border Refugee Assistance Fund'". El Paso Herald-Post.
  5. ^ "Border Refugee Assistance Fund - Diocese of el Paso". Archived from the original on 2019-12-25. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  6. ^ "All About the "Remain in Mexico" Policy | Latin America Working Group". 13 February 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  7. ^ "REMAIN IN MEXICO". hope-border-inst.
  8. ^ "US: Mexican Asylum Seekers Ordered to Wait". Human Rights Watch. December 23, 2019.
  9. ^ "All Rights for All, Without Borders | Groundswell". Archived from the original on 2018-07-10. Retrieved 2020-01-11.
  10. ^ "HOPE: Family Separation at the Border FAQs". hope-border-inst.
  11. ^ "Discretion to Deny". borderlandsic.
  12. ^ https://7dac4932-ebde-4b1a-96f5-fac5c6bec362.filesusr.com/ugd/e07ba9_909b9230ae734e179cda4574ef4b6dbb.pdf [bare URL PDF]
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