The Lacey and Larkin Frontera Fund Establishes Advocacy for Migrants and Immigrants

For migrants, they are more than just their status of being an immigrant. While many of the various politicians are discussing who has the right to cross the border, immigrants and migrants are still pondering whether they will be treated fairly within the work place, will it be okay to visit a local hospital or call 911 when an emergency occurs and who is going to be there for my kids if I end up being deported. The fact of the matter is, people of color, and any color at that, are being treated unfairly because of their skin color.

Earlier in the year, a variety of delegates met in the United Nations in Geneva to start what would be a long process in establishing a Global Compact for Migration. Read more: Jim | Twitter

The hope is that in 2018, the United Nations will come together to form an agreement that will cover all areas of international migration. These is especially important due to the contentious migration policies that are happening right now.

It was during this time of International Migrant Bill of Rights that delegates were reminded that many of these migrants already have rights due to treaties and international laws however it is not specific to migrants itself. However, these rights are still being broken or withheld in general. Learn more about Michael Lacey:

You should know that the word migrant is specific to the people who live outside of their own country where they were a citizen or national citizen. This claims that migrants who were born in or resided in a habitat outside of the United States is considered to be migrant.

This states that someone who is coming to work in the United States or to visit is a migrant where as someone who is looking to move permanently to the United States is considered to be an immigrant.

What most people do not understand is that people who are migrant are also entitled to having their civil rights. They are no less human due to being of another color or race. Once they cross the border into the United States, they are entitled to their civil rights whether they cross legally or illegally.

Jim Larkin and Michael Lacey knew this and has established a fund known as the Lacey and Larkin Frontera Fund which provides assistance for advocacy in the civil rights movements. It will allow for Freedom of Speech to be enforced as well as to help in the civic participation throughout various programs and advocacy programs throughout Arizona and other states.

Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin know about civil rights being violated first hand. They were unlawfully arrested in 2007 which led to a lawsuit against the County in which they were arrested alleging that their civil rights were violated. It was this suit that was won which provided 3.75 million dollars of assistance for those advocacy centers and programs.

Michael and Jim were arrested in their homes in the middle of the night and then taken to jail where they awaited a hearing with a judge. It was later ruled that these rights were violated and they were restored to their jobs as the co-founders of the Phoenix New Times as well as Village Voice Media.

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