Press Archive

California Latinos Release Open Letter to Bush and Fox
They urge a broad legalization program, increased visas and promote
economic development in Mexico

Los Angeles, CA - The California Latino Summit on U.S.-Mexico Relations released an open letter to U.S. President George Bush and President of Mexico Vicente Fox, urging the implementation of a broad legalization program for all nationalities of undocumented immigrants. The open letter also includes a list of principles that calls for a bilateral immigration agreement between the two countries that adjusts the status of the undocumented immigrants, increases visas and promotes economic development in Mexico and other immigrant sending regions.

"We challenge both President Bush and President Vicente Fox to seize this historic opportunity and approve new immigration policies that would strengthen their countries political ties for generations to come," stated Antonio González, President of the William C. Velásquez Institute. "Concrete immigration policies that respect human rights and dignity and are nondiscriminatory can not be postponed any longer while millions of undocumented immigrants continue to suffer abuses while living in an underground society," concluded González.

"It is time for Presidents Fox and Bush to exercise bilateral leadership - to move the discussions along and to forge policies that respect the rights of immigrants," said Hector Villagra, L.A. Regional Counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). "Such policies would give highest priority to a regularization program, as warranted by the key contributions that immigrants who currently live and work in the United States make to our prosperity." concluded Villagra.

The open letter urges both leaders to fulfill their commitment to the plight of the millions of hardworking, law-abiding undocumented immigrants and their families that live, work and contribute to the development of our society in the United States. In addition the California Latino Summit opposes a guest worker program unless it includes a broad and conditional legalization program of all undocumented workers regardless of their country of origin. The principles also call for humane and fair immigration policies that guarantee undocumented workers rights, put an end to military-style border tactics and the development of new investment opportunities in communities and regions from which people are migrating to the U.S.

Attached please find the open letter document with the participants of the California Latino Summit on U.S.-Mexico Relations. To request comments from the participating sponsors and supporters or need additional information please contact the William C. Velasquez Institute at (323) 343-9299 or (323) 222-2217.

Click Here for Open Letter!