SA Stands is a strong non-partisan collaborative in the city of San Antonio and Bexar County that believes no human being is disposable and works towards the abolishment of systems that are inherently racist and dehumanizing. We are committed to the protection, safety, dignity, inclusion, and collective freedom of all immigrants, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, immigration status, special ability, or contact with the criminal legal system. Through organized campaigns, advocacy efforts, community education, and direct action, SA Stands will mobilize against any laws and efforts that criminalize, incarcerate, deport and divide our communities. Together, we will work for a safe, healthy, and just life for all immigrants in the intersections of housing, health care, workers’ rights, and food stability.

SA Stands Policy Goals

SA Stands calls on the community, local businesses, local elected officials, and government entities to take action to protect San Antonio by addressing the following community issues:

1) Reduce the number of people in jail and being deported.  SA Stands seeks to reduce the arrest-to-incarceration & deportation pipeline through transformative justice and enacting of local discretionary policies such as cite and release, bail reform, and changing the arrest practices for citation-eligible offenses.

2) Cease unnecessary collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. In order to mitigate and eventually reject laws like SB 4 and any other collaboration with ICE, we call on local officials to NOT utilize local resources towards federal enforcement practices.

3) Ensure accountability and transparency from all local government entities. San Antonio and Bexar County have demonstrated efforts for open-data policies. We call on elected officials and law enforcement leaders to be transparent about all information sharing practices and resource utilization with ICE. We also call for diligent complaint processes that allow our communities to report racial profiling and police bias, and for these leaders to establish accountability processes for officers violating civil and constitutional rights.

4) Prioritize constitutional and civil rights in the administration of law enforcement and municipal/county administration.  Ensure that the constitutional and civil rights of all people are upheld by local enforcement agencies and the criminal justice courts. Provide governmental review and oversight of all actions that affect immigrants to audit the city and county policies and procedures to ensure that the civil rights of all members of our community are given utmost deference in the administration of justice in San Antonio and Bexar County.

****Elected officials and candidates running for office policy: Elected officials, their staff, or candidates running for office, CANNOT attend our internal or planning meetings, but they may request an individual meeting with the coalition to get educated on immigration issues, by emailing us at [email protected]****

Members:

Act 4 SA, All of Us or None – Texas, Be Frank 4 Justice, Domesticas Unidas, Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, FREED Texas, First Unitarian Universalist Church SA , Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Interfaith Welcome Coalition, Jewish Voice for Peace, Latino Justice PRLDEF, MOVE Texas, RAICES Texas, San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel , Texas Center for Justice and Equity, Texas Organizing Project , Texas Rising, and individual community members!