Public Interest Law Students Border Work
Hello!
While this fundraiser is listed as organized by "Lauren Leiggi," one of the individuals going on the trip, it is organized by 10 Temple Law students. We are traveling to Tijuana this spring break to help asylum seekers on the Mexican/United States border with Al Otro Lado.
We are asking for your help on this alternative spring break trip from March 1st to the 7th.
It will cost approximately $700 per student for the trip including airfare and food. Any remaining funds raised will be donated to Al Otro Lado.
What is Al Otro Lado?
“Al Otro Lado is a bi-national, direct legal services organization with offices in Los Angeles, San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, serving indigent deportees, migrants, and refugees, that is deeply engaged in efforts to protect the familial rights of migrants. The not-for-profit organization is also a central player in litigation and other advocacy efforts challenging the systemic human rights violations brought about by governmental policies and practices that infringe upon the right to seek asylum at the U.S.-Mexico Border. Al Otro Lado’s Tijuana-based Border Rights Project provides legal orientation and know-your-rights training to asylum seekers in Tijuana who wish to present themselves to U.S. authorities to seek asylum, while also conducting human rights monitoring at the San Ysidro port-of-entry.”
What will we be doing?
Al Otro Lado is a small group of attorneys and advocates that rely on volunteers to help provide legal and medical assistance to those near the USA/Mexico border. We will be there for a week providing assistance.
Particularly, we will be helping individuals directly who have been returned to Mexico from the United States because of the Trump Administration's, “Migrant Protection Protocols,” better known as the “Remain in Mexico" policy. This policy has trapped tens of thousands of vulnerable migrants across the border – making it nearly impossible for them to exercise their legal rights.
We will be helping prepare I-589 applications for asylum seekers in the hopes of creating an application that can increase their chances of obtaining asylum. These individuals need help because they are often vulnerable populations who little to no access to legal remedies.
The first migrant was returned to Mexico under the policy on Jan. 29, 2019. Since then, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have illegally sent over 57,000 migrants – including babies, toddlers, and children – to wait on the streets of overcrowded cities like Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez. (cite to Southern Poverty Law Center)
The “Migration Protection Protocols” (MPP)—frequently referenced as “Remain in Mexico”—has nothing to do with migrant protections. In fact, it does just the opposite and violates due process. Often vulnerable populations are sent back to Mexico, LGBTQ+, Pregnant Women, Children, and the Disabled. (read more info on the policy here )
Why do we need funding?
Since we are students going independently from our University we, unfortunately, can not receive school funding for this trip. We will be grateful for any donation and sharing of our fundraiser if you can not donate. Hopefully with your support this year we can have a successful trip and be able to show proof of concept to our school to help secure funding next year for this pressing work on the border.
Why did we choose $7500?
Most of the cost is going to covering our flights flying into San Deigo, around ~$400 round trip. Totaling ($3500-4000)
The next big chunk of our budget will go to covering expenses getting to Mexico and staying in Mexico. The cost of our housing has been graciously covered. Covering 3 meals a day for 9 individuals for the week will cost about around ~$800-1200 for the week (189 meals x $4 - $6 a meal).
The remainder of the budget will account for fluctuation in cost and will be donated to help support Al Otro Lado's work.
$7500 is our stretch goal - if we are able to raise this amount, there will be ~$255 left per student that can cover higher than expected cost, say for example the cost of flights are higher than $400. If not, $255 will be donated per student to Al Otro Lado. (~$2300)
$7000 is our main goal - if we are able to raise this amount, there will be ~$200 left per student that can cover higher than expected cost. If not, $200 will be donated per student to Al Otro Lado. (~$1800).
We will be sure to share the updates of our work!
Thank you!
Lauren, Erin, Alice, Daniela, Elizabeth, Grace, Halston, Maya, Sarah, Mana.
PS. If GoFundMe isn't your thing, here are our Venmo's/Paypal accounts for direct donations. Everything will be accounted for and a spreadsheet will be provided to donors to show how funds were used. Please make sure to leave your email address so we can send the spreadsheet.
Venmo/PayPal Accounts:
PayPal.me/borderwork2020 (Erin Agnew)
Lauren Leiggi Venmo: @L-Leiggi
Sarah Hampton Venmo: @sarahhampton28
Liz Castillo Venmo: @elizabeth-castillo-44
Maya Lucyshyn Venmo: @mayalucyshyn
Halston Chavez Venmo: @halston-maresh
Alice Elmer Venmo: @Alice-Marsh-Elmer
Grace Hong Venmo: @grace_hong13
Daniela Florido Venmo: @DanielaFlorido
Mana Aliabadi Venmo: @Mana-Aliabadi