Sunday, June 29th, 2010
Honorable Representatives;
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Lincoln Diaz-Balart
Mario Diaz-Balart
I am approaching you on behalf of the organization that I Chair, Venezuela Awareness Foundation, whose goals are the defense of democracy and respect for Human Rights.
It is our deepest concern the intention of presenting in the Congress of Florida next November, an Arizona style Law, in which, Representatives as William Snyder, alleges “Human Rights” reasons for the immigrants.
It is of your knowledge, all the abuses perpetuated in the raids and arrests where the human rights are violated in the most brazen way and there is not a minimum of respect nor compassion.
We express our rejection of this intention of law, since now the human rights of both the immigrants, legal or illegal, are violated just for the physical aspect.
Even if it is true that the promise of a reform that could legalize millions of illegal immigrants was only that, a promise; and the Arizona law answered to a failed answer of the Federal Government, is also a truth that the Arizona law has unleashed an anti-immigrant hatred in the National level in which all citizens that do not have an “Anglo” aspect are discriminated even if they are citizens by birth.
An Arizona style law in the State of Florida, where millions of immigrants live, like the Venezuelans that seek refuge from the anti-democratic Chavez’ Government and its anti-American politics; where cumbersome processes of asylum are known and lots of petitioners wait for a decision of the Immigration Courts that revoke a deportation order that could save their lives and that of their families if they are not sent back to Venezuela; could have harmful consequences because is encouraging for these Venezuelans to be deported and this way, face serious attacks to their physical and psychological integrity, torture, imprisonment and even death.
All of you have always made an effort for a just legislation for the political persecuted; the illegal immigrants that await for the approval of an immigration reform; we beg for your help with the harmful intentions of republican leaders of the Florida Congress and avoid this law to be approved.
Waiting for a prompt answer to this delicate matter,
Respectfully
Patricia Andrade
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Miami, June 29th, 2010
Florida Chamber Representative
William Snyder
I am approaching you on behalf of the organization that I Chair, Venezuela Awareness Foundation, whose goals are the defense of democracy and respect for Human Rights.
The reason of this letter is to express the rejection to your intention to submit in next November, the Bill for Florida in the same style as Arizona Law, claiming “Human Rights”.
This organization has been recording far-reaching violations to human rights during raids and arrests only by the “physical appearance”, in other words, for looking “latinos”. Do you wonder Representative Snyder, how can you call this in Human Rights?
This is a serious violation of human rights and more when the people detained and deported, have expected from Washington a promise of immigration reform that up to now has been only a promise even more distant, in other words, a failure.
Results from the Arizona law are having an anti-immigrant repercussion at the National level; of hatred against those who do not look Anglo Saxon who are abused and insulted even when they have documents that allows them to legally reside, and your intention to try to adopt in Florida a law similar to the Arizona’s, will deep this aberrant wave only because of race. Where are the Human Rights that you claim in order to implement the law? To who can these American citizens by birth can turn to, only because they do not look Anglo for being immigrant’s children that receive this xenophobic abuse because of this sentiment implemented by the Arizona law? In other words, the hidden spirit of this Bill is this hatred sentiment against immigrants.
It is worrying that in a State like Florida, were immigrants live, , like the Venezuelans who face burdensome processes of political asylum because in Venezuela there is a non democratic government that violates human rights, they are moreover intended to be persecuted specifically in the State that has always hosted the Venezuelan asylum seeker that are waiting for court decisions to stop deportation since, if they are returned, they could expect attacks to their physical and psychological integrity, torture, prison or death. You will accelerate the injustice with the proposal that you aim to present.
Representative Snyder, you should revise the violations of Human Rights with the authorities of the State of Florida, who following physical characteristics, are currently involved in violating these rights with arrests against the illegal aliens; you could find justice for them lobbying with Washington to adopt their promise of a reform and then implement policies for the control of the illegal immigration.
I respectfully finish this letter reaffirming my rejection for your intention of a proposal Arizona style, for Florida.
Patricia Andrade
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Sunday, June 29th, 2010
Attorney General Bill McCollum
I respectfully turn to you on behalf of the organization that I Chair, Venezuela Awareness Foundation, whose goals are the defense of democracy and respect for Human Rights.
According to information gathered by the media, your Office is helping in the implementation of a law for Florida, Arizona State’s style and we want to express our deepest rejection to such a law with its spirit for our State; a State with a high index of immigrants that on its majority, are seeking protection for the political persecution that they find in their countries of origin as is the case of the Venezuelan asylees.
You, who know very well the anti-democratic government of Hugo Chavez and its anti American politic, should be aware that this has led to thousands of Venezuelans seeking refuge in the United States, being the State of Florida who has hosted the politically persecuted Venezuelans and where cumbersome processes of asylum are known and many petitioners expect a decision of the Immigration Courts that revoke a deportation order that could save their lives and that of their families. In other words, your intention to help draft and support a law in Florida with the spirit of Arizona, is encouraging for these Venezuelans to be deported and this way, face serious attacks to their physical and psychological integrity, torture, imprisonment and even death.
Results from the Arizona law are having an anti-immigrant repercussion at the National level and Florida has not been an exception. Citizens are discriminated against for their physical look, not Anglo Saxon of course, regardless if they have documents or not. This discrimination now will be legal with a Florida law that you support.
Actually, human rights are violated in Florida with raids, detaining citizens only by physical appearance. What can we expect with the law that you are helping to draft? Where is justice?
I ask you; will we deepen the failed promise of the Federal Government to adopt a reform to legalize illegal immigrants with the law for Florida?
Waiting from you the consideration that here we present and do not continue with the drafting of the Law for Florida but instead reject to support it.
Respectfully
Patricia Andrade