International Migrants Day with Mexicans United for Regularization

SUNDAY, December 18, 2011

Gathering at NOON in front of the IRB

200 boul Réné-Levesque W. (metro place d’armes)

December 18^th is International Migrants Day, designated as a global day of action against racism and for the rights of migrants, refugees and displaced persons around the world. Contrary to the spirit of this annual event, Canada systematically violates the rights of migrants. A glaring example of this is the new visa requirement for Mexican nationals enforced in July 2009, and the subsequent deportation of almost all asylum seekers who seek protection in Canada due to the endemic violence engulfing Mexico in recent years.

To mark this day of action, Mexicans United for Regularization invites you to join us on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 12pm at the Guy Favreau Complex, located at 200 René-Lévesque Boulevard West, Montreal.

Who are we?

We are a group of Mexicans and their allies who are fighting for the regularization of all Mexicans living in Quebec. We demand a comprehensive and continuous regularization program, open to all Mexicans established in Quebec who do not have immigration status.

Due to the irresponsibility of the Canadian government and its refusal to recognize the extreme violence that ravages Mexico coupled with the inability of the Mexican state to protect its citizens, thousands of people fearing for their lives if they were to return to their home country, have been, are or will be forced to remain here without papers. Consequently, we find ourselves in a situation of extreme vulnerability. Indeed, we are the most exploited in the labor market and throughout society. We are deprived of basic rights such as education, health, labor standards and generally live in fear, anxiety and isolation.

We demand –> an end to the deportations of Mexicans and that we be granted permanent residency.

Why we take action?

In December 2006, Felipe Calderon’s government declared a “war on drug traffickers” and deployed the army throughout the country, despite its history of human rights violations and impunity. Rather than contributing to a decrease in violence associated with organized crime, the military has committed countless human rights violations, including executions, torture, rape and other abuses.

For the people of Mexico, the military violence adds insult to injury. Civilians are dying every day, caught in the crossfire of the drug cartels and armed forces. In addition, organized crime is targeting the civilian population with extortion, kidnapping for ransom, forced recruitment and the killing of anyone who does not submit to their rules and reign of terror. Not a day goes by without a shooting, killing, bombings, discovery of decapitated bodies, or tortured victims that have been thrown onto a public plaza in order to terrorize the population. The city of Ciudad Juarez has won the dubious distinction of the most violent city on the planet. After 5 years of this bloody war, the death toll is at 50,000 deaths (including 1322 children), between 10,000 and 20,000 missing persons, and 230,000 displaced people. Moreover, drug cartels have infiltrated several spheres of power. More than 200 municipalities are controlled by organized crime and are completely beyond the control of the state. Recently, an application was filed with the International Court of Justice at The Hague to begin proceedings against the President of Mexico for crimes against humanity in connection with the so called “war against drugs.”

Yet, the violence from drug trafficking and the army is not the only phenomena that Mexicans who sought refuge in Canada face and for which they cannot return. The following list explains the countless violations Mexicans are submitted to:

– Extreme forms of violence against women perpetrated in complete impunity.

– Attacks, intimidation and frequent murders of human rights defenders, activists and militants.

– An increase in the paramilitarization of entire regions, leading many to call it the “colombianization of Mexico.”

– Mexico ranks second in the world for the number of journalists who are murdered.

– A severe deterioration in the rule of law, a dysfunctional judicial system, and no access to justice for the majority of Mexicans, causing and perpetuating violence and impunity.

– And there is widespread persecution of sexual minorities.

For these reasons, we consider it to be a crime that the Canadian government continues to deport Mexicans back to a country ravaged by unprecedented violence. We therefore demand that they be granted the right to remain here and be given permanent resident status immediately.

WE ARE HERE AND WE WILL STAY HERE!

Mexicans United for Regularization (M.U.R)

Video link of MUR at a CCR conference

https://twitter.com/#!/MurUnidxs