NH Maquiladora Delegation Returns from Mexico
The first major milestone of Lamarre-Vincent's sabbatical was accomplished this past week. A delegation organized by the NH - American Friends Service Committee has just returned from a 3-day visit with maquiladora workers in northern Mexico, where job creation has been affected by NAFTA and other trade agreements. The 10-member group, which included Lamarre-Vincent of the New Hampshire Council of Churches, three NH-AFSC staff, labor leaders and students met with employees of U.S.-based multi-nationals, who described the long hours, low pay, and dangerous working conditions they face every day. Yet they also described impressive organizing for change against great odds.
As I learn more about building this website I will be adding photos, streaming video and blog essays. For now, trust me, there was no more powerful way to learn about detention of families applying for refugee or asylum status (at the T. Don Hutto Immigration and Customs facility in Taylor, TX run by the Corrections Corporation of America in what was a medium security prison), the lives of Mexican workers and their families, and the impact of NAFTA.