The "iron curtain" along the U.S./Mexico border

The National Alliance for Human Rights, "a network of individuals and organizations committed to the promotion of human rights, social justice, and political empowerment," held an emergency meeting in San Bernardino, Calif., recently. The meeting’s agenda focused "on strategically formulating a Mexicano/Latino coordinated response to the pending federal and state immigration legislation being considered in Washington and Sacramento and on the escalating nativist attacks on the Mexicano/Latino communities."

“Understanding the horrific anti-immigrant political climate rampant throughout the country and the severity of the consequences of the racist (Rep. James) Sensenbrenner legislation, in particular the building of an Iron Curtain along the U.S./Mexico border, Mexicanos and Latinos in this country are under a state of siege reminiscent of the McCarthy Era, the difference being that the Bush Administration and nativist Republicans are targeting not communists, but us as their targets of persecution,” Armando Navarro, NAHR coordinator, said.