Humanitarian and Immigrant Rights Activist to Speak at Carleton College

Enrique Morones, President and Founder of Border Angels, will conclude Carleton College’s fall term convocation series with an appearance on Friday, Nov. 7 at 10:50 a.m. in the Skinner Memorial Chapel. Morones’ presentation, titled “The Human Side of the Story: People Behind the Immigration Policy Debates,” will focus on his work with the non-profit organization providing relief and support for migrant workers on the United States-Mexico border. This event is free and open to the public.

Morones founded Border Angels in 1986, responding to the astronomical number of deaths in the Imperial Valley desert and mountain regions surrounding San Diego County and other areas along the United States-Mexico border. While most of the deaths occurred due to extreme weather conditions, many were the product of racial-discrimination crimes. Staffed entirely by volunteers, Border Angels establishes relief stations along the border equipped with water during the spring and summer months when temperatures reach up to 127 degrees Fahrenheit. During the freezing winter months, stations provide protective winter clothing, food, and other provisions for migrants traveling through the area. In addition to his work with Border Angels, Morones served as the first director and founder of Mexico’s Border Commission, which encourages more humane governmental treatment of immigrants at the US-Mexico border.

As the first member of his family to be born in the United States, Morones maintains a deep appreciation for Mexican tradition and culture. He founded the House of Mexico in San Diego’s Balboa Park to promote Mexican art, culture, and history, along with Gente Unida, a border coalition comprised of over 65 human rights groups. He received a degree in International Marketing and a master’s degree in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego, where he also established himself as one of the best long-distance runners in the nation.

Named “one of the 100 most influential Latinos in the United States” by the Hispanic Business Magazine, Morones has been featured on NBC, CNN, ABC, and numerous other international media. He also received the Frontline Human Rights International Award for his dedication to the immigration treatment reform. He recently partook in a 75-mile trek of solidarity with migrants through the US-Mexico deserts, and continues to expand the outreach of Border Angels.

For more information on the convocation, including disability accommodations, please contact the office of Carleton College Relations at (507) 222-4309.