The U.S. is experiencing a migration crisis at the southern border. This is the beginning of the larger long term crisis of world migration. ( it is not caused by Columbia nor Mexico). This migration, like the migration out of Africa and Asia, is the product global warming, neoliberal capitalism, and regional wars among other things. The DSA convention proposed taking two steps toward responding to this crisis.
Here is the resolution as passed by the convention.
WHEREAS one of the first principles of democratic socialism is the importance of collective action;
WHEREAS our political work should be informed by a strategic analysis of the political economy of U.S. capitalism and the cutting edge issues of the day, with an eye to identifying the critical points of system leverage where we can collectively intervene to maximum political effect; and
Whereas DSA individuals, chapters, and the Immigrants’ Rights Working Group have been actively engaged for over six years, and continue to engage in the defense of immigrants and refugees from racists attacks, and promoting
and the promotion of comprehensive immigration reform that would secure their place in the U.S., putting an end to corporate induced competition between native born and immigrant workers, and between U.S. workers and workers abroad. ( See resolution #41 from the 2017 convention).
And, whereas, In the last half century, there has been a major restructuring of the global economy, conducted largely on the terms of transnational corporations seeking ever greater profits. Neo-liberal ‘free trade’ agreements, such as NAFTA I and II and CAFTA, have produced a global ‘race to the bottom,’ with capital flight sending good paying union jobs away from workers in the U.S. to countries with low wage employment, many of which are ruled by authoritarian states that ban independent unions. In the Americas, this global ‘free trade’ economy has devastated entire sectors of the economies of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, leading millions of people attempting to migrate to the U.S. in search of food, jobs, and security. Many also flee the ruthless violence of criminal groups in nations with ‘failed’ states, as well as the effects of climate catastrophes, from drought to increasingly vicious and destructive storms.
And, whereas, the racist nationalism of Trump and his cohort seeks to exploit the anger of U.S. workers by scapegoating immigrants and refugees, projecting racist fears and resentments on them.
And, whereas, only a politics which breaks with the neo-liberal paradigm can successfully counter the racism of Trump and the nationalist right wing, bringing a measure of justice both to immigrants and refugees and to workers in the U.S.
Be it therefore resolved that:
In conjunction with the DSA Immigrant Rights Working Group, National staff and the NPC will develop a DSA platform for comprehensive immigration law reform, which shall be the basis for our educational, legislative, and direct action work. The platform shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, provisions for:
· A path to legal status (and where desired, citizenship) for DACA dreamers and TPS recipients;
· The abolition of ICE, and its replacement with a new federal agency located in the Department of Justice that respects the rights of immigrants and refugees ;
· The legal recognition and enforcement of international treaties establishing the rights of migrants and refugees;
· The quick and timely adjudication of claims of refugee status and rights of asylum, and quick and timely processing of applications for visas and ‘green card’ status;
· An end to racial and ethnic disparities in the provision of visas and ‘green card’ status;
· The reform of the current system of employment and family visas, including H2A and H1B visas, to end employer misuse of work visas and abuse of international workers, and to respect the right of family reunification; and
· The securing of the labor rights of immigrant workers, and the full integration of those workers into the organized labor movement.
A path to legal residence for all those living in the U.S. at this time.
· A repeal of employer sanctions in all its forms.
· Legal status for the currently undocumented, in a rapid and inclusive process, without excessive fees, fines, waiting periods or a preliminary temporary status.
· Opposition to the expansion of guest worker programs.
Further, national DSA working with the Immigrants’ Rights Working Group shall develop educational materials which provide a democratic socialist analysis of the underlying causes of the current immigration crisis, including
· The role of US government policy – economic, military and diplomatic – in the conditions that create refugees and economic immigrants;
· The role of drug trafficking and the organized crime and violence associated with it, as well as the role of the U.S. as a major drug market, in the conditions that create refugees and economic immigrants;
· The role of ‘free trade’ agreements, and the restructuring of the global economy along neo-liberal lines, in the conditions that create economic immigrants; and the role of institutions of the global economy, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, in the conditions that create economic and immigrants.
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Currently some National Political Committee members are seeking to respond to this convention resolution. They are limited by the lack of a functioning Immigrants Rights Working Group within DSA. The prior working group was essentially by a slash, burn and destroy action of some ultra left forces within DSA. I was a co chair in the prior IMWG. ( 2017-2022) ( here)
Now the NPC is seeking to respond.
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