STATEMENT: 512 National and Local Organizations Join to Say #NoBorderWall

Washington, DC— More than 500 geographically and ideologically diverse organizations joined a coalition to oppose President Trump’s border wall and militarization efforts. The groups reject new miles of wall planned under the Trump administration, including a 20-mile section just west of El Paso and concrete walls that have been contracted out at more than $20 million per mile for the Rio Grande in South Texas.

In late 2018, 2,845 scientists also joined the opposition, releasing a report showing the environmental damage caused by border walls. From major environmental organizations to civil rights groups to faith leaders, the groups say walls are detrimental to communities along the border. See the full list of organizations and their concerns here.

In addition to the release, groups released the following statements:

"We've already seen communities flooded, habitat destroyed, and local economies crushed -- but no benefits from the billions of dollars spent on the wall built along the border. Americans are united in opposition to more walls. Congress needs to hear our message loud and clear when we say not a penny more,” said Dan Millis, Manager of the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter’s Borderlands Program.

“Funding this wall would be a stain on our country and is antithetical to everything Local 1000 stands for as a union: inclusion, unity, opportunity and hope,” said Yvonne R. Walker, SEIU Local 1000 President. “The unnecessary spending of billions of dollars would pull resources away from what all working families work everyday for: health care, a secure retirement, good schools and safe neighborhoods.”

“Only if Congress rejects funding for President Trump's wall will border residents be able to preserve their unique environments, protect landowners' property, and respect Native American rights,” said Chris Rickerd, senior policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union. “Wall construction ignores the rule of law by waiving federal, state, local, and Tribal protections. And it’s even more damaging and divisive now, as the wall is overseen by a Department of Homeland Security that separates families and tear gassed toddlers seeking asylum. Elected representatives must heed the public's rejection of this administration's harmful agenda and deny DHS' record of cruelty a raise.”

“People of faith across our country know the proposed border wall is ineffective, wasteful, and immoral. While President Trump wants to slam our border shut to families who have come asking for our help, faith-based organizations like Church World Service are proud to join civil rights and environmental groups in responding with compassion and humanity,” said Rev. John L. McCullough, President and CEO of Church World Service.

“Building border walls focuses on the symptoms rather than the causes of migration. As long as poverty, lack of opportunity and violent conflict push people to come to the U.S.—and, as long as opportunities, safety and family members pull people here—there will be migration. When the legal routes are either not available or severely restricted, as they are in the U.S., people will come whatever way they can. And no wall will stop them,” said J Ron Byler, Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee U.S.

“Our faith tradition calls us to value the dignity and worth of every person and to protect creation. Columbans believe a border wall and other forms of senseless border militarization are inconsistent with these values. A border wall is not only an irresponsible use of public funds, but also hurts people and the environment, interferes with the sovereignty of indigenous communities, harms businesses and communities in the border region, involves the confiscation of private land, and further militarizes a region that has already seen an erosion of civil rights,” said Rebecca Eastwood, Advocacy Coordinator, Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach.