Migrant Shelter Besieged
Written by La Prensa San Diego
Nov 14, 2009 Frontera NorteSur
A Catholic Church-run migrant shelter in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila is the target of escalating attacks. Every day, Casa del Migrante Posada Belen in the state capital of Saltillo serves between 80-100 mainly Central American migrants headed to the United States. But since last month, staff and property have been busy responding to aggression, harassment and death threats.
Father Pedro Pantoja Arreola, shelter coordinator, reported that threats against his person reached a fever pitch one evening last week when he received 50 anonymous telephone calls in the space of several hours. According to Pantoja, he could hear no words spoken on the other end of the line-only breathing.
Earlier, on October 11, a shelter worker observed a group of about 12 people destroying an electricity meter and cutting off power. Later, on October 25, a group of unidentified persons broke windows and destroyed an electrical transformer, again shutting off power to the building. The vandals reportedly shouted insults at the occupants inside and warned them to leave the premises. On October 28, yet another group attempted to forcibly enter the shelter, according to a letter from a network of 40 Mexican human rights organizations directed at high Mexican officials.
[b] In the wake of the attacks, Saltillo Bishop Raul Vera accused the local National Action Party (PAN) of creating a climate of hostility around the presence of migrants. In particular, Bishop Vera singled out PAN state legislator Carlos Orta for allegedly orchestrating a “campaign of xenophobiaâ€
