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]

Islamic terrorists blending in with other illegal aliens ...How many more terrorist moles are on route?

Do you have any idea how the 9-11 terrorists arrived in this country?

Do you have any idea how stupid it would be to train someone to come to this country to blow us to smithers with a backpack nuke...and take the chance that our valiant MMP would ...observe and report...her.

Get a grip.

[in the Arena]

First you tell me that visa holders are illegal and now you tell me I can't read.

I said no such thing. I think the link you posted is a poor example showing people on FR that are anti-legal immigration and I admit I chose my words poorly in my original response.

The topic of the thread you posted was worker visas. Citizens and legal immigrants whose jobs would be at risk because of an increased supply of legal immigrants have a legitimate complaint.

Speaking out against a political method to increase the supply of legal workers has nothing to do with a persons beliefs towards legal immigrants...but rather their belief that increasing the legal worker base will decrease their pay...it's economics.

[in the Arena]

Were you bottle fed?

Typical liberal response. You're worthless to debate with.

[Ben Ficklin]

"its economics" You are right.

On one hand you have those workers who benefit from a labor shortage/rising wages.

On the other hand you have those who are concerned with rising wages, productivty, and inflation.

In a country with low birth rates, importing labor is a neccessity. That is the reason we have temporary work visas, permanent visas, and large number of foreigners going thru the naturalization process.

We have had the H2A and H2B visas since the 1950s and they worked well in the beginning. Had these visas been allowed to change with our needs for imported labor, there would be no illegals.

[harrowup]

You're worthless to debate with.

And you're just worthless.

[Czar]

I'll take him over a ACLU democrat any day.

[harrowup]

...take him over an ACLU Democrat any day.

Just take him,

.... please

[in the Arena]

We have had the H2A and H2B visas since the 1950s and they worked well in the beginning. Had these visas been allowed to change with our needs for imported labor, there would be no illegals.

I can see your point.

I don't think illegal immigration would be stopped that easily though. One concern with the open border is the drug trafficking and the violence that comes with it and the fact that United States laws are being violated. We have enough of our own criminals without having to leave the door open for more.

[in the Arena]

And you're just worthless.

More insightful wisdom from the Liberal/Democrat/ACLU branch of Free Republic.

[M. Espinola]

"Do you have any idea how the 9-11 terrorists arrived in this country?"

In terms of pre-9-11, those killers arrived in the U.S. with passports in hand, things are a little tighter now, not much though.

[Marine Inspector]

What is a legal immigrant?

An alien with a legal immigrant visa.

[Marine Inspector]

Over the years I have found Marine Inspector to be among the most honest, candid people I've ever come across on the net.

Thank you for your kind words.

[jjbrouwer]

I assumed he was joking.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Another liberal Catholic bishop heard from. If he cares so much for the poor and downtrodden in Guatemala, why doesn't he help fix the problems in Guatemala, instead of expecting us to put up with law breakers.

I remember when Roger Cardinal Mahoney publicly stated his intentions to break the law, regarding illegals in his diocese. Some of my non Catholic friends questioned why the Catholic church felt it had the right to go against the laws of the US. I was pretty embarassed. Of course Mahoney is an embarassment on so many levels :(

[Asphalt]

Jesse Schupack