RITA 2022 CONVENING RESISTING HATE & FEAR IN TEXAS

from Annual Report 2022 | Border Network for Human Rights

EXPANSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS CENTERS BUILDING COMMUNITY CAPACITY

Formed in 2009 as a project of the Border Network for Human Rights, the Reform for Immigration Texas Alliance (RITA) is a statewide alliance of communitybased organizations, with allies in diverse sectors, that seeks to protect and advance the rights of immigrants in Texas.

In the last two years, the State of Texas has been the epicenter of anti-immigrant, xenophobic and white supremacy driven policy that continues to militarize our southern border. The almost $8 billion dollars spent by Gov. Abbott on building the border wall, deploying thousands of state troopers and the Texas National Guard with the sole purpose of arresting and detaining immigrant children, migrants, and refugees has caused detrimental consequences. We have learned that this illegal approach is not only pushing migrants to make desperate attempts to cross in very dangerous areas and causing the highest number more than 3 million border residents who have to live day to police and the Texas National Guard, in addition to the already culture of abuse these border communities live in. While this is happening at the border, immigrant communities across the needs - access to drive, healthcare, and political participation.

Resisting Fear and Hate in Texas: 2022 RITA Convening was held from September 30 to October 1, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas. More than 25 organizations across our state assessed and strategized the venues to resist fear and hate in the Lone Star State.

The strategy discussions included: Border Communities Exposing and Resisting Operation Lone Star, Drive Texas Adelante: The Roadmap to Driver’s Permits in Texas, Immigration Reform: Texans Leading the Way to a Pathway to Citizenship, Political Participation: Civic Engagement for Latino and Immigrant

The Public Charge Exclusion Narrative of Poor People of Color.