One View of the Recent House Immigration Hearings

From a press release of the American Friends Service Committee immediately before the recent House hearing in San Diego:

The San Diego office of the American Friends Service Committee denounces the upcoming July 5th San Diego hearing convened by House Republican leaders and members of the International Terrorism and Nonproliferation Sub- Committee. The so-called “public” hearing was expected to hear the concerns of border residents and communities; however, the hearing’s restrictive logistics and exclusionary format, tenure and tone reflect a concerted effort to deliberately exclude the voices of those most affected by failed border enforcement policies. Further, rather then draw on the various experiences of border communities to inform the legislative process, the Sub-Committee legitimizes border vigilantism, by providing an undemocratic, paramilitary organization such as the Friends of the Border Patrol with an official voice in the hearing. “These so-called “public” hearings are an affront to the dignity of border communities, who have fundamentally opposed increased border enforcement measures since the implementation of Operation Gatekeeper in 1994,” stated Pedro Rios, spokesperson for the AFSC. Rios further added, “Such one-sided proceedings, masquerading as public hearings, only increase the tensions surrounding border policy and immigration reform, instead of promoting solutions to these debates.” Human Rights Committees of San Diego County, comprised of local residents and volunteers who promote civil and human rights, are organizing a community hearing in order to listen to “real-life” testimonies of those who have been directly impacted by border and immigration enforcement operations. Participants will include members of AFSC- supported Human Rights Committees from Vista, Escondido, Mountain View, Barrio Logan, and others. The public hearing will be held in a neutral community center, unlike the Congressional hearing scheduled at the Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station. The ‘real life’ testimonials and subsequent recommendations will be submitted to Congressional leaders and the representatives of the nation’s political parties. The Community Hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 5, 2006, beginning at 5:30 PM, at: Mountain View Recreational Center, 641 South Boundary Street, San Diego (Between Ocean View and T Street via 41st Street)

KJ