6/22/1999 588

COALITION FORMED TO FIGHT MILITARIZATION OF BORDERLAND

The Southwest Center, the Southern Arizona People's Law Center and other labor and human rights groups have formed SWARM (Southwest Alliance to Resist Militarization), a coalition committed to ending Joint Task Force-Six (JTF-6). JTF-6 is a shadowy, little known domestic military operation, comprised predominantly of the U.S. Marines and Army. Formed in 1989, it is charged with spearheading the "War on Drugs" and the "War On Immigrants." Domestic use of the military is unconstitutional and illegal under the 100 year old Posse Comitatus Act. Despite this fact, military operations within our border have been conducted since the Reagan years and are enthusiastically promoted by the Clinton administration.

While JTF-6 has nationwide jurisdiction, the majority of its operations are concentrated along the U.S.-Mexico border between San Diego and Brownsville, Texas. Its operations include extensive road building, low level helicopter flights, construction of impenetrable walls, and ground troop deployments. Many missions are conducted in National Wildlife Refuges, including Cabeza Prieta, San Bernadino, and Buenos Aries in Arizona, San Andres in New Mexico, and the Santa Ana and Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR in Texas. Endangered species- including the Sonoran pronghorn, jaguar, and ocelot are being harmed by JTF-6's indiscriminate activities. Just as tragically, a greatly increased Border Patrol and JTF-6 presence is pushing would be immigrants into the remotest and hottest areas along the border. Many die during the crossing.

The Southwest Center and SWARM are determined to end the sacrifice of our borderland ecology and culture to unnecessary militarization.