Migrante: Obama’s victory an 'American illusion'

MANILA, Philippines - Democratic candidate Barack Obama’s historic election as US president has not impressed the militant group Migrante International. In a statement released on Wednesday as Obama’s lead against Republican opponent John McCain kept piling, Migrante said Obama will not solve the problems faced by migrant workers in his country. Migrante International chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado said Barack Obama’s victory is an “American illusion." “With the current financial crisis in the US, not even Obama’s rise can stop the surge of economic meltdowns and hostility against migrants," she said. Moreover, she said factory raids, arrests, and detention continue, with 12 million undocumented migrants in the US as the targets. About four million Filipinos are in the US, the greatest bulk of Filipino migrants outside the Philippines, half of them suspected to be “TNT (Tago nang Tago)" or undocumented. “For all his pro-migrant posturing, Obama is no different from McCain," said Regalado. She said both have geared for fines and further restrictive measures to contain undocumented migrants. “For example, both have actually called for a 700-mile fence between Mexico and the United States to strengthen security and border controls. Expect a massive violation of rights," she said. Regalado also said migrants will pay a high price for Obama’s “American dream." “The banks have already gained advantage over the migrants - leaving them penniless, hounded and attacked by the police and immigration authorities." Migrante International said financial agencies have noted a drop in the remittances of Latin American immigrants to their families across the US border. “Filipinos are not far behind as more Pinoys lose their second, then their first jobs and their homes as well. Some 750,000 jobs in the US have already been wiped out and families have been evicted from 3.2 million homes," she said. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV