How We Forget Hate Punditry, Crimes

On December 18, 1990, the United Nations General Assembly approved the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. In December 2000, the United Nations declared December 18 to be International Migrants Day.

Many immigrants rights advocates had expected a positive change to immigration reform measures with the ascension of President Barack Obama. But, in spite of promise to make forward actions on immigration, federal officials seem to be taking steps back as the situation is getting worse, with hate crimes, anti-immigrant bigotry and right-wing unditry blaming Latino immigrants for American suffering. While the statistics show that the number of hate crimes committed against Latinos remains virtually unchanged from 2007, La Council of La Raza explains hate crimes against Latinos are a signficant trend, 64 percent of the hate crimes based on perceived ethnicity or national origin targeted Latinos, compared to 61 percent in 2007. NCLR is one of the groups involved in We Can Stop The Hate, a coalition seeking to challenge hate speech in the immigration debate.

Cutting to the chase, the nonprofit America’s Voice pointedly calls out Republican anti-immigrant posturing by declaring, “We think it’s time for the Republican Party to ask themselves which America they want to live in: the ‘shining city on a hill’ or the electrified livestock pen, with the $300 billion price tag.”

The National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights notes the following about International Migrants Day and the immigration conflict today in the United States:

The global economic crisis further burdened already vulnerable immigrant communities around the world, and those in the U.S. were no exception. For the first time in decades, immigrants were forced to reduce their remittances to their families abroad, who themselves faced increasing hardships as most countries in the Global South were not immune to the crippling effects of the crisis. Many immigrants also become subject to scapegoating, as xenophobic rhetoric blamed immigrants and clouded failed economic policies. Many ruthless employers also used the crisis to further exploit their immigrant workers.

As this year’s International Migrants Day also falls during the pinnacle of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN Climate Summit) in Copenhagen, we also recognize the estimated 25 million people around the world who have suffered from forced displacement from their homelands and communities due to the devastating effects of climate change, more than those displaced by war. This number is expected to go up to 250 million in less than 50 years. By 2100, more than 20 countries are expected to experience 30-60% of agricultural and food production loss, 2.3 billion people will be threatened by mega-droughts, and almost 90% of people in rural communities around the world will lose their livelihoods.

Among the groups organizing events include Migrants Rights International and December 18. In addition the National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights is offering a Call to Action organizing pamphlet in PDF form.

It would serve everyone well to remember that celebrating International Migrants Day comes amid some of the hardest times for immigrants.