A state lawmaker asked the federal government to address the immigrant issue that, in case of no solution, would turn into a famine situation.
Assemblywoman Mónica Hernández, a member of the National Action Party, made the request supported by two other lawmakers from leftist parties.
The request includes a petition to the state delegate of the National Immigration Institute to provide an institutional solution to the recent influx of immigrants from Haiti and Africa.
The petition also includes a request to the Secretary of External Affairs to cooperate with the U.S. government to provide temporary permits to reside in America.
“The reality today is surpasses all institutional and social efforts made,” she said. “By not finding an immediate solution becomes a risk for the issue to increase to a humanitarian crisis and a health crisis.”
Hernández said every day without deeply addressing the issue increases tension and makes resources to become scarcer as temporary sheltering are not sufficient and immigrants keep arriving.
Senator demands funds for immigrants
A Mexican Senator asked the federal government to provide additional funds in order to address the emergency caused by the arrival of over 10,000 immigrants to Baja California.
Sen. Víctor Hermosillo, a Mexicali member of the National Action Party, introduced a bill to change a federal law in order to provide the National Immigration Institute, or Inami in Spanish, half of the fees charged in foreign tourist taxes.
As of today, he said, the federal government only a fifth of the money collected from such fee to help immigrants and the rest for promotion.
“For many years we have criticized our neighbors in the north for the treatment given to our nationals when crossing the border illegally,” he said. “But for a lot of time we have taken little care of the treatment we provide first to our own nationals.”
Hermosillo said thanks to non-profit and faith-based organizations immigrants would go unattended.
“The border has become a magnet for many people who have issues in their countries”, he said. “Haiti just had another earthquake and it is very sure they will continue coming. Even Cubans are coming from South America, as well as residents from Africa, who have been impacted by wars”.
The senator said the Mexican government has new issues on its southern border regarding treatment to Central Americans.
