Latinos say they've been hurt by 9/11

ASSOCIATED PRESS ^ | October 8, 2002

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

MEXICO CITY - Court officials, human-rights activists and student groups joined members of the U.N. Education Organization in charging that America's war on terrorism has unfairly targeted Latin Americans living legally and illegally in the United States.

Leaders from all over Latin America gathered in Mexico City on Tuesday for a conference on regional migration. They concluded that increased security after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has also violated the human rights of South and Central Americans and Mexicans who have recently visited the United States on legal tourist visas.

Guatemala's human rights ombudsman, Jessica Solano, said that since the attacks, U.S. border agents have unfairly harassed Central American travelers, going so far as to confiscate travel visas and other documents without proper cause.

A spokesman for the U.S. Customs office in El Paso said he was not familiar with Solanos' accusations and could not comment Tuesday night. But Solano said increased security has also caused problems for South and Central American travelers outside the United States.

"In recent months, anti-terrorism plans implemented by the armed forces of Central America in Central American territory have caused the detention of migrants of diverse nationalities," she said. "Solely because they are foreigners, they are investigated for alleged ties to terrorists."

Cesar Verduga, head of a Mexican student group, said instead of simply deporting Mexicans and Central Americans captured while trying to illegally enter the United States, U.S. authorities and police across South and Central America now assume the migrants have ties to terrorist groups.

Gonzalo Abad, head of the U.N. Education Organization's Mexico office, said Latin Americans living in the United States both legally and illegally have also been unfairly targeted since Sept. 11.

Abad said once-promising decisions in Washington about the possibility of extending temporary work visas to migrants from Mexico and across Latin America have been "totally frozen" as the United States shifted its attention to the war on terror.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

*Yawn*

Insensitive, I know...

[texson66]

Abad said once-promising decisions in Washington about the possibility of extending temporary work visas to migrants from Mexico and across Latin America have been "totally frozen" as the United States shifted its attention to the war on terror.

I sure dont see any problem here. The real problems are open borders and the shooting of our border guards!

[grammymoon]

as I said on another thread:
To all whining illegals:


bye bye, get lost, go back where you came from, see ya, get out of here, & you'all don't come back now.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

and I thought the victims of sept 11th suffered if I had only known the plight of the poor latino's (especially all the illegal alien ones)

[M. T. Cicero II]

Prussian-Americans say they've been hurt by 9/11! And don't yawn at this or you will hurt our feelings!

[Kenton]

Court officials, human-rights activists and student groups joined members of the U.N. Education Organization in charging that America's war on terrorism has unfairly targeted Latin Americans living legally and illegally in the United States.

Leaders from all over Latin America gathered in Mexico City on Tuesday for a conference on regional migration. They concluded that increased security after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has also violated the human rights of South and Central Americans and Mexicans who have recently visited the United States on legal tourist visas.

First, a response to the statements: "that America's war on terrorism has unfairly targeted Latin Americans living legally and illegally in the United States"

(My response isn't directed at Sweet_Sunflower29, but at the Latino groups making the complaints)

I have a couple of issues with this one. First off, I don't want to hear any complaints about the treatment of illegal aliens. People from Latin America do not have an inherent right to be here, that right only belongs to citizens.

Secondly, although (legal) aliens may have a right to complain about the additional post-9/11 security measures, but they can rest assured that all of us who have traveled have experienced some sort of additional inconvenience.

Look, we are very aware that none of the 9/11 skyjackers were Latin Americans. EVERYBODY is affected by these measures, including the 70 year-old lady I saw a few weeks ago being searched at the airport. (I knew she was 70 because she was getting a little irate, wanting to know why they would bother a 70 year old great-grandmother.)

So stop taking it personal, it's not because you are Hispanic.

At the same time, recognize that we are involved in a war unlike any other, and we will take measures to protect ourselves. Maybe you need to understand that this is just not a very good time to come into this country illegally, especially if you have some reason to fear extra scrutiny.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

That's a powerful statment you made there...

Thanks.

[MrB]

People from Latin America do not have an inherent right to be here, that right only belongs to citizens.

Deserves repeating bump.

[NC Conservative]

Proof America is the promised land. Do people bitch about not getting into Cuba, Russia, etc. Does anybody, besides hollyweird, want to go to these third world hellholes. Long Live America. Anyone not belonging here, leave now and leave us alone.

[joesnuffy]

Criminals everywhere are complaining how the additional law enforcement has "hit them in the pocketbook" to...
Their outtabealaw

[snooker]

Well the Poles say they have been hardest hit. My wife is Polish, so she ought to know.

I know my Cuban friends think they should be the ones hardest hit by 9/11.

Silly you, you thought it was the victims of the attack. See how wrong you can be.

... and God said, "the world ends at two o'clock". And the New York times headline says, 'world ends at 2:00, wemon and children hardest hit'.

Yawn.

[norton]

a conference on regional migration...

Closing my eyes and picturing them handing out maps and "Consular Identification" cards before boarding a bus.

[skeeter]

Abad said once-promising decisions in Washington about the possibility of extending temporary work visas to migrants from Mexico and across Latin America have been "totally frozen" as the United States shifted its attention to the war on terror.

Well, at the risk of placing myself on the xenophobic, racist-bigot, anti-immigrant fringe, I believe this is a GOOD THING.

[Jimbaugh]

I agree.

[DoctorMichael]

Court officials, human-rights activists and student groups joined members of the U.N. Education Organization in charging that America's war on terrorism has unfairly targeted Latin Americans living legally and illegally in the United States...................therefore the United States should propose legislation that compensates anyone of Hispanic origin for being inconvenienced.

[Brytani]

Maybe if they would keep their rear ends on their side of the border instead of illegally trying to enter the US. But NOOOOOOOO the US is supposed to close it's eyes to illegals crossing our borders.