Illegal immigrants 'are not free-loaders,' says Guatemalan bishop

Catholic News Service ^ | 04.13.05 | Agostino Bono

[Coleus]

Illegal immigrants 'are not free-loaders,' says Guatemalan bishop

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Illegal immigrants "are not free-loaders" but hard-working people who are seeking better lives for their families because social and economic improvements are not readily available to the Latin American poor, said a Guatemalan bishop.

"Some call them 'illegals.' But according to the market model, they are better described as entrepreneurs without assets, pursuing the American dream," said Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini Imeri of San Marcos, Guatemala.

"They work hard, often in several jobs, supporting a way of life that many take for granted," he said April 13 in written testimony delivered before the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.

Bishop Ramazzini testified at a hearing on the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement, known as CAFTA, between the United States and five Central American countries. Negotiators for the six countries have agreed on a text, but the accord still has to be ratified by the United States and several other countries.

Better salaries and better working conditions are the main reasons Latin Americans come to the United States, he said.

Working conditions in Central America will only get worse under the proposed free trade agreement, as this pact threatens "to lock in a much lower level of protection for workers and their families," he added.

"Poor working conditions make for bad economics. Without enforceable labor rights that are part of trade agreements with sanctions for noncompliance applied to them, we will not raise standards of labor and standards of living in my country," said the bishop.

"I know of repeated instances where workers were treated in a way that would be against basic labor law in the United States," he said.

"Industrial workers, equipped with the basic rights to have a say in the workplace, were key to the growth of a middle class in your nation," and formed "a key element in making the United States the economic powerhouse it is today," said Bishop Ramazzini.

"This is not happening in Central America and it will not happen as long as hundreds of thousands of workers are suppressed, not empowered, at the workplace," he said.

Guatemala is among the 10 worst Latin American countries regarding unequal income distribution and needs to develop a strong middle class for economic and political stability, he said.

In Guatemala, 56 percent of the population is poor and 16 percent is extremely poor, he said.

Policies governing trade need to be integrated with development programs if life for the poor is to improve, he said.

"Trade policies need to be complemented by institutional reforms and a broader development framework that affords each person their right to participate in a market that is fair and compassionate," he added.

Bishop Ramazzini also questioned whether Guatemalan farmers could compete with subsidized U.S. agricultural products if tariff barriers were dropped.

"Our farmers are hard-working" but they "cannot compete against the U.S. Treasury and the $170 billion subsidies granted in your farm bill of 2002," he said.

Almost 25 percent of Guatemala's gross national product comes from farming, he said.

The bishop also questioned the long-term benefit of CAFTA to poor countries, saying its approval could override more favorable terms being negotiated worldwide by the World Trade Organization.

"It is widely expected that low-income developing countries, such as Guatemala, will be afforded 'special and differential treatment' under World Trade Organization rules currently being negotiated," he said.

"CAFTA will likely trump such measures that are designed to allow developing countries the time and space to foster integral human development," he said.

Rather than concentrating on making it easier for goods to cross borders, trade pacts "must look at trade policies from the bottom up -- from their impact on the lives and dignity of poor families and vulnerable workers across the hemisphere," he said.

Bishop Ramazzini's testimony is the latest in a series of efforts by Latin American bishops to criticize aspects of free trade agreements being promoted by the United States.

Last June, Bishop Ramazzini was part of a delegation of Central American bishops visiting the United States to discuss their criticisms of CAFTA with church and government officials. Last July, the Central American and U.S. bishops issued a joint statement outlining objections.

In February, a delegation of bishops from the Andean countries in South America visited the United States to air similar criticisms.

Church officials have said that they are not opposed to the concept of free trade, but are objecting to specific treaties they have judged to be prejudicial to the Latin American poor.

[Dane]

there are even socialists here on FR. i don't know that they are even aware of it. but by their rhetoric - and this "bishops" and our "spread the wealth" politicians - they all are. know them by their fruit.

What the hell are you talking about, it's your side who demonizes those evil farmers and other business owners all for the crime of hiring the wrong people to pick crops and build buildings.

[Cultural Jihad]

there are even socialists here on FR. i don't know that they are even aware of it. . . . know them by their fruit.

Much as those who claim that 'despicibble forreners' are taking away their socialist entitlements meant for them?

[shellshocked]

I agree. Distain for those they are too cowardly to be.

[Czar]

"Go sieg heil yourself, czar."

Oh my. Looks like you've inadvertently revealed where your national allegiance lies -- Germany.

I sure hope you haven't committed a breach of the rules here. You know how they issue timeouts for ad hominem attacks. Suggesting someone is a Nazi might just do it for you.

[sdpatriot]

i have no idea what you are babbling about Dane. i have stated more than once that my only "side" or "agenda" is - God and Country. if you can't handle that .. well, too bad. i don't care.

and i was raised by a FDR democrat farmer. i have certainly never demonized a farmer in my life. i've had some pretty heated discussions with Dad over the socialist farm programs though. but what can i say? he was programed by the - there's a program for every problem - New Deal.

wake up... gvt new deals like Ag Amnesty are just socialist bs. you've been "programed"

if our own gvt can't obey and enforce the existing laws, maybe they should shred the last 120 years of laws, bills etc. and just follow the Constitution.... now that would be novel...

[Dane]

i have no idea what you are babbling about Dane. i have stated more than once that my only "side" or "agenda" is - God and Country. if you can't handle that .. well, too bad. i don't care.

Yeah you just babble your own animus against people who own farms and build buildings about the people they hire and hide behind "God and country".

I love this country just as much as you do, I just don't have the animus or control freakishness against people who do good things, such as grow food or build things, like you seem to have.

[Marine Inspector]

No impression, just the truth.

Something that alludes you.

[Dane]

I sure hope you haven't committed a breach of the rules here. You know how they issue timeouts for ad hominem attacks. Suggesting someone is a Nazi might just do it for you

Pot calling kettle balck again, shall we go back to your reply #138, where you called me a "FOQNA"(freeper of questionable national alliegence).

So what if you try to get me banned for stating the historical fact that the nazi's thought the Jews had questionable national allegience also.

[sdpatriot]

>>Much as those who claim that 'despicibble forreners' are taking away their socialist entitlements meant for them?<<<



and i am against socialism - or "social intitlements" as you call it. i'm against it. period.

[kt56]

My Questions about the whole ILLEGAL immigration issue are:::(BTW I am not against LEGAL immigration)

When do we get to the point of declaring the Federal Government in breach of contract with us? "They", after all, work for "us".

When do "we" get to the point when "we" decide, that "we" have to deploy the "militia", to protect the southern border, which is not being protected by those who "we" have vested the power to do so?

Where is the threshold where "we" decide it's time to deploy 5 to 10,000 armed citizens along the Mexico border to stop what the government refuses to stop?

This is our country, not THEIRS!!
If they want a better life, then they should build one of their own, in their own country!!

Are we citizens, or serfs?

[sdpatriot]

ummm... you know that beef you buy ?

we grow that..

LOL

by ourselves...

[dalereed]

Kick them all out and let them either fix their own country or starve to death!

[Dane]

Are we citizens, or serfs?

Serfs, if the hermetically close the border people have their way.

You know telling those evil business owners the kind of people they have to hire, a kind of right wing affirmative action.

BTW, I'm all for a guest worker program. Get these people documented instead of the madness we have had for 40 years since LBJ got rid of the bracero program.

[sdpatriot]

>>>people who do good things, such as grow food or build things,<<

and thankyou for the compliment. i think it is a good thing too to grow and build things. my whole family are carpenters and farmers and ranchers. it's a good life if you do it God's way.

[Dane]

and thankyou for the compliment. i think it is a good thing too to grow and build things. my whole family are carpenters and farmers and ranchers. it's a good life if you do it God's way

And is it a sin against God if a rancher, farmer, etc.etc hires someone named Jose to help out?

[Czar]

"...your reply #138, where you called me a "FOQNA"(freeper of questionable national alliegence)."

Thin soup, Dane, very thin soup.

"So what if you try to get me banned for stating the historical fact that the nazi's thought the Jews had questionable national allegience also."

I thought we agreed you would at least try to put a rational thought together and avoid babbling. Clarity, Dane, please strive for clarity.

[Dane]

Thin soup, Dane, very thin soup

Ah czar is all upset when his bitter gruel is thrown back into his face.

[Czar]

Now that's better.

Knew you could manage a coherent post if you tried hard enough.

Good work.

[harrowup]

And let me make a very clear suggestion to you "Marine Inspector" - if you're going to address me, have the nuts to ping me to your post. I would think with the trouble you got yourself into with JJ, you would have the partial sense to shut up and cut your losses, rather than act like a coward and talk about people without providing them the courtesy of some notice.

This puts us in a bind. Marine Inspector, outed as a liar and bully, pleaded with the moderators to prevent you (CBG) and me from posting to him and he said he would avoid posting to us.

While he and the old bootlick gang continually badmouth you and call us both traitors, I think they are afraid to directly communicate given their inability to either tell the truth or answer fully questions put to them.

Marine Inspector is joined at the lip with bootlick and buckeroo and other spoil sports at Liberty Post and are quite accomplished spammers.

Have you seen that comic book with bootlick? Is that Travis' latest?

BTW, Nethercott just went into the pokey.

[sdpatriot]

>>If they want a better life, then they should build one of their own, in their own country!!<<<

i agree. but many here don't seem to hold our Country as dear as you do ... and would sell it cheaply.