Washington Office joins in call for
demilitarization of US-Mexico border, and legalization of economic
migration
[4-5-01]
The Presbyterian Washington Office sent this note on
March 27, 2001, to its Civil Rights/ Religious Liberties Mailing List:
The Washington Office co-signed the letter below
regarding the US relationship with Mexico. It is clear that the
current Administration will continue to engage our neighbor to the
south. If you have concern for this topic, you may want to send a
letter off the President Bush to urge compassion for the plight of
migrants and other workers as this relationship deepens.
///////////\\\\\\\\\\\
February 14, 2001
END THE WAR ON ECONOMIC MIGRANTS!
The undersigned faith-based and human rights
organizations stand with economic migrants and work for policies based
on compassion, human rights and acknowledgment of the vital role
economic migrants play in our economy. As leaders in Mexico and the U.S.
discuss economic migration and issues pertaining to our common border,
we take this opportunity to set forth the following principles that
should inform any such discussions and the policies that emerge from
them.
Demilitarize the Border
An immigration policy that forces people into treacherous mountain and
desert terrains where they face mortal danger is a failure and must be
changed.
Deadly force is a completely inappropriate response to illegal border
crossing and should be prohibited.
Law enforcement personnel who injure, kill or sexually abuse migrants
must be held responsible. The human rights of those who live at and
cross the border should be respected. Harassment, racial insults,
unwarranted arrest, mistreatment, racial profiling, and denial of legal
rights to U.S. and Mexican citizens alike must stop.
A review commission should be established to receive and investigate
complaints of abuses, to recommend discipline for those who commit them
and to ensure transparent and public accountability.
Any border enforcement regime should guarantee refugees and
asylum-seekers the full protection of international and local law.
Border patrol duties and activities must be separate and distinct from
those of the military.
Human rights violations can not be justified, nor should they be
excused, by invocation of the "War on Drugs."
Legalize Economic Migration
Workers should be allowed safe and legal means to travel to the place of
their desired employ, whether temporary or long-term; undocumented
workers should be afforded legal status.
Migrants should be allowed to apply for and to hold visas in their own
names and to work for any employer in any economic sector.
Laws, regulations and policies relating to wages, conditions, benefits
and other rights should benefit all workers equally without
discrimination on the basis of nationality or immigration status.
Employers should be neither empowered nor required to enforce
immigration law.
Migrants should not be deprived of opportunities to adjust their status
to permanent residence on account of their benefitting from an
employment visa.
Signed originally by:
Mark Adams and Jesus Gallegos Blanco, Coordinators
Frontera de Cristo Douglas AZ
Susan Alva, Immigration and Citizenship Project Director
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) Los
Angeles CA Oscar A. Chacon, President Salvadoran American National
Network Los Angeles CA
Stan De Boe, OSST, Director Conference of Major
Superiors of Men, Office of Justice and Peace Silver Spring MD
Ralston H. Deffenbaugh, Jr., President Lutheran
Immigration and Refugee Service Baltimore MD
Marie Dennis, Director Maryknoll Office for Global
Concern Washington DC
Scott Fenton Cristo Rey Centro Luterano El Paso TX and
Border Servant Corps Las Cruces NM
Rev. Joaquin Figueroa, Pastor First Lutheran Church
Vista CA
