Michelle Malkin » ACLU should just drop the “A”

ACLU should just drop the “A”

By Michelle Malkin • April 23, 2008 01:59 PM

Seriously, why do they even bother with the “American” part of “American Civil Liberties Union” anymore? (Hat tip – Lonewacko)

From the ACLU-San Diego’s latest press release announcing its partnership with the Mexican government:

In a historic agreement to pursue joint strategies to protect the human rights of migrants moving across the Mexico-United States border, the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties and the Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos today signed a document declaring common goals and principles to address the serious human rights issues.

The Memorandum of Agreement between the two organizations charges the parties jointly to explore legal actions to challenge Operation Gatekeeper and other programs that have contributed to migrant deaths, and to educate a transnational audience about the issue of human rights tragedies at the border. More than $30 billion dollars have been spent on Gatekeeper since its inception, but the program has done little to prevent illegal entries—it has simply shifted them to the mountains and deserts east of San Diego, where migrants face much harsher conditions in remote, environmentally hostile areas.

The agreement was developed in reaction to the continually mounting death toll of now more than 5,000 migrants along the border, as well as the challenge of advocating on these issues effectively from just one side of the border. With respect to abuses by federal law enforcement agencies, for example, U.S. federal agencies have acted with immunity and a complete lack of transparency.

Kevin Keenan, Executive Director of the ACLU-San Diego and Dr. José Luis Soberanes, President of the Comisión, signed the agreement at the “Justice in Mexico: Evaluating National and Local Strategies” conference at the Joan Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, University of San Diego.

“Through this collaboration we hope to build bridges of understanding and justice, and tear down walls of prejudice and hate,” said Dr. Soberanes. “It is intolerable that our two civilized nations have allowed so many deaths of migrants along the border since the adoption of Operation Gatekeeper,” said Keenan. “By working together with Mexico’s Human Rights Commission, we will hold our governments to account in ways that we could not do alone.” David Shirk, Director of the Trans-Border Institute that hosted the conference, said, “We are pleased to serve as the backdrop for the signing of this historic agreement, and hope that this partnership will lead to a reversal of the tragic trends that have plagued our two nations in recent years.”

The agreement calls for the organizations to host an invitation-only conference of experts in June to focus on bi-national advocacy strategies for attacking inhumane policies affecting migrants, especially deaths from border crossings; to meet again following the U.S. elections in November to update its plans; to cooperate on other lawsuits, advocacy efforts, and educational campaigns on a case-by-case basis; and to seek funding for these efforts in their respective countries. The ACLU of San Diego is not receiving funding from any Mexican source for its work.

Posted in: Open Borders Lobby

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#298692

On April 24th, 2008 at 12:01 am, garyt said:

Whats wrong with this Mexican government where they can’t provide a first world economy and they have to depend on other nations to create jobs for its citizens? As others have said no one forces them to cross the desert and they should spend their energy on forcing the government to clean up its act. President Fox at one time even asked Prime Minister Harper if he could absorb some of his people in Canada but I never heard what Harper said in reply. Its time these Latin American governments to be on their own instead of importing their third world status to other nations.
#298697

On April 24th, 2008 at 12:17 am, realitycheck said:

The agreement was developed in reaction to the continually mounting death toll of now more than 5,000 migrants along the border

Well boo-freakin’-hoo! Here’s a really “novel” solution: maybe they should try staying on their own side of the border. What a concept! Here’s the angle/tagline: “Border enforcement saves lives”.

‘Political Correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.’
#299629

On April 24th, 2008 at 4:26 pm, Jimmy Chowda said:

I’m still waiting for the ACLU to sue the United States for killing Nazis during WWII. After all, everyone does have human rights.
#299711

On April 24th, 2008 at 5:25 pm, jt3151 said:

Unfortunately this will continue until our next 9/11…

Touché pal.

..and beyond. On September 11, I actually believed that the silver lining was that we would finally unite as a country, because we had a common enemy. I had NO IDEA how loony the left is. It has been a sad education for me.
#299746

On April 24th, 2008 at 5:52 pm, ZK said:

Annoying
Communist
Litigation
Unit
#357174

On June 22nd, 2008 at 11:52 pm, Dimsdale said:

On April 23rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm, lgm said:

Operation Gatekeeper is “credited” with causing over 400 deaths. Some dumb Christians might consider that a drawback, as I do. I admire an organization, even the ACLU, that acts to prevent needless death. The punishment for illegal border crossing should not be death any more than it is the punishment for burglary or perjury.

The ACLU has a better idea of basic American values than MM in this case. Don’t kill people for minor crimes.

Aside from the undeniable communist/socialist/pacifist origins of this ignoble group, let us parse your statements:

1) “Operation Gatekeeper is “credited” with causing over 400 deaths. Some dumb Christians might consider that a drawback, as I do.” If one chooses to invade a country, is that country responsible for what happens to the invader? Do you ever {dare) call Muslims, and in particular, Islamofascists, “dumb?”

2) “I admire an organization, even the ACLU, that acts to prevent needless death.” You mean that the ACLU has come out against needless, elective abortions of convenience? If so, I stand corrected.

3) “The punishment for illegal border crossing should not be death any more than it is the punishment for burglary or perjury.” You might explain that to Mexico, who simultaneously enforces their southern border with an iron fist, but slips on the velvet glove when gently pushing its citizens over their northern border.

4) “The ACLU has a better idea of basic American values than MM in this case. Don’t kill people for minor crimes. Yeah, I remember the strong stand they took on the Kelo case (howls of derisive laughter). Really supported that basic right of a U.S. citizen to own his/her own property without unwarranted seizure by the government.

Basic American values include safe, secure borders and and expectation that this is a country of laws and said laws serve a purpose, as do borders.

What “American values” are you insinuating: compassion for our neighbors to the south? Okay, when we absorb all of them, should we feel compassion for the poor of China? India? Africa? (insert country here)?

Does it ever stop? Does even the omniscient lgm think that there is a point when we become what they are trying to leave behind?

Oh yeah, I guess I am the selfish one. I’ll remember that then next time I hear a story of how little (if anything) Obama, Gore, Kerry etc., gave to charity compared to me (on a percentage basis, of course).