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Immigrant Rights Movement
Immigrant rights activists report so that no story goes untold--expanding
our ability to inform, mobilize and project a collective voice.
[ filed under: immigration conflict ] Francisco Dominguez is a documentary photographer covering the plight of immigrant workers from Mexico, the U.S., and the border. He traveled along the border for two weeks, bringing attention to the countless individuals who have lost their lives attempting to reach the U.S. The Border Angels Migrant March II traveled by caravan from San Ysirdro, California to Brownsville, Texas stopping in cities and towns along the way to gather stories and testimonies of immigrant families. Before the march, I had volunteered with the Border Angels to protest the Minutemen in Calexico and Campo, California. Later I transported water to the desert for migrants making the journey from Mexico to the U.S. Temperatures in the desert between San Diego and Calexico average over 100 degrees during the summer months. Volunteers have distributed barrels of water in over 300 locations in the desert marked by 5-ft blue flags.
The Migrant March II began in San Ysidro, California along the fence that separates the border. Over a hundred supporters joined together in a moment of silence for the countless numbers of lives lost. We planted crosses into the ground, each one symbolizing a life, and continued to plant them in each town and city we visited along the way. We collected stories from immigrant families along the border during our journey—what they went through to come here, Some of these families are forever scarred by loved ones who never made it crossing the desert or simply disappeared.
In Arizona, there was a hunger strike calling attention to unjust immigration laws and also to the numbers of immigrant deaths in the U.S. borderlands, which consist of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The hunger strikers (see photo above) in downtown Phoenix condemned deaths on the border. They were women and men from various organizations that took turns each week. One of the organizations was Centro de Ayuda, which provides services for immigration papers, taxes, and English classes.
There is an increasing amount of violence along the border as the Marines and National Guard now patrol under the guise of the war on drugs, not immigration. Our government has allocated a huge budget to stop the drug flow from Mexico that pays for unmanned drone planes, similar to the ones used in Iraq for surveillance, and the drone blimps tied to cables on the ground that have “eyes” in the sky. This watch tower is located in Roma, Texas. The Migrant March II joined human rights advocates at a conference in San Antonio to draft legislation condemning the use of deadly force and to require immigration officials to read the rights of individuals they arrest or detain. Individuals crossing the border should be treated with dignity and respect as human beings and workers. Contact Francisco Dominguez at fotowaddle@gmail.com. comments |
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Why don’t these immigrant (illegals)spend this type of engery improving their own Country? I suspect they have another agenda – could it be the free goodies like free medical, education, food and housing etc. Is Mexico willing to do that for Americans who illegally cross their borders? No they throw them in jail. Immigrants have a country – go there and restore order in your own home.
By bill · Posted on Mar 27, 11:20 AMWhy the globalization that our country establish in the world make immigrants emerge to our country?- I suspect they don’t have other choice when they can’t feed their own family in their own land- Don’t you do the same if you was in the same condition? or your let your kids to die of hunger?_ I suspect there is a lack of compassion and a lot of selfishness. Our country used to be a support country for the world a Nation under “God”, I just can believe how “God” is looking our actions. Immigrants are from all the world, no just from Mexico, and I think if Mexico was willing to do the free trade with our country will be willing to provide to our Americans citizens too, if you don’t believe try it! LOL –of curse they throw people in jail when they cross the boarder to sexual abuse children, when they think that can drive drunks because they are no in their country. Actually they really throw on jail all criminals not for crossing the boarder illegally like we do in this country, they throw them when they are criminals taking advantage of their upper-class range. (If that happened to you) or know some one who is that situation in there. That is the real case. Immigrants have a country. I bet you are Indian Native American, because they are the only ones from here in the first place. And they look kind Hispanic they can be our brother! at list we are part of the family.
By Maria · Posted on Mar 28, 08:36 AMThis nation is a nation of immigrants!
AMEN!
Hi, sorry for changing the subject a bit but the Dream Act is coming up for a vote this week according to Congressional Quarterly and CSPAN.
Please ask your blog readers and other interested persons to call Senators in support of the Dream Act.
By Dream Act Supporter · Posted on Oct 21, 02:40 PMFor comment # 1!...i just want to ask you this k?...When did your Great great great grandparent get here( I mean to America?...if you think about it!...everyone here in (America) are all from different part of the world…Do you know who were the first discover of America?...i dont think you know,but let me tell ya!...(The fathers of the American Native Indian)....Later on People travel and land over here…just like how you great great grandfather gets here!...i doesn’t mean that you were born here that you claim that the imgrant doesn’t have a right to be here…or they ‘re not belong here…if you say so…than you and your
By babee' · Posted on Feb 10, 03:59 PMgreat grantfather go to where you come from and improve your own country…”DONT CLAIM THAT THIS LAND IS BELONG JUST FOR YOU…COS THIS LAND BELONG TO EVERYBODY…WE CALL IT THE LAND OF PROMISE!...
Bill, let us not forget that America is a multi-cultural country. Also, let us ask why are Mexican immigrants being pulled to the North? Why? I am sure many are fleeing to escape starvation, or to try to earn money to send to their starving families. They are definitely not coming to America for the “freebies”. Lest we forget, they are crossing over to their ANCESTRAL LANDS! Yes, that is right, let’s take a moment and recognize what parts of the United States were stolen after the Mexican-American War (under the guise of the Treaty of Guadalupe and the Gadsden Purchase of 1853), California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas! Also, before the war, Anglos were coming into Texas as illegal immigrants, but instead of being deported or thrown in jail, Mexico welcomed them and told them all they had to do was follow the laws of Mexico, (i.e. no slavery allowed). The Anglos agreed to follow the laws, but then as the Anglo community grew, they decided to send Mexico a letter letting them know that they were going to proclaim Texas a new country. Guess what happened next? The Alamo and the war began. Let’s remember what happened in California shall we? Anglos came into California and intermarried with the Mexican women so they can get their hands on land. The Gold Rush meant more Anglos looking for Gold, after California was TAKEN/ANNEXED into the U.S., Mexican- Californio land owners lost their lands because (you guessed it!) Anglos were squatting ILLEGALLY on their lands, the Californio land owners had to pay high attorney fees, and high court costs to fight these trespassers in court, unfortunately the expensive litigation costs to defend their lands in court forced them to sell their precious lands. Then Mexicans (now American citizens because these states were now part of the U.S.) lost their right to vote or hold office. Why do you think this happened? Because the Anglos wanted to make sure that they wouldn’t be able to protect themselves legally.
There is so much more to this history lesson, (to Bill, who posted the comment on March28), you see when Anglos crossed into Mexico as illegal immigrants, they were NOT thrown into jail, they were allowed to stay as long as they gave their word to follow the laws. They did not, history shows the white man is not true to his word that is how all the land was stolen from Native Americans, treaty after treaty was written and broken, and the treaty with Mexico was broken as well. You suspect these immigrants have another agenda? But what was the white man’s agenda? To colonize, to occupy, to conquer, to exploit, to steal, to rape, to kill, to oppress, to control, etc, etc. Why is there chaos in Mexico? The reasons are so complex, from drug cartels to the corruption in Mexican government, but the drug cartels exist because there is a high demand for drugs in America, this is where the drug market is! What country is the highest consumer of illegal drugs? Yup, the U.S.A. Also, where do you think these drug cartels are buying their armaments of war (guns, ammo)? From the U.S. Does anyone know of another country that sells more guns and ammo than the U.S? The free trade agreement (NAFTA) enriches the United States, but unfortunately the Mexican citizens working as cheap labor force don’t benefit. As long as American companies use the cheap labor force, and the American government is complicit, the Mexican immigrants will continue to come. Just to clarify, I don’t believe that the U.S. is 100% responsible for Mexico’s corruption, unfortunately the rich elite of Mexico control the country and the government officials are just their puppets. The Mexican economy is poor and underdeveloped because the government is corrupt. The government is corrupt and owned by the wealthy elite. The result is a huge lower or underclass, almost no middle-class, and a tiny upper-class that controls and owns everything. Mexico is in the shape it is in because its government lines its pockets while the citizens go hungry. Mexico is not a poor country, its people are poor but the government certainly is not. Until that gets fixed and until the U.S. companies stop taking advantage of the poor workers, the cycle will continue.For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist’ (Jesus Christ Luke 21 15) By Diana · Posted on Mar 19, 01:45 PM