To the residents of, and communities adjacent to, the lands of Juarez and El Paso, 

Our hearts ache for the lives lost this week to state-sponsored white supremacist violence. Twenty-two precious lives cut short and dozens injured because of unconscionable hatred, leaving behind families and communities steeped in grief, trauma, and irreparable pain.

Let us be clear: this domestic terrorist is not an oddity. He is the byproduct of a public narrative that, over the past few decades, has worked relentlessly to stigmatize immigrants of color and criminalize the human act of migration. His hate-fueled ideology has been emboldened by an administration that routinely fans the flames of race-based terror in its reckless pursuit of power. His acts are mirrored by a system of immigration enforcement and incarceration that inflicts violence against migrants and people of color on a daily basis.

In the aftermath, the Trump Administration and right-wing media have sought to deflect blame. Their calls for unity and healing are seen for what they are: empty lies meant to mask their agenda, which we know remains unchanged.

And neither does ours. We stand with you in the collective pursuit of healing and justice.

You, the El Paso community, are the silver lining to a terribly dark cloud. As we collectively mourn this horrific loss, our team stands in awe of your community’s heart, beauty, and courage. For over two years, Innovation Law Lab has been honored to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you in defense of immigrant rights. We continue to stand in fierce solidarity with you. This week, as our team works with local and national partners to launch the El Paso Immigration Collaborative (EPIC), we vow to continue to listen to your leadership and uplift your visions of healing. We are committed to continue this critical work, at your side, until we have created true collective equality, inclusion, and safety for all. 

With some of our team living in the borderlands, and many more supporting your community remotely, we know that El Paso is a land of deep mutual support—of love that is courageous, boundless, and resilient. Earnest love and solidarity now confronted with the forces of xenophobia and racism. 

Our love is stronger than hate. Our solidarity is stronger than violence.

Adelante.