Border Angels founder Enrique Morones on paid leave from organization

Border Angels founder Enrique Morones on paid leave from organization

https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/d...ue-morones.jpg[Enrique Morones

The organization declined to say why Morones was on leave, exactly when it began and how long it is expected to last.

By GUSTAVO SOLIS
SEP. 22, 2019 5 AM

Enrique Morones, a leader of San Diego’s immigrant activist community and executive director of Border Angels, has been on paid leave from the organization he founded since at least July.

Neither Morones nor the Border Angels will say why.

“I’m not going to comment,” he said.

The once media-friendly activist has declined to say why he is on leave from Border Angels, whether the decision was voluntary or forced, when he went on leave and when he expects to return.

Morones has been a vocal activist in San Diego since founding Border Angels in 1986, according to the nonprofit’s website, which lists him as founder and director.

Over the years, Morones has become, “a constant face in the Media on all issues related to migration; and is the go-to expert whenever a major immigration issue faces America,” according to his profile on the Border Angels’ website.

Morones has been quoted in The San Diego Union-Tribune, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Reuters, and in international publications including The Irish Times. He has also debated immigration on national television with Fox News’ Tucker Carlson.

However, Morones has been notably absent from local, national and international media since June. During that time, stories happening along San Diego’s border with Tijuana have become national news.

Additionally, Border Angels’ monthly email newsletters have not mentioned Morones since May.

At one event where Morones was scheduled to speak, Border Angels’ interim executive director Dulce Garcia attended in Morones’ place.

She described Border Angels’ work in placing water jugs along the desert to prevent migrants crossing the border illegally from dying and a new initiative to bring donations, volunteers and financial assistance to Tijuana’s crowded migrant shelters.

Garcia declined to answer any questions about Morones’ paid leave except to confirm that it is ongoing.

“I can’t make a comment in regards to that,” she said.

“These questions involve a personnel matter and implicate an employee’s right to privacy, which Border Angels must protect. Border Angels’ commitment to protecting the privacy rights of its employees has been expressed to the Union Tribune on various occasions,” Garcia wrote in response to emailed questions asking when and why Morones went on paid leave.

According to the most recent tax filings available, from 2017, Border Angels paid Morones $57,000 to be its executive director. He devoted 75 hours of work to the organization a week. He and Garcia were the only paid employees that year. Garcia, then-treasurer, made $16,000 and worked about 10 hours a week.

That year, the organization generated $283,000 in revenue and had $234,000 in expenses. It also reported $155,000 in assets.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...m-organization

7/25/2015

ALIPAC's William Gheen Fights Enrique Morones of Border Angels on National Broadcast

He should be prosecuted and put in jail for aiding and abetting illegal aliens and encouraging the invasion of OUR country.

Wow! Looks like fighting for illegal aliens is much more lucrative that fighting against illegal immigraition.

Morones makes $18.000 a year more than I do and can afford to pay his Treasurer.

BILLIONS MADE OFF OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE U.S. TAXPAYERS GET THE SHAFT!

DEPORT THEM ALL AND THEIR UAC'S!

THEY ARE NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY!

Border Angels founder Enrique Morones parts ways with the nonprofit

https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/d...ratio-20160904[COLOR=var(--primaryTextColor)]Enrique Morones, Pro-Immigration activist.
(Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

By GUSTAVO SOLIS
NOV. 22, 2019 2:42 PM

Enrique Morones, the founder and executive director of Border Angels, has stepped down after spending more than 33 years with the nonprofit.

Morones, who had been on paid leave from Border Angels for unknown reasons, announced his departure with a press release.

“I am formally announcing my retirement from Border Angels,” Morones wrote. “I want to thank the thousands of volunteers, supporters, and migrant brothers and sisters that make up the Border Angels family.”

Although the statement does not explicitly state why Morones decided to step away from Border Angels, it notes that he will continue his advocacy work with two different local nonprofits — House of Mexico and Gente Unida.

Morones did not answer follow up questions about the reason behind his departure from Border Angels.

Since founding Border Angels in 1986, Morones has been a vocal activist in San Diego. The organization leaves buckets of water along the desert to prevent migrants crossing illegally from dying, gathers donations for migrants south of the border, and offers free legal assistance to immigrants in the U.S., according to its website.

Over the years, Morones became, “a constant face in the Media on all issues relation to migration; and is the go-to expert whenever a major immigration issue faces America,” according to his biography on the Border Angels’ website.

Morones has been quoted in The San Diego Union-Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Reuters and has also debated immigration on national television with Fox News’ Tucker Carlson.

However, since he went on paid leave earlier this year, Morones has been uncharacteristically absent from the spotlight.

On Thursday, Border Angels Board President Luis Aragon thanked Morones for his service to Border Angels.

“Border Angels extends deep gratitude to Enrique for his many decades of service to Border Angels, and wishes him continued success with the House of Mexico,” he wrote in a statement.

Dulce Garcia, a lawyer who last week presented oral arguments in support of DACA to the Supreme Court, will take over as executive director of Border Angels. Dulce served as interim executive director while Morones was on paid leave earlier this year.

She holds a political science degree from UC San Diego and a law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. Garcia has worked with Border Angels since 2017.

Garcia announced Thursday that Border Angel will kick off a “Familias Reunidas” campaign to raise money for migrants held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody because they cannot afford to post bond.

Border Angels has already raised $50,000 for the effort and plans to officially launch the campaign during its annual fundraising dinner on Dec. 21.

Garcia declined to comment about the circumstances surrounding Morones’s departure.

“Enrique Morones is no longer associated with Border Angels,” she wrote in an email. “Beyond that, we cannot comment further as it involves a personnel matter, and implicates an employee’s right to privacy which Border Angels must protect.”

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...-the-nonprofit

"Over the years, Morones became, “a constant face in the Media on all issues relation to migration; and is the go-to expert whenever a major immigration issue faces America,” according to his biography on the Border Angels’ website."

-------------------

He should go BE A CONSTANT FACE … face to face with the President of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador!

Illegal aliens need to "migrate" back home with their entire families and stop coming here breaking ours laws.

Be a "go to" expert in their country to create jobs, peace, and prosperity on their soil, instead of a COWARD who advocates breaking our laws with no dignity, respect, or morals for yourselves!

We welcome LEGAL immigrants...NOT the illegal aliens you are an activist for!

Readers React: Operation Gatekeeper blamed for deaths of thousands

https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/d...gatekeeper.JPG]U.S. Border Patrol Agents watch a group of immigrants who are waiting for darkness to cross into the United States along the United States/Mexico border in Imperial Beach, Oct. 2, 1994.
(Associated Press)

By U-T LETTERS
JAN. 14, 2020 6:09 AM

Re “Border Patrol’s most veteran agent has seen it all in 35 years” (Jan. 5): Agent Chancy Arnold and myself have spent around 35 years of working on migrant issues, he as a Border Patrol agent, I as a human rights activist and the founder of Border Angels in 1986. And I also just retired.

I am very familiar with many of the locations and stories shared in the story. When speaking of 1994 and Operation Gatekeeper, neither he nor reporter Kristina Davis adequately address the horrific fact that this policy has led to at least 8,500 but more likely 11,000 migrant deaths, except in passing.

These migrants for the most part have no legal way to enter the U.S. and no line to get into, and Gatekeeper forced them east in order to cross the only way they could, in the deadly desert areas.

That’s 11,000 lost lives and little mention. Shame. These are migrants just as Arnold’s and the U-T reporter’s families were migrants.

Enrique Morones
Sherman Heights

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...thousands-utak

jberg 6 hours ago

When Enrique Morones decides to reveal whatever unsavory act(s) got him suspended,-- he "retired" you will recall, AFTER he had been suspended FOR MONTHS -- from the organization he founded, he can have something to say. Until then, shame on the U/T for publishing a letter from a potentially shady human being.

3 hours ago

While I feel for the people that suffered and died it isn't Operation Gatekeepers fault that they died due to their illegal actions. Also, I won't call them migrants but will call them illegal aliens which they were


6 hours ago

Operation Gatekeeper blamed for deaths of thousands

That's one way to cut down on repeat offenders.