TAKE ACTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
TELL THE EAGLE PASS, TX CITY COUNCIL TO CONDEMN ARRESTS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN PUBLIC PARKS!
On the week of June 5th, 2023, migrants seeking safety at the Texas-Mexico border were unjustly arrested at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, TX. These arrests mark a new low for Operation Lone Star, a harmful and racist operation that had previously focused on private property.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers directed dozens of migrants to cross the border and subsequently arrested them for trespassing on private property. Signed affidavits by DPS officers falsely claimed that Shelby Park was private property under the control of Rolando Salinas, stating that he had provided a statement prohibiting the presence of these individuals without permission.
However, this claim is false. Shelby Park is a public park open to all visitors. There are no signs indicating that it is private property, and no fees or permissions are required to access its amenities. Therefore, the charges of trespassing on private property against these migrants are baseless.
These arrests unjustly target migrants and deny them their right to seek asylum. Furthermore, they pose a threat to all members of the Eagle Pass community, as racial profiling and unjust arrests become a risk. Operation Lone Star allows Mayor Rolando Salinas and DPS state troopers to profile and target vulnerable groups, exacerbating the number of illegal and unfounded arrests against migrants and other communities of color in Eagle Pass.
It is imperative that these arrests cease immediately. People should not be criminalized or unfairly persecuted for merely being in public spaces. We urge you to take action and demand an end to these illegal arrests. Submit this form to email the Eagle Pass City Council.
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