Estrella Insights - March Edition
March 1, 2024
Celebrate Women’s History Month
Every March is designated as Women’s History Month to celebrate the honor and contributions of women in American history. This celebration originated as a local event in Santa Rosa, California, in 1978. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week. It wasn’t until 1987 that Congress passed a public law designating March as Women’s History Month.
Special recognition goes to the remarkable women within Estrella del Paso, as they change the lives of thousands of people every day. For over 37 years, your actions have contributed to shaping the history of our organization.
Thank you for all you do; you are the heartbeat of our success! You all are our Estrellas!
On March 7th, President Joe Biden delivered his third message about the State of the Union, addressing various topics from national security to immigration. However, when questioned, President Biden defaulted to using the term “illegal” while referring to an undocumented immigrant. A few days later, the U.S. President issued an apology during an interview.
We were disappointed by the term used, and we would like to remind everyone that NO HUMAN BEING IS ILLEGAL! We all belong to the same world.
SB-4 has become a hot topic as the State of Texas pushes for this unconstitutional law to take effect. Here’s a timeline until March 31st.
• March 4th: A judge from the Supreme Court issued an order that extended the hold on SB-4 until 5pm (EDT) on Monday, March 18, 2024.
• March 18th: The Supreme Court extended the ban without a specific date to take effect. However, on March 19th, the Supreme Court permitted SB4 to go into effect, causing panic in the immigrant community. It wasn’t long after that the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals once again placed an indefinite pause. This time, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals specified that if the law becomes effective, it will cause international frictions with Mexico. The Mexican government has publicly stated that this discriminatory law will have a negative impact on the Mexican community and damage the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico.
• The preliminary injunction with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, the State of Texas, and our advocates from ACLU, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy, Texas Civil Rights, and American Gateways will take place on April 3rd. Here, the Court of Appeals will hear arguments from both sides and later determine if SB4 can become law.
Do Not Be Afraid – March and Vigil for Human Dignity
On March 21st, our community came together to show resilience, and unity n the wake of recent dehumanizing laws and policies like SB4, the attack on Annunciation House and our community’s humanitarian workers, and one year after the killing of 40 people in immigration detention in Ciudad Juárez.
The event united several organizations from different religious backgrounds, and people from all the regions.
Thank you to everyone who made this possible and thank you to everyone who attended to support!
As our Bishop Seitz said, “the work of God can never be illegal.”
Don’t forget to check the images and video from the event!
Right before March ended, tragedy struck on the 25th day of the month as a cargo ship collided with a bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. The impact was devastating, causing the bridge to collapse, and plunging at least 8 people into the freezing water. Miraculously, two victims managed to survive, but sadly, the same fate did not befall the remaining 6 individuals.
As the hours passed, the grim reality emerged that the 6 lost lives in this horrific incident belonged to immigrant construction workers who were diligently fixing potholes when the bridge collapsed. Their names are:
- Alejandro Hernandez, from Mexico.
- Dorlian Castillo, from Guatemala.
- Maynor Suazo, from Honduras.
- Miguel Luna, from El Salvador.
- Jose Mynor, from Guatemala.
- Carlos Hernandez, from Mexico.
Our hearts are heavy as we extend our deepest condolences and prayers to all the victims and their grieving families.
Women’s History Month was marked by significant immigration news and updates. Updates on SB4 and the tragedy in Baltimore dominated headlines, yet amidst these challenges, let’s not overlook the strength and unity of our community.
The vigil and march beautifully showcased the resilience, courage, and unity of our city, our border, and our community. As April arrives, we remain committed to keeping you informed, advocating for your rights, and serving as the guiding Estrella on your journey
