Author
 
Deirdre Roney photo - dress with flowers.jpg

Deirdre Roney

Deirdre Roney is an attorney; an immigration activist; a pro-democracy, rule of law, civil and human rights activist; a humanitarian and philanthropist; a certified legal observer and violence de-escalator. She graduated from the University of Michigan and Harvard Law School, with an emphasis on immigrant and human rights. She was a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney, specializing in sex crimes; a pro bono lawyer for political asylees and immigration activists; and served on the Southern California ACLU board. Deirdre’s been inside immigrant prisons and domestic criminal facilities. She regularly reads government, NGO (non-governmental organization) and journalists’ investigative reports and judicial opinions; attends legal associations’ and NGO conferences, seminars and webinars; and communicates and works with NGOs, activists and lawyers. Deirdre serves, witnesses and protests along both sides of, and the entire length of, the US Southern border. She volunteers in migrant shelters and refugee camps, at ports of entry and remote wilderness areas and distributes humanitarian supplies. Here are a few examples of her experiences: attended an AZ coroner seminar about migrant border-crossing deaths; participated in die-ins at for-profit immigrant prison corps headquarters; witnessed a federal criminal case trump brought against humanitarians providing medical help to migrants; served with women’s rights activists in a femicide capital, Juarez MX; volunteered in the largest southern border refugee camp, Matamoros MX. 

Deirdre dialogues about immigration issues with small groups via zoom and in-person gatherings. Deirdre welcomes you to contact her at abitofearth7@gmail.com to explore immigration’s impact upon our democracy, citizens’ civil rights and way of life, and the most important election in our history, November 5th, 2024. Deirdre will be in the Detroit Metropolitan area from 10/7 - 11/7/24 to help get out the vote and to speak about immigration issues. There are no speaker fees or other costs. 

To see Deirdre’s full bio, see her About page. To learn more about her activism, see her Activism page. To see how she’ll engage with your community, see her Blog page.

 

 Featured Blog Posts

Blog
Immigrant Families on the Mexican side of our Southern Border
Immigrant Families on the Mexican side of our Southern Border

During my recent activist trip, Dora Rodriguez shared devastating news of a deadly cartel clash claiming asylum seekers' lives between Sasabe and Nogales. Families, including children, are affected.

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Voices from the Border: How Immigration Policies Affect Your Community
Voices from the Border: How Immigration Policies Affect Your Community

I heard the children when I was standing outside the Sasabe Border Patrol Center in a remote corner of the Arizona desert at our southern border. The children were behind barbed wire and green tarps tied to metal fences, designed to hide what Border Patrol is doing to them.

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Kind Words

“I’ve never met anyone more knowledgeable and passionate about immigration rights than Deirdre Roney. She has a heart not only for people who are trying to do the best for themselves and their families, but is also dedicated to making our country shine as a beacon of democracy and refuge for those who are oppressed. You’ll learn a TON from her!"

- Kathy Christie

Website Designer & Volunteer

 

“You left me with a lasting impression of the needs, harsh conditions and desperation of those waiting to cross the Rio Grande. You inspired me to do what I feel will make people smile and feel wanted.”

- Dorothy Miyake

 Retired Kindergarten Teacher and Board Member Dollies Making a Difference