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Press Release Source: Catholic Relief Services
'Strangers No Longer,' Humanitarian and Political Leaders From Both Sides of the Border Gather to Address Human Migration
Monday June 20, 5:27 pm ET

EL PASO, Texas, June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether in search of water, animal herds, peace from warfare or religious prosecution, man has migrated at will across land and continents since recorded history. It is only since man and civilization created borders to mark off land use and ownership that the subject of migration freedom became a debate among peoples and countries and perhaps never so much as the border between Mexico and the United States.

Even as the summer temperatures begin to soar in the desert border states -- inevitably bringing about the deaths of dozens of migrants attempting to cross into the U.S. -- so do the emotional temperatures of those discussing issues as diverse as human trafficking, commercial trade, homeland security, civilian patrols and jobs.

With last week's announcement by the U.S. Census Bureau on Hispanic population, the recent trade and immigration talks between the U.S. and Mexico, the debate over the strengthening of the border walls in San Diego, the Congressional hearings on CAFTA and the formation of the "Minutemen" patrol, members of the media, their readers, viewers and listeners are overwhelmed with stories and concerns over the potential of lost jobs, rapid population growth and increased burdens on social services.

There is another side to these stories - the humanitarian side -- and secular and non-secular experts from both sides of the border are weighing in on the effects that immigration reform, trade agreements and calls for social justice have on finding viable, humane alternatives to political policies and civilian actions that are driven predominantly by fear.

"Strangers No Longer; Together on the Journey of Hope," a two-and-a-half day conference being held in El Paso, TX June 23 - 25 and co-hosted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Migration and La Comision Episcopal para la Pastoral de Movilidad Humana de la Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano, will incorporate presentations and panel sessions on subjects as diverse as the history of U.S.-Mexico migration, immigration reform legislation, human trafficking and detention/deportation policies in both countries.

Besides representatives from the sponsoring organizations, just a few of the scheduled speakers and participants from both the U.S. and Mexico include Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration; Luis Derbez, Foreign Minister of Mexico; Congressman Silvestre Reyes, (D-TX); Joan Neal, vice president, U.S. Operations, Catholic Relief Services; Dr. Patricia Zamudio, Veracruz University; Dr. Douglas Massery, Princeton University; Erica Dahl-Bredine, Country Manager, Catholic Relief Services' Mexico Program; Mary DeLorey, Strategic Issues Advisor, Catholic Relief Services; Oscar Chacon, director of Enlaces America; Most Reverend Renato Ascencio De Leon, Bishop of Juarez, Mexico; Most Reverend Armando Ochoa, Bishop of El Paso and His Eminence Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington.

A press conference is being held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 23 and there are three other specific times on Friday and Saturday when the press can be accommodated outside of conference sessions. Many speakers are bilingual Spanish/English and can conduct interviews in either language.

This is a rare opportunity to hear, in one location, some of today's leading voices on the humanitarian response to migration. Please let us know how we can facilitate your interview needs or, if preferred, schedule an interview or studio visit outside of the conference schedule.

WHAT: "Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope," a Bi-national Migration Conference on global solidarity and human migration.

WHEN: June 23-25. A press conference will be held at 3:30 on Thursday, June 23 and the conference will end at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 25 with a service at Cathedral of St. Patrick. Advance notice is requested for specific interviews to be scheduled during the conference itself.

WHERE: Camino Real Hotel, 101 South El Paso Street.

More information about the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Migration and Refugee Services program can be found online at http://www.usccb.org/mrs/history.shtml . More information about Catholic Relief Services' programs in Mexico can be found online at http://www.catholicrelief.org/our_work/ ... america_an d_the_caribbean/mexico/index.cfm .