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BRI’s vision is a society transformed by the strength and resilience of asylum seekers and migrants. Meet our Leadership Team Beth Strano Co-Founder & Executive Director Beth Strano is deeply committed to advocating for the rights and welfare of migrants and asylum seekers. Beth's expertise in human rights advocacy is backed by over two decades of community organizing, and a decade spent working directly with asylum seekers. Before her current role, Beth worked for four years at the International Rescue Committee, where she developed the Asylum Seekers & Families Program and founded the first asylum seeker emergency shelter in Phoenix, Arizona, known as the Welcome Center. Her initiatives have since provided critical support and a safe haven for more than 100,000 individuals and families navigating the challenges of forced displacement and migration. Beth's impact on the sector was highlighted in April 2021, when she testified before the U.S. Senate U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’ Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management. Her testimony underscored the vital importance of informed, compassionate policies that uphold the dignity and rights of migrants arriving at the southwest border. Residing in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and their four teenagers, Beth’s vision is to continue fostering partnerships across state and national borders, and work alongside other advocates to make a lasting impact on the lives of asylum seekers. Tyler Southwell, MD Co-Founder & Board Member Dr. Tyler Southwell is a personal physician and family medicine specialist based in Paradise Valley, Arizona, with over 22 years of experience in the medical field. Dr. Southwell practices at Southwellness Medical, a facility renowned for offering a broad range of medical services including pain management and aesthetic medicine. His approach combines medical expertise with a strong focus on community health needs, ensuring that his patients receive the most effective and compassionate care possible. Dr. Tyler Southwell played a foundational role in establishing ProtectAZ Health, a medical organization dedicated to providing free medical evaluations, medications, and, during the pandemic, COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and treatments. This organization established a full service medical clinic offering a vital first point of care for medically vulnerable asylum seekers in Arizona. This clinic is instrumental in providing urgent medical services to a diverse group of patients from around the world, including those with critical conditions such as HIV/AIDS and diabetes, and pregnant women in need of immediate care. Chelsea Sachau Board President Chelsea has been the Managing Attorney of the Border Action Team at the Florence Project since October 2021. The Border Action Team is a unique partnership between the Florence Project and the Kino Border Initiative in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. As the Managing Attorney, Chelsea has focused on guiding a team of attorneys and legal assistants providing critical legal orientation and education, direct representation, and strategic advocacy to asylum-seekers displaced at the Arizona/Sonora border. Chelsea graduated from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), where she was the first recipient of the Leo Martinez Award for Distinguished Community Service for her work in establishing an annual detention center advocacy trip. Chelsea draws inspiration from the countless immigration advocates and human rights activists that have come before her. Chelsea was first inspired to be an immigration attorney based on the experiences of her grandmother (a Holocaust survivor) and her mother-in-law (a Maya former asylee) as she sought to provide similar opportunities for others fleeing persecution. Most of all, Chelsea is inspired every day by her clients and their resiliency in the face of what feels like insurmountable obstacles to seeking protection. Emily Snyder, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC Board Member Emily Snyder is a highly dedicated healthcare professional with a commitment to improving healthcare access for underserved communities. She has played a pivotal role as the Medical Director of ProtectAZ Health, overseeing the medical clinic serving newly arrived asylum seekers within the Phoenix Welcome Center. In February 2024, Emily contributed to an ACLU report detailing how inhumane and ineffective policies are allowing widespread confiscation and trashing of migrants’ personal belongings and medications by the U.S. Border Patrol. Outside of the clinic, Emily enjoys spending time with her husband, Matthew, and their four children. Emily enjoys the art of cooking and continuously seeks to expand her culinary horizons by learning new recipes from various cultures.

Borderlands Resource Initiative's vision is a society transformed by the strength and resilience of asylum seekers and migrants. The "crisis" is entirely preventable. This is America's opportunity to defend our founding values. 1/41 The crisis is — Asylum is not a crisis. About Borderlands Resource Initiative Borderlands Resource Initiative is steadfast in advocating for humane asylum policies and bolstering support for dignified reception of asylum seekers. Through strategic coalition building and partnerships along the Southwest border, we strengthen the capacity of asylum organizations. By enhancing their ability to provide vital support and protection to those seeking refuge, we foster resilience and equity within our communities. BRI’s vision is a society transformed by the strength and resilience of asylum seekers and migrants. Our role in this vision is to demonstrate the possibilities when our communities and policies are rooted in dignity, respect, and transformative justice. Eddie Chavez Calderon Campaign Director Arizona Jews for Justice, P hoenix, AZ "The Borderlands Resource Initiative will be a beacon of hope for migrants navigating complex circumstances. Beth Strano's dedication to migrant rights and her instrumental role in driving impactful initiatives are a testament to the transformative potential of compassionate leadership within migrant advocacy. As a formerly undocumented migrant, I wish I had a Beth when my mother and I were on our migrant journey. Her hands-on approach, coupled with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by migrants, ensures that our initiatives address immediate needs and also contribute to lasting solutions." Astrid Dominguez Executive Director Good Neighbor Settlement House, Brownsville, TX "Beth Strano [from Borderlands Resource Initiative] is great! She is a thought partner, and someone you can trust to explain the processes and help you analyze what improvements can be made in your programs. Her support has allowed me to identify new opportunities for Good Neighbor Settlement House, including enhancing current practices and implementing new ones." Be the first to know Subscribe to our newsletter to receive news and updates. Enter your email here First name Last name Subscribe Thanks for subscribing!

Borderlands Resource Initiative ensures that faith leaders, school administrators, nonprofit directors, and other community leaders understand and uphold Fourth Amendment protections and other legal rights to prevent unlawful immigration enforcement actions. Protected Spaces Protecting Arizona’s Community Spaces In January 2025, the federal government removed protections for sensitive locations—places like schools, faith spaces, and community organizations—once considered shielded from immigration enforcement. In response to this drastic change, Borderlands Resource Initiative is leading the Arizona Protected Spaces Working Group , a statewide initiative coordinating education, resources, and training to leaders of these essential spaces. With shifting immigration policies and increased enforcement tactics, knowledge is power. Organizations that serve as critical social safety nets must now take proactive steps to define and defend their public versus private spaces, train staff on response protocols, and develop emergency plans that uphold civil rights. Our program is designed to: Train school administrators, nonprofit leaders, faith leaders, and service providers on how to respond to immigration enforcement encounters. Provide essential legal resources and Know Your Rights materials to communities most impacted. Strengthen organizational protocols for handling enforcement actions while protecting the dignity and safety of all individuals. Connect local leaders to a network of legal experts, rapid response teams, and advocacy partners. Whether you lead a school, community organization, or place of worship, you have the right to protect your space and those you serve. Sign up for a training: Our workshops equip leaders with the legal knowledge and practical tools to create effective response plans. Join the Protected Spaces Working Group: Connect with organizations across Arizona who are working together to uphold rights and resist unlawful enforcement practices. Access resources: We provide preparedness worksheets, updates on legal guidance, and emergency response templates tailored to schools, faith-based spaces, and nonprofits. With shifting immigration policies and increased enforcement tactics, knowledge is power. Organizations that serve as critical social safety nets must now take proactive steps to define and defend their public versus private spaces, train staff on response protocols, and develop emergency plans that uphold civil rights. Whether you lead a school, community organization, or place of worship, you have the power to protect your space and those you serve. Sign up for a training: Our workshops equip leaders with the legal knowledge and practical tools to create effective response plans. Join the Protected Spaces Working Group: Connect with organizations across Arizona who are working together to uphold rights and resist unlawful enforcement practices. Access resources: We provide preparedness worksheets, updates on legal guidance, and emergency response templates tailored to schools, faith-based spaces, and nonprofits. Take Action. Protect Your Community. First name* Last name* Organization/Entity* Title/Role* Email* # of People Served:* Please send me the Immigration Enforcement Preparation Toolkit for my community: School Administrations Community Organizations Faith Spaces I'd like support to take the following steps to protect my community: Protected Spaces Training for staff and volunteers Know Your Rights training for my community/congregation Speak to my parent org/school district/association about endorsing the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act Attend a meeting with my Congresspeople about Protecting Sensitive Locations Act with BRI and CLASP Organize my community to call on Congress to endorse the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act Submit