As the taxpayers slept…
This has been a momentous week (2007) for Mexican immigrants living in the United States.
Two separate, high-profile, meetings took place with U.S.-immigrant leadership in Mexico in order to develop policy in response to the raids, mass deportations of Mexican nationals, and U.S. immigration policy, in general.
Undoubtedly, the most significant event of the week was the convening of approximately 600 immigrant leaders in the Mexican House of Representatives in order to form the “Primer Parlamento de Líderes Migrantes en Estados Unidos” (First Parliament of Migrant Leaders in the United States) that consists of immigrant leadership in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada.
1st Leadership Parliament of Immigrant Mexican Leaders
Objectives
To unify the movement through a broad call that will allow analysis and evaluation and the ability to design programs that enhance the pro-immigrant struggle and the type of organization that Mexican leaders can create to advance and improve levels of self defense in the U.S.;
To build a bridge that will allow for the fortification of institutional dialogue with principal leaders and organizations of Mexican immigrants, with the objective of establishing an integral panorama of the complex migratory political reality and to identify actions of collaboration that will benefit the millions of Mexicans living in the U.S.;
To promote discussion and approval of a Mexican Agenda that is to be implemented in the U.S. in defense of the rights of immigrant workers and their families. The agenda should consolidate the up to now disperse political participation and construct conditions for a more equitable bilateral relation between the two countries. Moreover, to establish conditions for the humane treatment and quality of life for all Mexican people; and
To create a permanent organizational structure for lobbying in the U.S. supported and sustained by the Mexican Congress; and, to be aware of proposals processed within the Legislative body in relation to the “Proyecto de Presupuesto de Egresos para el Ejercicio Fiscal de 2008’ in relation to protection programs for Mexicans living in the US.
Basis
A. Composition
1.The “First Parliament of Mexican Leaders living in the United States of will enlist until 500 representatives are characterized in the following way:
a. Representatives vouched for by community organizations working on the behalf of Mexicana/os;
b) Invited representatives from each of the political parties according to the composition of the House of Representatives;
c) Proposed representatives will be invited by consensus of the political parties, which is integrated with members of the House of Representatives;
d) Representatives will be appointed by the Consulates of the Institute of the Mexicana/os abroad; and
e) Observers.
B. General Requirements to be a Representative
a) Verification of Mexican nationality by birth or by naturalization, or by being of Mexican ancestry and residing in the United States;
b) Representative of the community that proposes him or her;
c) Represent the proposing organization’s reason for wanting to participate in the Parliament; and
C. Procedure for Approval of Representatives
Requests to propose representatives as an individual or on the behalf of migrant organizations should be directed to the Parliament of Commission Organizers, which will evaluate the request and will authorize the participation of the representative(s). The request should describe in detail, the activities of the applicant and/or of the organization requesting to be registered.
D. General Requirements to be an Observer
Verification that one is a relative of a migrant; is a member of an organization public or private that advocates in defense of human rights in general, and in particular, in defense of migrant Mexicana/o s in the United States; verification of role within a community organization, union, artistic organization, mass media, academic institution or as a political representative or professional, works as an advocate dealing with addressing problems confronting migrant Mexicana/os in the United States.