Int’l conference strategizes for migrant rights

In yet another example of the growing movement for migrant rights in the U.S. and around the world, a significant and historic conference took place in Mexico City from Nov. 24 through Nov. 29.

The “For a World without Borders: The Second Campaign on Migration & Human Rights” conference opened up with a stirring and moving tribute to people who are facing the brunt of a vicious anti-immigrant attack. The conference was organized by the Center for Migration and Human Rights of the Autonomous University of the City of Mexico; Camilo Perez Bustillo, Mesoamerican Migrant Movement; Casa de las Amigos; and Elvira Arellano.

This writer attends many immigrant rights events. It is safe to say that this event was unique, full of testimony from victims as well as a perspective on fighting back, not only in the U.S. but in Mexico and indeed around the world.

The conference was so impactive that hardly a day went by that women and men did not have tears in their eyes.

Presenters included a video message from Flor Crisóstomo, an Indigenous woman who has bravely taken sanctuary at Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago. Crisóstomo gave a stirring message, saying that her fight for justice would go on no matter what.

Cristal Dillman gave a short but heartbreaking statement. Dillman is the wife of Luis Eduardo Ramirez, who was beaten to death by a racist gang in Shenandoah, Pa., several months ago. Her tragedy continued as she was forced to leave her home in Pennsylvania, fleeing to Mexico after police and other thugs continued to taunt, threaten and terrorize her for fighting for justice for her husband.

In a statement to the press, Dillman stated that she is speaking out wherever she can—not just for her husband, but so that no more migrants have to go through what her husband did. Dillman is white and her husband was Mexican.

Nelly Santos Rosa is from Honduras. She organized a caravan of women from that country all the way to Mexico City.

Santos Rosa comes from a poor community, an area wrecked not only from the wave of people who have been forced to migrate but from the tragedy of not knowing what happens to many who leave. Many sons and daughters, husbands and mothers are never heard from again.

The conference documented how many migrants die on the railroad trains as they jump on, making their way to the U.S. Others are kidnapped and tortured or killed. The mothers and families want to know what happens to those migrants who never make it past Mexico.

A running theme of the conference was to spotlight the inhumane and double standard on migrants practiced by the Mexican government. It has become a human tragedy that so many migrants are brutally victimized by Mexican organized crime or the Mexican police, with impunity from the Mexican government.

Mexican activists at the conference are demanding justice for these families from Central America. In fact, one of the key supporters and a speaker at the conference was “diputado” and member of the Mexican Congress, José Jacques “Pepe” Medina.

Jacques “Pepe” Medina is the first appointed member of the Congress to represent migrants and comes as a result of a long history of supporting the immigrant struggle both in Mexico and the U.S.

Another tragedy was presented by David Greene, who also performed hip-hop at the event. Greene was deported to Mexico almost two years ago because of a run-in with the legal system. As a result of a glitch in his adoption papers more than 27 years ago, David was deported to Mexico, despite having no family whatsoever there or not knowing a single person in that country. He spoke absolutely no Spanish.

Greene’s case is a tragic example of how incredibly inhumane U.S. immigration policy is.

An Indigenous leader from Guatemala, María Eliza Orozco, gave a stirring account of Guatemalan migrants, especially from a woman’s viewpoint. She ended her comments by declaring that people simply can no longer take anymore and that the struggle must be worldwide and militant.

Other speakers included Emma Lozano from Pueblo Sin Fronteras in Chicago, as well as Rev. Walter Coleman from the Adalberto United Methodist Church, Rufino Domínguez from Binational Front of Indigenous Organizations (FIOB) in California and Victoria Cintrón from the Mississippi Immigrants’ Rights Alliance.

Conference ends with a plan of action

Organizers and attendees were determined to take the spirit of the conference into action. Several days of events were voted on.

These include a Dec. 18 International Day of Human Rights; Jan. 21 protests in front of U.S. embassies in conjunction with events in Washington, D.C.; March 8 International Women’s Day activities dedicated to women migrants and their families, and a denunciation of sexual trafficking; and worldwide actions on May Day 2009.

Another recurring theme at the conference was linking up with other worldwide formations on migration. This included agreeing to join up with the International Migrant Alliance, which is based out of the Philippines but internationally located, as well as MIREDES and the World Social Forum.

Gutierrez was a presenter at the conference, representing IMA and the May 1st Coalition for Worker and Immigrant Rights.