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LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS National Office |
2000 L Street, NW, Suite 610 PRESS RELEASE |
| For Immediate Release April 11, 2002 |
Contact: Gabriela Lemus |
Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) expressed concern over the Mexican Senate's decision to prevent President Vicente Fox from traveling to the United States and Canada. The decision could be harmful to future efforts undertaken by Mexican-Americans on behalf of Mexican immigrants, LULAC President Rick Dovalina said.
With a vote of 71-41, largely along party lines, the Mexican Senate denied the President of Mexico permission to travel outside the country. The President was heading a work delegation to address the concerns of Mexican immigrants in the United States and to promote greater foreign direct investment into Mexico.
"With all due respect to Mexico's national sovereignty and domestic political agenda, we cannot help but feel disappointed that Mexico's Senate made this decision. With so many issues currently under debate in the United States affecting Mexicans, such as the Supreme Court's ruling to deny undocumented workers back pay after being illegally fired for joining a union, Vicente Fox's presence would have provided a much needed boost to defending immigrants' rights," said Rick Dovalina, LULAC National President. "This decision does not strengthen anybody's hand, and is potentially damaging for all of us who are trying to improve conditions for Mexican immigrants and to guarantee their protection, regardless of immigration status.
"Generally speaking, when politics overtake the national agenda, it hurts everyone. If Mexico's image becomes tarnished, LULAC's ability to advance the immigration agenda is also affected. Our efforts to promote economic opportunity for Mexico, to regularize the status of undocumented workers in the US, as well as the establishment of a sensible system for future immigration are weakened," added Dovalina.
President Vicente Fox is scheduled to attend LULAC's national convention on June 28, 2002 in Houston, TX to meet with Mexican-American activists and to promote greater investment and trade flows between the two countries. "We hope that the Mexican Senate's decision is an anomaly. It is important to remember that Mexico, Mexicans abroad, and Mexican-Americans share a living history. We are in this together," Dovalina concluded.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the
oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United
States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment,
political influence, health, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans
through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC
councils nationwide.