Mexican immigrant leaders end conference with clear goals

Friday, April 25, 2008

By DIANNE SOLÍS / The Dallas Morning News

A three-day conference of Mexican immigrant leaders in Dallas illustrated both the depth of Mexican migration to the U.S. and the counterpunch of a crackdown against illegal immigrants. And unlike immigration conferences larded with statistics on demographics, or loaded with how-to sessions by attorneys on clever legal maneuvers, this one brought home the human narrative of immigrants reviled and revered.

"I am only focused on migration," said Maria Dolores González, who two years ago was a Dallas homeowner and a border customs broker and now is a federal congresswoman in Mexico.

Her address spoke to the scope of Mexico's migration. With about 10 percent of the Mexican-born population now living in the U.S., Mexican immigrants have demanded and won representation in the lower house of the Mexican Congress. In fact, Ms. González is one of four federal representatives with a business card that reads "diputada federal migrante."

Ms. González was one of the final speakers Friday, at the closing of the 126-member advisory council to the Institute of Mexicans Abroad. Members of the group, which the Mexican government set up in 2003, said they would call for an end to deportations; and more fairs on labor and human rights, health and social services and education.

The institute's meeting in Dallas – only the second time the group has met outside Mexico – comes at a time when crackdowns against illegal immigrants in the U.S. have increased. States and cities across the country have approved an unprecedented number of ordinances and legislation targeting illegal immigrants in light of Congress' failure to pass comprehensive measure.

Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation of American Immigration Reform, said that some measures of the advisory council are appropriate, such as creation of better jobs and Mexican shelters for those who are moving back to Mexico.

"Helping to bring people back to Mexican society is a legitimate function for the Mexican government," Mr. Mehlman said.

But the spokesman for the group that's pushed for years for more restrictive legal immigration and the elimination of illegal immigration took issue with the applause Mexico's President Felipe Calderón's visit generated among the immigrants.

"It shows his concern for the $23 billion that is sent back to Mexico each year," he said, referring to the flow of money known as remittances that immigrants send back to their homeland. "It is almost as though he has more concern for the Mexicans living abroad than he does for those who live in Mexico."

And Mexican officials have taken notice. Ms. González, though, said it took her a full year of lobbying among federal deputies, the equivalent of a U.S. representative, to help push through a large increase in the budget of Mexico's 48 consulates in the U.S.

Ms. González said her discipline stems from the fact that she left her native state of Zacatecas as a 16-year-old to work in the U.S. She labored with her family in the berry fields of Washington state and lived in a storage shed. In 1986, when the U.S. Congress last overhauled immigration laws, she applied for amnesty, a legalization program that many now condemn and others want duplicated.

The central Mexican state of Zacatecas, once a power in mining, is mostly known for its migrants. Ms. González estimated that 55 percent of the state is now in the U.S.

"I ask the boys what they want to do when they get older and they say, 'I am waiting until I am 14 and I will leave for the United States,' " she said.

Conferees who were invited as observers or attended as members of the council opened their sessions at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel with an address by Mr. Calderón, who told them he was their ally.

But it was clear some conferees are frustrated with the Mexican government.

"The consulates can't act as they did five or 10 years ago," said Maria Elena Daniel, an Eagle Pass resident, when she stepped up to the podium in one of the final addresses. "The consulates need to improve their services." And deportations and departures of Mexican families must be met with financing of shelters on the Mexican side of the border, by Mexicans, she said.

The drama of recent immigration raids and dawn arrests at the homes of those in the country illegally hung over many sessions and hallway conversations this week. The crackdown on illegal immigrants is believed to be the harshest since the 1950s, say some historians.

The group named among its successes the implementation of the vote abroad for Mexican citizens who want to take part in Mexico's election; a scholarship program for Mexican immigrant students operated by the University of California; and funding for a binational health week of education and disease prevention.

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Preparan cabildeo y manifestaciones pro inmigrantes en EU el 1 de mayo

Agencias 27 de Abril de 2008

Activistas preparan para el 1 de mayo en Washington una serie de movilizaciones y cabildeo en el Congreso por un trato más digno a favor de unos 12 millones de inmigrantes indocumentados en Estados Unidos. Las marchas coinciden con la celebración internacional del Día del Trabajo, que se origina en la lucha del 1 de mayo de 1886 por parte de trabajadores en Chicago, muchos de ellos inmigrantes, por la jornada laboral de ocho horas, que no se conmemora en Estados Unidos. 'Es cierto que el 1 mayo se celebra el Día del Trabajo a nivel mundial, menos en Estados Unidos, pero nosotros lo hemos convertido en el Día del Inmigrante', dijo a Notimex el vocero de la Coalición 1 de Mayo 2008, el mexicano Norberto Martínez, uno de los organizadores de las movilizaciones. 'Como todos sabemos, el 1 de mayo de 2006 se realizó un boicot en Estados Unidos por todos los inmigrantes. Ya hay precedentes de la lucha por los inmigrantes en Estados Unidos', recalcó. Estados Unidos celebra el Día del Trabajo el primer lunes de septiembre, que empezó en 1882 por medio de un desfile en Nueva York organizado por el sindicato Caballeros del Trabajo y fue declarado como un feriado federal por el Congreso en 1894. Los organizadores piden una reforma migratoria integral, el cese de las redadas y las deportaciones, la condena a la construcción de un muro en la frontera con México y un rechazo a las cartas del gobierno federal al empleador para verificar la situación legal del trabajador. Además, rechazan resoluciones anti-inmigrantes en jurisdicciones locales que autorizan a la policía aplicar la ley federal de inmigración, como en el condado de Prince William, en Virginia. También piden, entre otras demandas, que se declare a Washington ciudad santuario para los inmigrantes. La mañana del 1 de mayo los activistas realizarán un cabildeo en el Congreso y demostraciones frente a las oficinas de los partidos Demócrata y Republicano, que acusan por falta de acción sobre el tema de inmigración. Asimismo, tienen previsto concentrarse a partir del mediodía en el parque Malcom X, en el noroeste de la ciudad, para realizar por la tarde una marcha por el barrio latino de Adams Morgan. Dirigentes comunitarios e inmigrantes que recién obtuvieron la ciudadanía estadunidense tienen previsto entregar a cada legislador una copia de una propuesta de reforma migratoria integral elaborado por organizaciones de derechos humanos. 'Estamos coordinando con varias ciudades de Estados Unidos y tenemos alianzas con organizaciones nacionales e internacionales. No estamos solos, aunque lo aparentemos', sostuvo Martínez respecto al apoyo de delegaciones de localidades en Illinois, California y otros estados. Reconoció que las redadas, las detenciones y el abandono de muchos niños tras el proceso de deportación de sus padres, ha intimidado a muchas personas que ahora prefieren abstenerse de participar en las movilizaciones. También defendió las protestas frente a grupos que prefieren enfocarse más bien en la inscripción de votantes a fin de evitar un mayor sentimiento anti-inmigrante y mayores redadas en todo el país. El activista respondió que ese mismo argumento se podría haber usado antes contra la esclavitud para evitar protestas porque eventualmente llevaría a la liberación, 'pero no vino'. 'Tampoco vendrá la residencia permanente si no salimos, de otra manera los estadunidenses no sabrán nuestras preocupaciones', enfatizó.