Thread: Central America Raises Its Voice in Defence of Its Migrants

IPS NEWS
By Danilo Valladares

Central America Raises Its Voice in Defence of Its Migrants


A Guatemalan family heading to the Mexican border.

GUATEMALA CITY, Feb 2, 2011 (IPS) - Spiralling violence against Central American migrants in Mexico has prompted legal reforms, diplomatic actions, and the creation of new mechanisms to protect citizens in this region.

"There has been an upsurge in violence against undocumented foreigners (in Mexico), starting with the massacre of 72 migrants in August in (the northeastern state of) Tamaulipas," which triggered a series of steps taken in Central America, Flora Reynosa, in charge of migrants' rights in the Guatemalan human rights ombudsman's office, told IPS.

For example, Guatemala is pushing for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the tens of thousands of undocumented Guatemalans who are in the United States, while it is coordinating, with other countries of Central America and Mexico, investigations into the Tamaulipas massacre and other cases, Reynosa said.

TPS is a temporary immigration status granted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to nationals of designated countries who are temporarily unable to safely return to their home country due to armed conflict, the effects of an environmental disaster, or other temporary, extraordinary conditions.

In addition, the Guatemalan Congress began to debate a bill in January that would allow Guatemalans deported from the U.S. to bring back their household effects, including furniture and home appliances -- as well as vehicles -- duty-free.

In 2010 alone, more than 57,000 Guatemalans were deported from the United States, as a result of the stiffening of that country's stance against undocumented immigrants.

Since 2009, lawmakers in Guatemala have also been studying a new immigration law that would facilitate the fight against corruption and improve protection for migrants.

At a regional level, the measures taken have gone even further. On Jan. 23, Honduras and Mexico established a high-level security group to tackle questions like the safety of migrants in Mexico.

The plan is for the two governments to improve communication on immigration and security, carry out prevention campaigns warning potential migrants of the dangers, make it easier for migrants to report abuses, and share information on financial operations like the payment of ransoms.

The creation of the high-level security group was spurred by the December 2010 kidnapping of at least 40 Central American migrants in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. They are still missing.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay called on the Mexican authorities "to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation".

There have been other government measures as well. El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala will create a multilateral force to fight drug trafficking in the region, the details of which will be determined at the next Central American Integration System summit in June.

Authorities in Mexico blame the Tamaulipas massacre of 72 migrants on the Los Zetas drug cartel.

Mexico's National Human Rights Commission reported that 20,000 Central American migrants were kidnapped last year in Mexico.

Some 500,000 undocumented migrants from Central and South America cross Mexico every year in their attempt to reach the United States, according to estimates based on official statistics and figures from NGOs. Along the way, they face the risk of arbitrary arrest, extortion, theft, assault, rape, kidnapping and murder, at the hands of youth gangs and organised crime, as well as corrupt police and other agents of the state.

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I'm sure Janet Napolitano and Eric Holder are going to jump right on this ..

It is amazing that these arrogant corrupt third world crapholes instead of eliminating corrupt governments, fixing their own economies and improving the lives of their citizens, they aid and abet the violation of our laws, borders, sovereignty and expect strapped taxpayers to pay for their health care, welfare, food stamps, education, employment, other benefits and services without paying a nickel in taxes.

In addition, the Guatemalan Congress began to debate a bill in January that would allow Guatemalans deported from the U.S. to bring back their household effects, including furniture and home appliances -- as well as vehicles -- duty-free.

I suppose they will demand that the US hire Mayflower Van Lines and pay or that too. Of course they have to get it through Mexico.......

Well mexico is already building a wall on their southren boarder and we need to hurry up and do the same. If they can't enter our country than were saving lives too many are being lost from peopel trying to migrate here so I feel a wall would do more than just protect our boarder it would save the lives of peoples from other countrys trying to get here! This would be our moral obligation at this point!

Originally Posted by HAPPY2BME

IPS NEWS
By Danilo Valladares

Central America Raises Its Voice in Defence of Its Migrants

Some 500,000 undocumented migrants from Central and South America cross Mexico every year in their attempt to reach the United States, according to estimates based on official statistics and figures from NGOs.

And if any of them stop long enough to take a job from a Mexican, Mexico will immediately repatriate them, because in Mexico, Mexican jobs are reserved for Mexican workers.
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Americans first in this magnificent country

American jobs for American workers

Fair trade, not free trade

I say let Mexico keep up the good work, those are illegals who will never make it across the US border!