2 April, 2007

STOP CONGRESS FROM GRANTING SPECIAL IMMIGRATION STATUS TO VENEZUELANS

IN THIS ALERT YOU WILL FIND:

• BACKGROUND on the proposed special immigration status for Venezuelans
• BASIC TALKING POINTS
• WHAT YOU CAN DO, including sample letter, contact info, and actions you can take to stop this provocation against the people of Venezuela

BACKGROUND

Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Connie Mack, Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart (all from Florida), and Jerry Weller (from Illinois) are calling on President Bush to implement the "Deferred Enforced Departure" (DED) program, or similar programs, to grant Venezuelan immigrants asylum in the United States just like the special treatment that Cubans receive. Lincoln Diaz-Balart has stated that, "Time has come to admit formally that (President Hugo) Chávez has established a dictatorship in Venezuela...The DED we are asking for is issued for political reasons, where there is a disaster in a country. As a matter of fact, the freedom and lives of Venezuelans who return are endangered."

This is completely untrue. Since 1998, Hugo Chavez has been elected to the presidency three times by significant majorities, and candidates associated with the Bolivarian Revolution have won a majority of electoral races. Venezuelan elections have been among the most internationally observed in the world, certified by organizations ranging from the Organization of American States to the Carter Center. To call such a democracy a dictatorship is an insult to the Venezuelan people. The claim that Venezuelans who return to their country are in danger of death or imprisonment is completely absurd. There are no real life cases of this happening.

Since Chávez has been President, poverty rates have declined from 49% to just over 33%, and the economy has remained one of the region’s fastest growing--hardly a disaster. Furthermore, most of those who participated in the illegal two-day coup of April, 2002 against Venezuela’s elected government still remain free with no disciplinary actions taken against them -- hardly endangered. The State Department annual human rights report identifies no political killings in Venezuela and few, if any, political prisoners.

The majority of those immigrating to the United States from Venezuela are coming here for economic, professional or family reasons. The call for special status is not based on actual need, but on a political agenda to isolate and interfere with nation of Venezuela. A decree such as the Congresspeople are suggesting would once more make the United States the laughingstock of the world.

This initiative is especially offensive given the important issues at stake regarding immigration in the United States. The inability of the US government to enact meaningful immigration reform has resulted in the creation of a class of much-needed, but undocumented, workers with few rights or protections. It is reprehensible that these five Representatives undertake this unnecessary effort, a diversion from much more serious concerns.

Ros-Lehtinen and the Diaz-Balart have a record of supporting US asylum for proven terrorists. Ros-Lehtinen worked for years to secure the freedom of Orlando Bosch, who was involved in the bombing of a Cuban passenger plane in Venezuela in 1973, killing all on board. More recently, Ros-Lehtinen and the Diaz-Balart brothers have opposed the extradition to Venezuela of Bosch’s partner in this crime, Luis Posada-Carriles. In fact, it was the direct intervention of these three that led to Posada-Carriles’ pardon for crimes committed in Panama, and his illegal entry into the United States. It is not possible to take seriously those who speak of a disaster and a danger in Venezuela, but who use their positions to defend terrorists such as these. One suspects their real purpose in this move is to bolster votes among Florida’s Cuban American community for the 2008 elections.

We must insist that President Bush not grant this special status to Venezuelan ex-patriots, and we call on our elected Representatives to use their influence to speak out against this mean-spirited and provocative initiative.

1. Venezuela is not a dictatorship, but a legitimately functioning democracy with broad popular participation
2. The claim that opposition leaders in Venezuela are “endangered” is without credibility. The US State Department’s own annual report on human rights identifies no political killings and few if any political prisoners.
3. The initiative to give special immigration status to Venezuelans is not motivated by actual need, but by the political agenda of those undertaking this effort.

1. Write, call, and/or email your Representative and Senators and ask them to use their influence to Stop Special Immigration Status for Venezuelans! Send the letter below or call their DC or district office using the information above as talking points.
2. Write, call, and/or email the White House and the State Department and demand that President Bush not approve the DED program or any other special immigration status for Venezuelans.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE LISTED BELOW

The Honorable (full name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington DC 20515

Dear Representative (last name):

I am writing to you to ask that you take action to stop efforts to give special immigration status to Venezuelans. Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Connie Mack, Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart, and Jerry Weller are calling on President Bush to implement the "Deferred Enforced Departure" (DED) program, or similar programs, to grant Venezuelan immigrants asylum in the United States.

They base this on the false claim that Venezuela is a dictatorship and Venezuelans returning are in danger of imprisonment or death. Venezuela is a democracy and its most recent election was found to be “free and fair” by the Organization of American States and the Carter Center, as well as a host of other international and domestic observers. The claim that Venezuelans returning are “endangered” is without evidence. The State Department annual human rights report identifies no political killings and few, if any, political prisoners. If the President proclaims a DED program for Venezuelans it would make the United States the laughing stock of the world.

This initiative is especially offensive given the important issues at stake regarding immigration in the United States. The inability of the US government to enact meaningful immigration reform has resulted in the creation of a class of much-needed, but undocumented, workers with few rights or protections. It is reprehensible that these five Representatives undertake this unnecessary effort, a diversion from much more serious concerns.

I would appreciate a response with your position on this issue and what action you will take.

Sincerely,
Your name and address

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

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POSTAL ADDRESSES, WEBSITES, AND OTHER PHONE NUMBERS:

To a Representative:
• The Honorable (full name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington DC 20515
House of Representatives Website: www.house.gov
Administration:
• White House
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20500

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White House Website: www.whitehouse.gov
• United States Department of State
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