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.

[Trinity5]

"...but I just don't understand what makes a constitutionalist want to deny others the opportunity to provide a better life for themselves.

Migrants are a very great asset to this country."

Why do you keep replacing "illegal immigrants" with "Migrants"? I haven't seen anyone say they want legal immigration stopped or legal immigrants deported?

Also, concerning your comment about "migrants" are just trying to make a better life for themselves. Wouldn't that be the same as saying that someone who steals from a bank in order to buy a house for his/her family is just trying to make a better life for themselves? Who cares if they break a few laws in the process?

[jjbrouwer]

Thank you for copying me into your post. Racists like the Inspector send a chill down my spine. You will get no response from him. He knows he overstepped the mark when he tried to run checks on posters and is probably too scared to reply to your questions.

Someone with his biased and racist views should not be working in that particular industry. The fact that he is associating with sinister vigilantes is worrying.

[Marine Inspector]

You will get no response from him.

You're right, I won't respond to that poster. At least until it stops lying. Maybe you should should stop lying also.

[harrowup]

Looks like we need to visit Marine Inspector's most notable hits; perhaps with a link to the letter just received from the IG.

He could apologize to you and it would end.

[sdpatriot]

i just read your "about me" page.

God bless you for serving and protecting our Nation. i have a Marine in the 1/4th. i love the Marines... God bless them all..

i like this quote you have there:

Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always,even death itself. The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for? - William J. Bennett - in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy November 24, 1997


he sounds like another Patrick Henry..

[Marine Inspector]

He could apologize to you and it would end.

Then again, maybe JJ wants to be honest about the whole issue:

22. To: Marine Inspector (#18)

Thanks, Marine Inspector.

I apologise for snapping at you earlier. I realise you have a job to do. If there are any questions about my status in the US, please contact me - you have my email now and I will happily furnish you with my telephone number.

As a rule, I always try to stay within the law, unlike many of the tax kooks and race vigilantes who bang their fists on these boards and rail against the government. The guys at the US Embassy and the British Consulate are always very helpful when I have questions.

FR's moderators have come in for a lot of stick in recent months but with right- wing fringees like Spliff running to them at every opportunity, it is clear they have a tough job to do. I have no doubt he has been whining to the moderators all day, rather than enjoying his weekend.

jjbrouwer posted on 2003-08-16 15:38:51 ET Reply Trace

I still have all the FReep mail and e-mail we passed back and forth.

[Marine Inspector]

Your welcome and thank you for your kind words.

[Cultural Jihad]

I haven't seen anyone say they want legal immigration stopped or legal immigrants deported?

You haven't been looking. 7.6% of Freepers stated that they don't want ANY immigration from Mexico at all. And I would wager that they are the most vocal anti-illegal immigrants here, who are really just dissembling when they whine about the rule of law being broken.

[television is just wrong]

"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."

LOL what a WHITE WASH job that is.

Let us all sent the illegals to Guatemala to live and see how he feels about it.

[Cultural Jihad]

He knows he overstepped the mark when he tried to run checks on posters . . .

What's the story about his allegedly "running checks" on FReepers? I know that government employees generally have a lot of free time on their hands to post to internet forums, etc., since they don't have a lot of work to do amid this supposed immigration crisis.

[Marine Inspector]

The stories in post 246 above.

[Cultural Jihad]

Thanks. I saw that unlinked post, but don't see anything about allegedly running checks on posters. I would wager that it is not uncommon for officials to abuse to their public trust by bringing to the office their own personal agendas. But it would always be a shame to hear about it.

[Marine Inspector]

I would wager that it is not uncommon for officials to abuse to their public trust by bringing to the office their own personal agendas. But it would always be a shame to hear about it.

I agree. JJ can come forward at anytime and explain the whole thing from start to finish. We've spoken off line and both know the truth about the allegations.

Unfortunately, I'm not too surprised he sided with the dishonest duo. Anyhow, I still have the e-mails we sent back and forth and they may find their way here. It all depends on JJ.

[Marine Inspector]

Ping to #253.

[harrowup]

He is a manifest clerk at the Phoenix POE. He strutted around LP demanding jj's status. He has once again failed to show the whole story having previously managed to have his misbehavior removed from here. They still exist at LP. We all know about jj's 'forgiveness' note shown above. If jj wants to discuss them he may.

The 'checker' is a lout. After his last outburst we took the liberty to send his crap to the IG. I am only sorry he didn't post his photo at the border on the 16th with all of the other 'patriots' who use and abuse government jobs when it is convenient.

He requested that ClintonBeGone and I not post to him and he would also not post to us; apparently he thinks, once again, because that threat has been vaporized he is no longer under his self-imposed limitation. Since he just posted to me here he has broken his word which is hardly surprising. He has no honor, integrity or guts. He takes side shots at me at LP because he dare not expose himself in a direct confrontation. He'll get his confrontation alright, but not from me...or his union.

[jjbrouwer]

Don't repost private messages without my permission. I was annoyed when Spliff did this. You are clearly two peas from the same racist pod.

[Marine Inspector]

You can go here and see every post between me and JJ: http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/latestcomments.cgi?Fm=jjbrouwer&To=Marine+Inspector&EM=on&SNSearch=+Go+&PN=

You'll see that harrowup is lying, again, as I demanded nothing from JJ.

I hope he did write the IG, but I doubt he'll post their return reply back to him when they find out nothing happened worth investigating.

[Marine Inspector]

Don't repost private messages without my permission.

Then maybe you'll want to tell the truth about our previous exchanges and stop lying.

Of course, if you have nothing to hide, you won't mind people knowing what you wrote me.

[Cultural Jihad]

A Christian may indeed forgive those who wrong him, but when a crime is committed, the wider society is still afflicted and wronged.

[jjbrouwer]

I still have the e-mails we sent back and forth and they may find their way here. It all depends on JJ.

Another unpleasant threat. You DON'T repost other people's emails, Inspector. It isn't the done thing. However, it is not as bad as abusing your position to run checks on people. You should stop taking your work home with you. All your posts appear to be immigration-related. Do you have ANY hobbies?