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.

[harrowup]

He apparently considers himself above the conduct rules in force when he assaulted you on line. It is good to see him finally post the links to the exchanges. One might want to see if he has managed to get some exchanges deleted. No matter, I have the originals. The guy is a bully and deserves nothing but condemnation.

[Marine Inspector]

Then I guess everyone is off the hook, as no crime was committed.

Right JJ?

[ken21]

he's right.

all of the illegals i've met are hard workers.

it's that they've destroyed our health care system.

[Marine Inspector]

You DON'T repost other people's emails, Inspector. It isn't the done thing.

And what rule is that?

Lying is not the done thing either, but you seem very comfortable doing it.

[harrowup]

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

I get a kick out of louts like this incredible excuse for a carbon life form.

He really thinks that because he did not in fact say, "...your papers, scumbag alien..." he will be immune from sanctions.

He is wrong, and if he has a lawyer, his lawyer will tell him to shut up now before he digs a hole even I wouldn't wish upon his miserable hide.

[jjbrouwer]

You once claimed you lied to ME. When you met mercuria and central scrutiniser you claimed to them that you had been joking about running checks on me.

I accepted your apology at the time (sent by email after you met CS) but you have repeated your veiled threats subsequently.

[Marine Inspector]

but you have repeated your veiled threats subsequently.

You have my permission to post those repeated veiled threats or an apology.

[hgro]

Wetbacks are sucking the life out of our school systems, health care, disease and crime control. It is time for the government (if we have one) to start rounding up all of the illegals and their progeny, load them on buses and planes and ship them back to their loving countries.

Too, we need to award medals to the "vigilantes" for their patriotic contibutions to our border security. Maybe, just maybe, the President will take notice and start listening to the people who helped elect him to office.

[Cultural Jihad]

Then I guess everyone is off the hook, as no crime was committed.

Right JJ?

That is not up to you or me or jj to determine. Only the Inspector General or District Attorney can make that kind of determination.

You make it sound as if the alleged crime was merely some sort of mutual combat, as if the databases you allegedly misused were your own private property, as if the wider society is not an aggrieved party whenever there is an abuse of the public trust.

[Cultural Jihad]

It is time for the government . . . to start rounding up all of the illegals and their progeny, load them on buses and planes and ship them back . . .

If you want to talk about deporting native-born American citizens then please ping me when you have suspended the Constitution.

[harrowup]

The entire thread is an indictment of Marine Inspector and his psycho-pants.

Border Patrol Orders...

As you know jj, at the time I asked if I could help and you told me to forget the little [snip] but since he continued to abuse his position I was infuriated when I re read the thread and scrolled back from #142.

The 'inspector's real problem with the IG is with another statement that I shall leave to his rotten imagination.

Please let me know if he apologizes and I will seek to delay any further transmissions to his superiors.

[Marine Inspector]

The only databases used were Google, FR and LP.

I doubt Inspector General or District Attorney will consider the use of the Internet a crime, but go right ahead and write them.

[jjbrouwer]

I see you have been part of the group of posters demanding Harrowup divulge his military history. Do you plan to furnish us with YOUR OWN name so we can check with your superiors whether inspectors are allowed to arrange clandestine meetings with sinister fringe groups like the Minute Men and the ABP?

[harrowup]

You make it sound as if the alleged crime was merely some sort of mutual combat, as if the databases you allegedly misused were your own private property, as if the wider society is not an aggrieved party whenever there is an abuse of the public trust.

Damn, CJ, just as he was digging his spidey hole ever deeper you alerted him to the real danger facing him...

Can you imagine this paper pusher having a gun? Now, he'll run to the moderators (again) and have his deplorable comments removed. Too late.

[hgro]

If you want to talk about deporting native-born American citizens then please ping me when you have suspended the Constitution.

Kids born to illegals who brought their pregnant wives into the country to give birth have no legal standing. Get over it.

[jjbrouwer]

The only databases used were Google, FR and LP.

But but...

Marine Inspector wrote: "The problem stems from the fact that it is my job to know about you, but it is not your job to know about me. You don't have to believe me, but if I did not have the job that I have, I could not get the information I have."

SOURCE

[Marine Inspector]

I see you have been part of the group of posters demanding Harrowup divulge his military history.

Sorry JJ, I demanded no such thing. I did state he would never divulge that info and I don't blame him for not doing so. There are people on both sides that would use someones personal info against them for no reason other then hate. That's why I don't post my personal info.

But you know this, as we have discussed it before.

[Marine Inspector]

As I said in that very same post: "Of course, I may not know a damn thing and I could be blowing smoke up you ass."

[harrowup]

"Of course, I may not know a damn thing and I could be blowing smoke up you ass."

I cannot believe anyone is this stupid.

Belay that.

Yes, I can.

And, he is.

Way to go, jj.

[jjbrouwer]

There are people on both sides that would use someones personal info against them for no reason other then hate.

Yes, you have demonstrated you may be one of these people.