PRESS RELEASE

Immigrant and Refugee Rights Organizations Nationwide
Protest 9/11 Commission Act on UN International Migrants Day

December 17, 2004: Almost 100 immigrant, civil, and human rights organizations around the U.S. have denounced current U.S. immigration policies and the recent passage of the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004. In a national statement commemorating UN International Migrants Day on December 18, the groups argued that intensified immigration enforcement and militarization of U.S. borders has endangered the rights of immigrants nationwide: “With the continued scapegoating and intensified law enforcement against immigrants in the U.S.’ War on Terrorism, we have continued to witness the devastating effects of fear, racism, and xenophobia on our immigrant and refugee communities, all in the name of national security.”

“The 9/11 Commission law moves the U.S. towards a dangerous new form of segregation where those without the right pigmentation or documentation will be further subjected to arrest and deportation”, said Catherine Tactaquin, Executive Director of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. “This will shamelessly undermine much-needed immigration reforms and further link immigration enforcement and services to repressive national security provisions, thereby endangering community safety and violating fundamental human rights.”

In California, International Migrants Day is being observed with the launching of the Human Rights Immigrant Community Action Network (HURRICANE). Community leaders and policy advocates from across the state converged at the State Capitol this past Thursday, to present to the State Assembly and Senate, sad and horrific accounts of the criminalization of immigrants, and to offer specific recommendations to address obstacles impeding the rights of immigrant communities. Hamid Khan, Executive Director of the South Asian Network and a member of the HURRICANE delegation declared, “The biggest barriers that immigrants face for their integration into California are racial discrimination, religious intolerance, substandard housing, and exploitive work conditions. The California Legislature must address and change these conditions!”

In activities around the country on December 17 and 18, immigrant rights organizations will also recognize the enormous contribution that immigrants make to all countries of our world, and celebrate the UN Migrants Convention’s progress; it is first international treaty that specifically protects the human rights of migrants and came into force only last year. Groups also called on the U.S. to demonstrate leadership within the international human rights community by ratifying the Convention and implementing its framework to uphold and protect the rights of immigrants. The occasion was also marked by the filing of a request to the Inter-American Commission for a hearing on the treatment of undocumented workers in the U.S. Numerous local events commemorating International Migrants Day will be held in dozens of cities across the U.S. including Houston, El Paso, Boston, Miami, San Francisco, New York City, Tucson, Washington DC and others.

The National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is a national alliance of local coalitions and immigrant, refugee, community, religious, civil rights and labor organizations and activists. The National Network advocates for a just immigration and refugee policy in the United States and works to defend and expand the rights of all immigrants and refugees, regardless of immigration status.

For more information about U.S.-based activities on International Migrants Day, visit www.nnirr.org.