Two Palestinian asylum seekers have been imprisoned for one year in an immigration detention center in Florence, Arizona—one could be deported at any time, and the other's fate is in limbo, according to the immigrants' rights advocacy group Not One More Deportation. 

The organization, with the help of the UA's Students for Justice in Palestine, No More Deaths and other advocacy groups, is rolling around a petition to demand Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release Hisham Shaban Ghalia and Mounis Hammouda, both of whom, about five years ago, fled intense violence and poverty in the Gaza Strip. 

According to Not One More Deportation, it has been determined that Ghalia and Hammouda have "credible fear they could face indefinite detention or be killed if deported back to their region of the world.

Both men migrated undocumented through more than a handful of countries between the Middle East, Europe, and made it all the way over to South and Central America, before arriving at the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, where they requested humanitarian asylum this past November. (Check out this October 2015 article on The Guardian for more information about the big wave of Middle Eastern and African refugees and migrants trying to reach the U.S. through Mexico. The article features Ghalia and Hammouda's story.)

"Even though both men were determined to have 'credible fear,' the first step in claiming humanitarian protection from persecution, they are still being held in indefinite detention," the petition says.

Ghalia's asylum claim was denied by immigration officials, who issued a final order of removal, "but are unable to deport him due to restrictions that prevent U.S. immigration authorities from dealing directly with the Palestinian authorities," the petition says. "Although both men meet 'low priority' criteria under the Department of Homeland Security’s own standards, they remain in limbo, and subject to indefinite detention."

A protest demanding their release was supposed to take place today, but was canceled. Another is in the works, according to Gabe Schivone, an immigration rights activist, member of Students for Justice in Palestine, and co-author of The Guardian article I pointed out. In the meantime, you can find the petition on the Not One More Deportation website.

Filmmaker Charlie Minn—partially based in El Paso, Texas and the other half in New York—is screening his latest documentary, "43," which breaks down (as much as possible) what went down more than one year ago near the city of Iguala, Guerrero, after 43 students from Ayotzinapa were "arrested" by local policemen and never seen again.

Minn spent six months working in Mexico and the U.S., interviewing many of the students' family members, political experts and watching the heavy protests that took place shortly after the mass kidnapping—all demanding the government to investigate and reveal what happened the night of Sept. 26, 2014.

"It is pretty well known that the Mexican government is not trusted by the citizens," he says in a phone call with the Weekly. "During these protests, they have been called murderers."

He says that out of all the crimes he's explored in Mexico, this one is probably the most sickening—even more so than the alleged government involvement in the July prison escape of  Sinaloa drug cartel king Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. (Last year, Minn released another film where he questioned whether the real Chapo had gotten arrested, or if it was a pantomime by the Enrique Peña Nieto administration. Bottom line, he doesn't trust Mexican officials and political figures much.) 

On that September day, the 43 Ayotzinapa Rural Normal School students were trying to gather buses to travel to Mexico City for the annual protest on Oct. 2, marking the anniversary of the 1968 massacre of unarmed students in Tlateloco. 

(According to The Guardian, the Ayotzinapa school "is part of an ambitious educational project set up in the 1920s, after the Mexican revolution, which sought to provide young men of marginalized rural backgrounds with specialized education. The idea was to combine academic subjects with practical knowledge on how to take care of the land, and to encourage social activism."

In short, people in the southern state of Guerrero—which is Spanish for "warrior"—have always had the reputation of not taking shit from the oppressive Mexican government. And speaking up, especially if it comes from the poorer, more marginalized citizens of the country, is seen as highly inconvenient by the latter.

That night, roughly 100 students left a bus station in Iguala with five buses. On their way back to Ayotzinapa, municipal policemen ambushed four of the buses, three were pulled over together. After the first attack, a group of students was detained and put in police cars. The other group of students was arrested after they arrived at the scene to try to help their other colleagues. At some point, the policemen start shooting the students. Then the other buses are attacked; more students are detained. It's reported that six students were killed at the scene, according to VICE. 

In the days and months that followed, nearly two dozen municipal policemen were arrested, as well as former mayor of Iguala José Luis Abarca and his wife, who allegedly ordered the massacre and mass kidnapping. (Checkout this VICE timeline and Amnesty International write up to learn more.)

Only one of the students' remains has been found and identified. One of the stories that made it out is that the local drug cartel, local officials and law enforcement collaborated in the disappearance—that the kidnapped students were handed off to a drug gang to be killed and burnt in the nearby town of Cocula. A lot has been said, but there still hasn't been any solid evidence.

"I am afraid Mexico has to go through a revolution to get themselves out of this. The Mexican government has done a terrible job revealing to the country what exactly happened," Minn says. "The parents of the missing sons and daughters are adamant about getting answers. I can't express my sympathy enough."

One of the major reasons he dug into the tragedy is so that more people around the world, and especially in the United States, educate themselves on what is happening in Mexico—the drug violence and corruption, he says have been highly influenced by U.S. intervention and its citizens heavy illegal drug use. "Too many innocent people die," he adds. "You can't solve a problem if you are not aware. My films are about Mexican people who have been murdered, someone has to speak for these people, give them a much-needed voice."

"43" is screening starting Friday and for at least one week at Harkins Tucson Spectrum 18, 5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz (I-19 and Irvington). For showtimes, call 889-5588, or visit the Harkins website. 

Water is the most crucial natural resources—it impacts the economy, the environment and without it, we'd probably be dead. So, why not learn about how to protect it?

The Central Arizona Project, the University of Arizona, and a handful of other organizations—including KXCI and the Southern Arizona Water Users Association—are hosting a forum on water sustainability this Friday, and they want the community to really pay attention. 

"We’re on the cusp of major decisions about water and it’s critical that a large sector of the population is involved," says Mitch Basefsky, CAP external communications for Pima and Pinal counties, in an email. The groups especially want youth to be a part of the conversation. "Achieving a sustainable future for Tucson and our environs will require continuing communications and collaboration among a broad range of stakeholders and interest groups."

"The perspectives and involvement of our younger advocates is welcome and necessary to the long-term viability of our community," he adds. "This forum presents a wonderful opportunity for youth to learn and contribute to the water future of Southern Arizona."

Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources Tom Buschatzke will be the keynote speaker, followed by a panel with moderator Sharon Megdal, director of the UA College of Agriculture and Life Science's Water Resources Research Center. 

The forum is happening Friday, Nov. 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Tucson Convention Center's Leo Rich Theater. It is a free event, and there will be free breakfast and parking. Couldn't hurt, right?

You have to  RSVP, so call 621-4311 or email  [email protected].

Prepare yourself for four days filled with improv and comedy as the inaugural Tucson Comedy Arts Festival kicks off this week. Hosted by Michael Dean and event founder Justin Lukasewicz, the event will feature local and national stand-up comedians, improv troupes and some workshops to help you brush up those joke skills.

The festival's main featured guests for 2015 are national improv vets Eric Hunicutt, Zach Ward and the 808 Hip Hop Improv, as well as stand-up performances from Ross Everett, Elliott Morgan and more. However, the event also showcases a heavy dose of local talent from Ben Dietzel, FST! Female Story Tellers and former Tucsonan Jericho Davidson.

Backed by some of the 50 improvisers involved with the Tucson Improv Movement, the event and its participants seek to lay the groundwork for a large annual festival celebrating Tucson's blossoming comedy scene. Steven Romo will also be performing a live, stripped down version of his popular local late night talk show.

The bulk of the festival will take place at the TIM Comedy Theatre (329 E. Seventh St.), with some special events down the street at The Flycatcher (340 E. Sixth St.) and Mr. Head's (513 N. Fourth Ave.). For ticket information and a full list of this year's events visit the Tucson Comedy Arts Festival website. All shows are $5 each and workshops are $65 per.

Although it's improv and the shows could really end up being about anything, here's a little something to give you an idea of what TIM's all about:

Burlesque is a big deal locally. Now, Tucson Burlesque is (hopefully!) coming to you in book form.

Steve McMackin (you might know him as the art director behind Edible Baja) is a photographer intimately familiar with the Old Pueblo's burlesque scene:

In October 2010, Black Cherry Burlesque asked me to photograph their 2010 Halloween show. It was a ton of fun, and a real technical challenge to photograph the performers. So I came back for their next show... and the next... and the next… after 5 years, 150,000 photos, 1,100+ acts, 150+ performers and 50+ shows it's time to bring these photos off of Facebook and into the real world. This is the best of the best: about one photo per one thousand taken is being selected for inclusion in the book. 

Honestly, just watch his video about the project. The photos are beautiful.

The book's existence depends on how its Kickstarter goes, and the fundraising effort has a bit of ground to cover: McMackin has set the goal for $22k and the deadline for Dec. 1.

Ambitious? Absolutely—but there is good reason: 

My photos have until now only been seen on Facebook, whose compression algorithms do awful things to photos. Even in print, most people do digital printing for short-run books, which doesn't have the sharpness or deep blacks that will really make these photos shine.

So we are going for the gold and are getting the book printed at an offset press, with CMYK plates, with careful color checking, in a nice thick hard-bound book. If we get funded, we'll start with a 9" x 12" book at 160 pages, but if we meet a few stretch goals, we can get a larger, 12" x 12" book with 200 pages for the same price.

This is going to be a really nice book that you can leave on the living room table. I've picked out a few thousand of my favorite photos, and as soon as the kickstarter funds I'll start designing it. I'm also planning on writing a little about some of the photos and telling some interesting stories, but the focus is burlesque performances.

Last year I attended Cyclovia's April event. Having no idea what to expect when I went there, I assumed it was just another bike race. What I found was a community event unlike any other.

There were people doing zumba in the streets normally infested with cars, children riding skeletal horse bikes, full drum kits being towed by bicycles and and live music on every turn. I chose it as this week's #1 event to attend for City Week for a reason. Even if you don't like bikes, go check out the one of a kind experience that Cyclovia offers.  

The Loft Film gets off and running this evening with a big party celebrating International Back to the Future Day, which (of course) is the day that Marty McFly headed off to in Back to the Future II. To celebrate, the Loft is showing Back to the Future and Back to the Future II, along with a fashion show of ’50s, ’80s and contemporary fashions, an Enchantment Under the Sea dance and much more.

We detailed a lot of the highlights of the Loft Film Fest in last week's cover story, but one thing we didn't mention: The Loft, which is a member of the International Confederation of Art Cinemas, will also be awarding CICAE Art Cinema Awards in two competitions; Best Documentary and Best Short Film.

Here are some details from Indiewire:

The CICAE award is designed to bring attention to excellent films in order for them to be seen in art houses around the world. The CICAE award is given out at festivals including the Berlinale Forum and Panorama, the Sarajevo International Film Festival, the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.

The Loft Film Fest jury for documentary features includes Peter Belsito, film biz consultant, fest panelist and guest blogger for SydneysBuzz on Indiewire, actress/writer/producer Yareli Arizmendi ("Like Water for Chocolate," "A Day Without a Mexican") and Beverly Seckinger, director of University of Arizona Center for Documentary and Docscapes.

The short film jury includes Francesco Clerici, director of "Hand Gestures," Max Cannon, creator of the alternative comic strip "Red Meat", and Lupita Murillo of KVOA News 4 Tucson. 

 See the complete Loft Film Fest schedule here.

Author and longtime TW arts correspondent Margaret Regan will be reading from her latest book, Detained and Deported: Stories of Immigrant Families Under Fire, at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the UNICEF store in Monterrey Village, 6242 E. Speedway Blvd.

Detained and Deported tells the stories of how undocumented immigrants have seen their families torn apart here in the United States and examines the miserable conditions at the private prisons where many of them are housed.

Publishers Weekly called the book "an authentic look at people caught between borders." Library Journal found it to be "heartbreaking, thorough, and insightful." Kirkus Reviews said it was a "timely look at the inhumane effects of immigration policies in the United States… Regan's books bring into focus the fates of undocumented people fighting against the odds to make it into America and then, if they get here, struggling, and often failing, to build a life.” And me? I thought it was great. Go hear Regan read, pick up a book, and get it autographed.

Ballet fans, get excited. The people over at Ballet Tucson have decided they love you and have given us a ton of tickets to give away. 

We're going to be giving these tickets out slowly, as the shows approach. But, the first giveaway we're dong is pretty special: It's for the a pair of tickets to the Opening Night Gala. 

Opening Night Gala
Friday, November 13
Gala Reception – 6:30 pm
Performance – 8:00 pm
Temple of Music and Art
Jekyll and Hyde
Masquerade
Carmina Burana

Opening Night Gala includes:
Pre-performance wine & buffet reception
Silent auction
Live musical entertainment
Post-performance champagne toast and dessert reception with company artists

Jekyll and Hyde (World Premiere)
Choreography: Chieko Imada, Mary Beth Cabana
Fresh and fanciful “steampunk” rendition of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson dark Victorian novel.

Masquerade
Choreography: Chieko Imada, Mary Beth Cabana
Colorful and upbeat episodes at a lively masquerade ball.

Carmina Burana (Premiere)
Choreography: Daniel Precup
A thrilling and dynamic interpretation of Carl Orff’s “scenic cantata”.
Tickets on sale September 8
$100 per person
Order by Phone (Brown Paper Tickets):
800-838-3006

All proceeds benefit Ballet Tucson.

For those of you who aren't lucky enough to win, you can pick tickets up here. Or, if you can stand missing out on the fancy of the Gala and are more interested in the ballet itself, check back next week for tickets to the Fall Concert next week.

You may have noticed that our beloved blog has been a little slow over the last few days. We are frantically finishing up this year's Best of Tucson® issue and, well, blogging takes second priority for a while.

The good news is: We're almost done! You'll be able to see the winners in the paper on Oct. 22, or (if you're feelin' fancy) you can party with us and find out a day early. We'll be at Casino Del Sol from 6 to 8 p.m.—eating, drinking and happy to be free from our desks.

You have to buy a ticket online, by Oct. 16—$25 gets you in the door, an early copy of issue, some hors d'oeuvres and a drink ticket—but don't worry, there will also be a cash bar. DJ Herm will be there to make sure it's a good time.

Come drink with us (it's been a hectic issue, we're gonna need a few glasses of wine), give us your thoughts on the paper and tell us what categories we need to add next year.