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Re: Council Members to Tornillo on Thursday?

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 3:35 pm
by Steve Adler
http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 153423.pdf

Colleagues,

President Trump’s recently implemented “zero-tolerance” immigration policy, which includes separating children from their parents as they try to cross the border to seek asylum, stands in stark contrast to the ideals of our nation. It is immoral, un-American, it is hurting families without justification, and it needs to change. This a defining moment for our country.

Yesterday, I helped facilitate an upcoming United States Conference of Mayors’ visit to Tornillo, Texas, where a delegation of mayors from the around the country will seek to bring additional attention and focus to this issue. Unfortunately, the day that worked for the USCM leadership and participants is this Thursday. This is unfortunately in conflict with our CodeNEXT work session that same day.

Our Austin City Council, in part because of our leadership on the immigration issue, is being invited by the USCM to join the mayors in El Paso for the bus ride out to Tornillo. Please see the email, copied below, I received this afternoon. Those of us wishing to participate could fly or drive to El Paso on Wednesday to be with the mayors that evening and then return to Austin the evening of the next day.

As we have both critical city business on Thursday and an emerging national crisis in our backyard, I wanted to ensure you were aware of this invitation. Please let me know what you think, and if and who among you would be interested in attending the gathering in Tornillo.

Thank you.

S

[As background on this issue, here is an informative link: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/was-l ... ssed-1997/ ]

_________________________________________________________
From: Tom Cochran <actionalert@usmayors.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2018 12:28 PM
To: Adler, Steve Steve.Adler@austintexas.gov
Subject: USCM Mission to Tornillo Migrant Shelter Thursday June 21
Dear Mayor Adler,

On behalf of our President, Mayor Steve Benjamin, recognizing the critical leadership you and your City Council have played on immigration issues, our strong relationship with the City of Austin through our SXSW/USCM Leadership meetings for several years now and the fact that we will host our 88th Annual Meeting in Austin in 2020, we invite you and all members of the Austin City Council to join us on Thursday as we bring focus to the migrant shelter in Tornillo, Texas and call on Washington to reverse immediately the policy of separating children from parents.

Our delegation will have dinner in El Paso Wednesday night and board bus to Tornillo migrant shelter at 8 am.

We hope to see all in El Paso. Please respond to me at tcochran@usmayors.org or call or text at 202 744 9110.

Sincerely
Tom Cochran
CEO and Executive Director

Re: Council Members to Tornillo on Thursday?

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 3:55 pm
by Steve Adler
Please contact Yvonne Dailey with the United States Conference of Mayors staff to confirm your attendance and get information regarding lodging.

ydaily@usmayors.org

Re: Council Members to Tornillo on Thursday?

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 4:00 pm
by Greg Casar
Mayor,

Thank you for extending this invitation. I plan to join you.

Sincerely,
Greg

Re: Council Members to Tornillo on Thursday?

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 4:44 pm
by Delia Garza
Mayor, thank you for this opportunity. My office was in the process of securing co-sponsors for a resolution for our next Council meeting to condemn this cruel policy of separating families. I look forward to joining my colleagues in Tornillo on Thursday.

In solidarity for keep families together,

Delia Garza

Re: Council Members to Tornillo on Thursday?

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 5:11 pm
by Jimmy Flannigan
I am also planning to join everyone there on Thursday.

- Jimmy

Re: Council Members to Tornillo on Thursday?

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 6:01 pm
by Kathie Tovo
Colleagues:

I will be joining the delegation and will fly out and back on Thursday.

Best,

Kathie Tovo
Mayor Pro Tem
Council Member District 9

Re: Council Members to Tornillo on Thursday?

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 6:56 pm
by Alison Alter
Colleagues,

I am planning to fly to El Paso tomorrow afternoon and will join the delegation to bring attention to this critical issue on Thursday. I appreciate the invitation and fully condemn this inhumane policy.

Regards,
Alison

Re: Council Members to Tornillo on Thursday?

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 12:01 pm
by Steve Adler
Council members who are participating in the trip to Tornillo - here is the schedule of activities for tomorrow.

June 21, 2018

6:45 AM
Breakfast Available at host hotel
Hotel Indigo
325 N Kansas Street, El Paso

8:00 AM
Bus Departs Hotel Indigo for Tornillo

8:45 AM
Arrive at Tornillo Facility

9:00 AM
Press Conference

10:30 AM
Bus Departs for Airport