US-Mexico Border Delegation October 12-14

The US-Mexico border is the only place in the world where an industrialized capitalist country shares a 2000-mile land-based border with a developing nation. The border region is characterized by a distinct culture and a unique set of political and economic circumstances. It is extremely important to support struggles in the border region in the broader effort to build just and sustainable bi-national relations of solidarity.

Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera--based in Austin, Texas--organizes solidarity delegations to border communities in order to meet with maquila workers and to learn first hand about their lives and struggles. The organization has created two funds to provide material aid to workers' organizations on the border. They have great relations with the Comite Fronterizo de Obrer@s (CFO) or Border Workers Committee. Austin-TCF continues to explore strategies and actions to support workers in their demands for economic justice on both sides of the border. Join us!

Maquiladoras (factories that produce for export to the US market) dominate the economy of the region, paying low wages and offering horrible working conditions. Immigration is an issue of constant concern. Thousands of Mexican family farmers--many of them forced off their farms by massive corn imports from US agribusiness--risk their lives to cross the border in search of work. This border delegation will investigate maquiladoras, immigration and poverty in Reynosa and Rio Bravo.

For more information, contact the Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera at 512.474.2399 or [email protected]. Or check out www.austintancerca.org