Open Letter to the Joseph Ratzinger Holy Father, Pope Benedictus XVI

Washington, DC.  January 22, 2010. 

The Holy See
City of Vatican

Joseph Ratzinger
Holy Father, Pope Benedictus XVI

Subject: Hunger Strike for the Miracle of Immigration Reform – Day #30 – Washington, DC. – Health failing.

Attention:
Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro Sambi

Embassy Apostolic Nunciature, the Holy See

3339 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008

Telephone: (202) 333-7121

Holy Father,

I am humbly seeking your help, Holy Father, and the help of the Church of Jesus, as well, for the immediate Miracle of God so that Immigration Reform in the USA, now long delayed, may be a reality for millions of suffering Christian immigrants.  Millions of undocumented immigrants are in fact Roman Catholic and an Immigration Reform is doubtless in their prayers, probably every day, but they do their prayers under fear of arrest and, generally speaking, without the support of the host population.  Your leadership, Holy Father, is therefore greatly needed to alleviate the suffering of so many faithful Catholics who just don’t happen to have some documents needed to live without fear of arrest in the United States of America.

I Rodolfo Macias, Mexican by birth, architect by training, and credentialed member of the Press.  Working for the media has been a way for me to support my family in Texas, where I timely sought political asylum in the US courts.  Back in Mexico, not only I was kidnapped and tortured by government forces because of political reasons, but my own wife also suffered the same fate. The Mexican government showed an extreme of contempt not only for human rights but also for human dignity when it clandestinely took me to a mental hospital, this is without a judge’s order; as a Christian I did not want to lie and throw away the anti-psychotic medication I undeservedly and without any valid psychiatric reason I was given, so I was forced to take what to me was soul-destroying medication.  The Mexican government further leveled false criminal charges against my person (seven of them), which the Mexican government was arrogant enough to bring, across the border, to a U.S. Immigration court, in order to try to derail my political asylum proceedings. Not much better luck I had in the United States as an undocumented immigrant; also in this nation I was mistreated and imprisoned on less than valid charges and without having committed any crimes at all, all because I claimed that justice is a universal right not dependent on nationality: the police would arrest me, take me to Court, yet the charges would as a rule be withdrawn.  The New York Times has recently published an article about a hundred immigrants having died while in custody by Immigration –now ICE-, this is undocumented immigrants, but no one speaks about their misfortune and suffering except when the media occasionally does it –for a short while, as a rule.  Holy Father, that is the life of millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States of America.

Father, I have been for the last thirty days in a hunger strike just in front of the White House.  It seems to extreme a measure as intended to claim for an Immigration Reform, but I have done already too much seeking support for a cause about which too many people talk but few tackle as a issue worth doing personal sacrifices.  I wish I could say that only politicians and the media have ignored me; the reality is that also the Church has ignored my pleas for support for a cause that ought not to be only my own.  I will next cite the particular incidents and situations in which the Roman Catholic Church, for one reason or the other, has ignored my pleas.  On June 16, 2009, I attended a Texas conference of cardinals and bishops, which out of due respect I did not interrupt.  Waiting for the right opportunity, I politely and correctly requested an interview before the dignitaries, but I was completely ignored.  On August, 2009, I met Archbishop Jose Gomez and Aux. Bishop Carlos Cantu, thus requesting their support for my planned Washington D.C. Hunger Strike; my request included support for a “March for Justice from San Antonio to Washington”, but none of my requests was attended: the dignitaries refused.  Ever since November, 2009, Auxiliary Bishop Francisco Gonzales in Washington D.C. has also ignored my requests for a meeting with Most Reverend Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl to discuss my hunger strike for US Immigration Reform.  True, a Roman Catholic Church dignitary may have little time to spare, but a Church official gazette’s editor has little excuses not to keep his word.  On December, 2009, the editor of the Washington Archdiocese Newspaper, ‘El Pregonero’ Raphael Roncal, has not kept his word.  Three times in three weeks Mr Roncal said: “I will have a reporter interview you, Macias,” yet three times I was not contacted at all.  Finally, in the middle of a hunger strike which is taking its toll on my health, on January 22, 2009, I attended a Mass Pro-Life at the Verizon Center, after having marched against abortion like the rest of the protesters at the Youth Rally and March for Life in Washington D.C.  In deep reverence for the Mass, I respectfully waited until the mass had ended -and the announcements had ended as well- then I stood and delivered letters to the Apostolic Nuncio, to the President of the The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, President, Cardinal Francis George, OMI, of Chicago, and to the Archbishop of Washington D.C.  I was thus seeking to get word to the Church, and to you, Holy Father, begging for the help of the Church for the deliverance of the Miracle of US Immigration reform.  I begged for just 1 minute of Prayer for Immigration Reform, and I handed a letter for you, Holy Father, to your personal Ambassador for this event.  (Please refer to attached letter).

Holy Father, you might make a great difference for the lives of undocumented immigrants in the United States.  On February 9, 2010, there will be a call to prayer for all Christian leaders to join the cause of Immigration reform in the United States.  I know, in all humility, that I have no rank to ask you, a Pope, to support this cause by publicly convoking worldwide Catholics and every person or group, to actively endorse the U.S. Immigration reform before February 9, 2010, a date not randomly chosen, but selected because of electoral reasons -2010 is an electoral year, so in two months from now the Immigration issue may be totally forgotten.  But God has a way to touch everyone’s heart, even a Pope’s, so I know there might be a chance that you may possibly announce a plea for all Christians to ask the Almighty for the immediate Miracle of God, so that Immigration Reform in the USA, now long delayed, may be a reality for millions of suffering Christian immigrants.

Lastly, my hunger strike has also the purpose to making President Barak Obama take a stand regarding his controversial oath –January 20, 2009- at the White House.  A Television World Wide shows President Obama delivering his oath with his left hand on a Holy Bible.  As you doubtless know, Chief Justice John Roberts (US Supreme Court) made a ceremonial mistake which caused Barak Obama not to deliver his oath with his left hand on the Bible –not officially so.  To those of us Christians, the video of Obama swearing upon a Bible means that our president places himself and the Nation BELOW God’s authority, through His only and beloved Son: Jesus Christ, thus completing the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  But now we know that the same photo is official yet not Constitutionally binding, this is that Barak Obama’s oath was not made while his left hand was on the Holy Bible, but later on, without the Bible.  President Obama has ever since eluded any public response to the same incident, as if it were one of total insignificance.  But it is not insignificant, for it causes a breach in a long tradition according to which any assuming U.S. President has to take his oath with a hand on a Bible.  As a humble serf of the Almighty, I decided to pledge my own health, with prayers, in order to attract public attention upon a matter which no doubt is of utmost importance to North American Catholics.

Holy Father, help me help Christ, and His least of these in the US. 

I am humbly and faithfully awaiting your response.

Your brother in Christ,
Sincerely yours,

Rodolfo Macias Cabrera
Christian, Servant of God.
Director of San Antonio Newspaper, Inc.
210-409-3341 / www.sanewspaper.com
sanewspaper@yahoo.com

Copy to:
Most Reverend Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl
5001 Eastern Avenue  Hyattsville, MD 20782-3447  /  301-853-4500

Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 29260 Washington, DC 20017-0260 / 301-853-4500

Cardinal Francis George
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, President, Cardinal Francis George, OMI, of Chicago and General Secretariat, Msgr. David Malloy, General Secretary
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3000  USCCB.

Attached you will find copy of the letter sent to the US Supreme Court of Justice and the President Barack Obama.

Delivery Confirmation Number:  0309 1140 0001 5923 9933 US Postal             

P. O. Box 27229 Washington, DC 20038-7229. EUA  www.sanewspaper.com  rmc@sanewspaper.com  (210) 409-3341

Illegal Facing Deportation Mounts Hunger Strike at White House

Latin American Herald Tribune

Topics = Illegal Immigration, Mexican illegal, hunger strike, White House, President Obama, immigration reform, undocumented

December 2, 2009

Elvira Palomo

Wednesday, December 02 @ 13:43:10 EST by jean (674 reads)

By Elvira Palomo

WASHINGTON, DC – (EFE) Rodolfo Macias, a Mexican who has lived in the United States illegally for 20 years, is used to taking on challenges – the latest is a hunger strike in front of the White House urging President Barack Obama to deliver the immigration reform that he promised before the end of the year. 

Defying the cold on the fifth day of his hunger strike, Macias, who has a deportation order for Dec. 7, asked undocumented aliens to demand the longed-for reform together with family members who are already U.S. citizens.

“We the undocumented ... are not criminals but are workers who mostly left our native lands to find a better life,” he told Efe. 

The hunger strike was the climax of a “March for Justice” that set out Nov. 7 from San Antonio, Texas, to demand a just and fair immigration reform for the 12 million undocumented immigrants “living in the shadows here in the United States.” 

Macias also proposes organizing undocumented people so that they are counted in the 2010 Census. 

The Mexican said he would not move until he achieves his goals and has called on immigrants to meet every Thursday in front of the White House so that “we can have immigration reform in 2009.” 

“From here, in front of the White House, I’m going to begin organizing the first undocumented immigrants who are interested, to get ready administratively and have our papers ready for them to legalize us,” he said. 

He also has a business project for illegal aliens themselves to establish local schools for teaching English and providing legal counsel. 

“We have to show the U.S. that we are not ignorant people and that we are part of the solution,” the architect, who has traveled 1,600 miles (2,574 kilometers) to deliver his message to Obama, said. 

All his efforts, however, don’t seem enough to him, so he has begun a round of meetings in Washington with activists, religious leaders and people from the embassy and the consulate, to whom he is conveying his concerns and whose support he seeks. 

The Mexican has sent separate letters to Obama and the president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon, asking that “they find the best way to resolve this problem, which not only affects the United States but also Mexico, Central American and other countries.” 

He has faith in the letters, the marches and in God. “If we really believe in Him, He can give us a miracle in 2009 and influence President Barack Obama to promote immigration reform to the lawmakers in Congress.” 

Macias has a long history of protest. In 1989 he declared himself provisional president of the republic of Mexico in exile against President Carlos Salinas for the electoral fraud that gave the latter victory in the 1988 election. 

He then began a hunger strike in protest before U.N. headquarters and asked for asylum in the United States for himself and his five children. 

“We want to be integrated into this multiracial society because we are already part of it, we are linked with others by family, the economy or services. We the undocumented are part of the solution, we are not the problem,” Macias says.

Why I’m in a Hunger Strike Outside of the White House? January 20, 2010

My name is Rodolfo Macias Cabrera.  I am architect by training, graduated from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (1984).  Ever since the year 2000, I have been the director of a small newspaper in San Antonio, Texas, with a monthly readership of 5,000 -printed papers- plus a daily online readership as well.  As a protest against the centuries-long corruption of the Mexican governments, for the period July 1, 1989-Dec. 1, 1994, I was chosen to be the Provisional President of Mexico in Exile, which in my native land 

which in Mexico would have implied an actual risk to my life.

My wife and the children who we raised in the United States of America are all undocumented immigrants, despite the fact that we have lived in this nation for the last twenty years.  All of my nuclear family is now in a deportation process.  Why?  I spent years trying to get political asylum in the United States, a privilege seldom if ever granted to the most deserving Mexican political refugees; the U.S. government would not listen to me.  Back in Mexico, we had been persecuted by government-related people: my wife was kidnapped and tortured.  But the standard of political persecution for Mexicans is very high: U.S. Embassy consular officers lied to me about the political asylum process, which –they said- had to begin at the Mexican border: a total lie.  Finally, 

in 1990 we obtained a visitor’s visa and crossed the border into the United States in 1990.

Back in 1995, we were in process of obtaining political asylum in the United States when, unexpectedly, the Mexican government filed a legal resource chargin

g me with crimes I had not committed.  The U.S. Immigration judge in charge of the political asylum proceedings listened to the Mexican government’s baseless allegations, and no political asylum was granted to my person.  The US government deported me by placing me at the border; there, a delegation of Mexican government administrators handcuffed me and took me to Mexico’s capital city, where I endured inhuman treatment at the hands of the government.  In a few words, I am not what people think of undocumented immigrants who sneak from Mexico: I can assert I am a victim of the United States’ double moral standards when it comes to political asylum.  The Unites States often preache

s freedom overseas, but it is not always ready to back its foreign policies with facts when we the persecuted people seek asylum in this great nation.

But why a hunger strike?

My children grew up in the United States, yet they cannot legally work in this nation, nor to drive a car, by the same token.  Going to the University, like any other young person likes to do, is not allowed to my grown-up children, also because of our Immigration status, which now is a deportation proceeding.  A hunger strike is always a desperate measure, but I found no other manner to make myself heard in the United States. 

What do you ask for?

I ask, for me, a review of my political asylum in the United States.  But my hunger strike is also meant as a claim for so many others whose Immigration status places then at a legal limbo in this great nation.  Barack Obama must fulfill his electoral campaign promise to push for an Immigration reform once at the Presidency. 

But your hunger strike has also other reasons.

Yes, but I guess it all boils down to one’s faith in this nation.  I want to have faith in President Obama, who did not swear his second oath over the Bible as he said he would do.  It is a matter of knowing whether or not the President is an observant Christian.  Tomorrow, it will be a year since President Obama took over the Presidency, yet he has not fulfilled his promises, one, the promise to swear over the same Bible used by Abraham Lincoln, the other the promise to push for an Immigration reform.  Along with President Calderon, Barack Obama promised, in Mexico, to push the Immigration reform this Winter, 2010, yet he has failed to do thus.  This is my reason to come to the U.S. Supreme Court: I want to know whether or not my letter to the Honorable Justice Sonia Sotomayor has merited a response on her side, as busy as doubtless she is.

You mention the Mexican government among your complaints.

A way of persecuting people is to seize their money, which the Mexican government has done to me after purportedly “forgiving” the crimes I never committed in Mexico.  The Mexican government entered a contract with my newspaper, yet it never fulfilled it.  My hunger strike is therefore also a call to decency: the Mexican government must at least have the decency of paying its obligations, no matter how disliked one of its citizens living abroad may be. 

Mexicano en Huelga de Hambre en la Casa Blanca Dialoga con Embajador Mexicano Sarukhan

Nota: Si desean una fotografía del Embajador con el Arquitecto Macías contactar a foto-periodista Lenin Nolly al teléfono 202- 288-5738 o al email: angelo.noli@gmail.com

El video lo podrán ver http://www.youtube.com/mysanews

WASHINGTON, DC.— Hoy cumple su primer año en el ejercicio de la presidencia de la nación mas poderosa, el Presidente Barack Obama. El Embajador mexicano Arturo Sarukhan Casamit Jana se presentó para felicitarlo y continuar trabajando en los proyectos bilaterales, en una reunión en la Casa Blanca, su estancia fue breve, solamente tardo cincuenta minutos desde que se registro ante los agentes federales del Servicio Secreto hasta su salida. No tuvo comentario alguno para los medios de comunicación.

El periodista mexicano que esta en Huelga de Hambre frente a la Casa Blanca, Rodolfo Macías Cabrera, continua con su esfuerzo y sacrificio, solamente bebiendo agua de vez en cuando. Macias tuvo la oportunidad de encontrarse de nueva cuenta con su Embajador en forma casual.

Macías dijo: “Hoy Dios me dio dos satisfacciones: ¡Mi visita a la Corte Suprema y mi encuentro con el Embajador Mexicano!”

“En el primer asunto, fui recibido por Kathy Arberg, (Public Information Office) para coordinar la respuesta sometida en diciembre del 2009 en cuanto al Tercer juramento* del Presidente Obama y una entrevista con la Juez Sotomayor.” 

“En mi recorrido diario que normalmente inicio a las siete de la mañana para tener un encuentro espiritual con Dios, allí frente a la Casa Blanca, inmediatamente algún Oficial del Servicio Secreto me hace las cuatro preguntas básicas y de forma inmediata las transmite por su radio. Luego de pasar un buen rato me voy al café de la esquina para trabajar un poco en la computadora y luego regreso; al pasar escuche voces y risas en español de un grupo de mas de diez hombres, por su acento reconocí que pudieran ser mexicanos, observe un poco mas y uno de ellos me pareció familiar, tuve la duda pero no que quede con ella, una parte de ellos se quedo fuera y otros al entrar a la primera revisión, creí reconocer al Embajador y le pregunte tras la reja: ¿Es usted el Embajador Arturo Sarukhan? Si, yo soy. ¿Por qué usted ha ordenado que tanto en la Embajada y el Consulado no se me permita entrar, puedo no estar de acuerdo en lo que ustedes hacen, pero soy mexicano? Ricardo Alday ha estado con usted varias veces —respondió el Embajador- ¡Ricardo Alday, su representante de Relaciones Públicas y de atención a la Prensa así me lo confirmó que por instrucciones directas de usted! ¡Yo le diré a Ricardo Alday que se reúna con usted! En la ciudad de Austin, Texas en la Reunión Interparlamentaria celebrada en el 2007, donde se reunieron los congresistas de Estados Unidos de America y México yo le entregue documentación a usted y le solicite le transmitiera mi petición al Presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa de nuestra solicitud de entrevista, ¿Qué me puede usted decir a este respecto? ¡Se paso su solicitud y no ha habido respuesta! ¿De los Cincuenta mil dólares ($ 50,000.00) que nos debe el Congreso? ¡Yo soy el representante del ejecutivo, se lo comenté en la ciudad de Austin aquella vez, es un problema con el legislativo de México! Bien, aquí voy a continuar con mi Huelga de Hambre tanto en la Casa Blanca como en la Embajada y espero que pronto pueda recibirme formalmente como cualquier mexicano. ¡Si yo estoy allí con gusto lo haré! Solo es cuestión de coordinar su agenda, ustedes tienen mi información y forma de contactarme, los estaré esperando.” Agregó Macías.

Aprovechando su experiencia Macías, mientras el Embajador Sarukhan entro a la casa Blanca, contacto a varios medios de comunicación que quisieran cubrir de nueva cuenta su presencia cuando saliera el Embajador y entregarle una petición mas formal. Fueron solamente tres fuentes de los medios que asistieron y un fotógrafo freelance Lenin Nolly quienes a la salida cubrieron el encuentro.

Macías no permitió que el Embajador se fuera con sus diez acompañantes, inmediatamente en la misma puerta le salio al paso y le entregó un documento y le solicitó un corto dialogo así como una fotografía para constancia. El Embajador no tuvo otra opción ante la presencia de los medios y por estar frente a la Casa Blanca, aceptó.

El Embajador preguntó: ¿Sr. Macías “Ningún legislador se ha puesto en contacto con usted desde el 2007 para pagar la deuda de los cincuenta milo dólares?
—¡Ninguno Sr. Embajador, tampoco usted me acusó de recibido ni me ha informado a la fecha el curso que tomaron mis peticiones dirigidas a través de usted desde el 2007 y estas últimas del 2009, así como tampoco entiendo el que no me haya querido dejar ni siquiera entrar a la Embajada!

—Respondió el Embajador: “Jamás autorice a Ricardo Alday (Representante de Relaciones Públicas y de atención a la Prensa en la Embajada) para darle tal instrucción, fue una barrabasada de su parte”

—Macías le dice al Embajador: “No soy ningún barbaján ni terrorista, soy un mexicano como cualquier otro que desea lo mejor para su familia y la nación, dígales tanto a los miembros del Poder Legislativo como a su superior, el Presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa que estoy aquí en Huelga de Hambre, bebiendo de vez en cuando solamente agua y cada día es mas difícil, todo esto por nuestro mal gobierno. Aunque usted trabaja directamente para el Poder Ejecutivo como me lo dijo desde dentro de la Casa Blanca, no olvide que usted en este país no solo representa a un Poder sino a los Tres y a TODOS los mexicanos. Estoy conciente que usted no puede responder por los actos de ellos, pero si puede transmitir  e intentar mediar, ‘por lo menos’ y al final comunicar los resultados ya sean para bien o mal o simplemente ninguna comunicación. Este sufrimiento y sacrificio que estoy realizando en mi cuerpo tiene una finalidad, estoy representando no solo que el Presidente Calderón continua con una actitud arrogante al no dar una respuesta a la entrevista solicitada a nuestro pequeño periódico, no le voy a cuestionar, deseo saber lo que esta realizando verdaderamente por los 6, 7 u 8 millones de mexicanos que estamos indocumentados en esta nación y también sobre otros temas nacionales como educación, el empleo, la lucha contra las drogas y la religión entre otros asuntos, nada fuera del otro mundo. No quiero continuar avergonzando ante la comunidad internacional a nuestro gobierno pero no me han dejado otra opción, pregúnteles sinceramente: ¿Desean resolver y finiquitar los asuntos pendientes con el Arquitecto Macías de una forma propositiva?

Finalmente Macías le dijo al Embajador: “Si usted afirma que me recibirá formalmente y con respeto en la Embajada para tratar los asuntos por los que estoy en la Huelga de Hambre  y especialmente que usted haya consultado con México con los dos representantes tanto del Poder Ejecutivo como del Legislativo para saber el estado que guardan mis peticiones, entonces, consulte su agenda y cuando le sea posible, me contacta” ¿Le parece Sr. Embajador?

El fotógrafo independiente Lenin Nolly de aquí de Washington DC tomo fotografías del Embajador y del mexicano en Huelga de Hambre en la salida de la Casa Blanca.

(*) Fui a conocer el estado que guarda mi solicitud de audiencia con la Juez Sonia Sotomayor en relación a la petición que le hiciera al mas alto tribunal de Justicia para que le realicen un Tercer Juramento al Presidente Obama a las oficinas de la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos de América. pio@supremecourt.gov 202-479-3211

 

 

1911 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Washington D.C., 20006 EE.UU.. 

(202) 728-1600 Conmutador

(202) 728-1698

(Horario de Oficina: 09:00 a 18:00)

http://portal.sre.gob.mx/eua

Third Oath of Office of the Presidency

                        

Washington, DC.  December 17, 2009.  

Barack Hussein Obama II 

Fortieth Fourth President 

Of the United States of America 

White House 

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20500

MATTER:  Third Oath of Office of the Presidency 

I hereby request a kind thought of yours on the following query: ¿Why ought you to undertake a third oath?  There is yet an answer, very simple and complicated at same time, should you be concerned about it, at all.  

Much of the world’s population saw the Inauguration of the 44^th. Presidency - your actual Presidency- as   your wife Michelle held up the same Bible once used by Abraham Lincoln, to similar purposes.  This is to say: Chief Justice John Roberts, on Tuesday, January 21, 2009, was summoned to the Oval Office, making you –before you could assume your presidential duties- pledge allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, which effectively you did, thus complying with our Constitution’s Article 2, Clause 8, as you said:

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

What we saw was you delivering your oath with your left hand on the Bible, which is a symbol of a future president’s allegiance to the Bible at the same time that he or she promises allegiance to a worldly power.  To those of us Christians, the video of yours swearing upon a Bible means that you place yourself and the Nation BELOW God’s authority, through His only and beloved Son: Jesus Christ, thus completing the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. 

Nevertheless, the same day we were witness of a slight mistake by Justice Roberts, reason that –we later found out- a second oath of allegiance was both needed and taken, this time inside of the White House and privately thus.

We do things for a reason, not out of whimsical nothingness, so to speak.  President Obama, I ignore whether you “just” forgot to fulfill your second oath with the Bible on hand.  I believe, with all Christians in North America, that everybody will be pleased if you take a Third Oath, which doesn’t need to be a public one –a private ceremony will do just fine for us.  If you do, we will feel that things will turn happier for all of us North American Christians.  Certainly, you can turn God aside, but I don’t think you should.

You can’t exclude God, can you, Mr. Obama?  I would like to have your answer, as a Christian I am, and as a journalist, which I am as well.  

Last December 15, 2009, I personally delivered, in a letter addressed to the U.S. Supreme Court of Justice-Judge Sonia Sotomayor, the very same text you’re reading, hoping for an answer among the certainly busy members of the Supreme Court, in case you just keep silent about this matter of urgency to Christians in North America.

I was wondering about Judge Sotomayor, who among Hispanics is considered a major voice and representative.  I was also wondering about your own daughters Malia and Sasha, what will once say?  I was finally wondering about my own children and my nephews, what will they do when presented with what we did or failed to do of ourselves?

I almost forgot to remind you about a due appointment of yours.  At the end of a presentation of yours in the Guadalupe Theater, (Keeping America’s promise) during your presidential campaign, I asked a little of your kind attention so I could interview you –not much of an extended interview, but a short two-question interview that wouldn’t take much of your time.  To this date, I am unaware of whether or not you still may not have some spare time to share with me.  

I hereby notify you that, starting November 26, 2009, I have begun a hunger strike outside of your residence on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C., this on account of your electoral campaign promise to actually begin an Immigration Reform if and when elected President.  You have already failed us, but you have a second chance to carry your promises out.  2010, Mr. Obama, is an electoral year, so if you don’t push an Immigration Reform bill now or until February, 2010, we all know you politically speaking won’t be able to do it, period.

Sincerely yours,

Rodolfo Macias
Christian, Servant of God.
Director of San Antonio Newspaper, Inc.

Attached you will find copy of the letter sent to the US Supreme Court of Justice.  

Delivery Confirmation Number:  0309 1140 0001 5923 9933 US Postal
www.sanewspaper.com sanewspaper@yahoo.com
210-409-3341

                    

P. O. Box 27229 Washington, DC 20038-7229. EUA  www.sanewspaper.com  rmc@sanewspaper.com  (210) 409-3341

Incompetence, Negligence, Hostility and Discrimination by the Secret Service at the White House

                     

 

Washington, DC.  January 8, 2010. 

 

Barack Hussein Obama II
Fortieth Fourth President of the United States of America
White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20500

 

SUBJECT:  I regret to inform you of an instance of Incompetence, Negligence, Hostility and Discrimination by the Secret Service at the White House.

In my 45 days of activism at the White House I have observed mostly acceptable behavior from the Secret Service, but regrettably, today my human and civil rights were violated in a way that speaks very badly of the Secret Service, and that they and you will want to prevent in the future. 

This is the reason for my submitting this situation to you in writing.  I know that neither you, nor most of the Officers of the Secret Service would want for what was done to me today to be repeated toward anyone. 

This is my sole reason for writing to you.

I arrived November 25, 2009 at the White House and commenced a Hunger Strike for Immigration Reform at 7:00 AM in Thanksgiving Day (interrupt when hearing Immigration Court day Dec 7, 2009).  Immediately upon arrival I went to the Guard House in Lafayette Park to inquire about the regulations.  Spanish is my primary language, so politely I requested the regulations be explained to me in Spanish.  I am a believer in obeying the laws, so I wanted to be correctly informed.  Today is Friday, January 8, 2010 and still no one from Secret Service has responded to my request to know the regulations.

Now today, I was personally victimized by the Secret Service because of their lack of analysis, proper procedures, and proper discipline and respect during the 45 days I’ve been here.  Instead of responding to my request of November 25^th to know the regulations, at which time I would happily have explained who I was, my purpose, my intentions and background, they waited until today, after they had seen me in Lafayette Park day after day, in my shirt and tie, and a swarm of them descended on me and interrogated me for between 2-4 hours in the public Caribou Coffee at the White House.

Overall, my experience of the Secret Service at the White House on a daily basis has been quite acceptable.  Except for today, they have been courteous, professional, and they have not violated my legal rights or my right to basic respect as a person.  But today was a horrible exception.

Secret Service officer Kal Abdel took the lead in my interrogation.  Officers Victor M. Marroquin #0658, Special Agent Sean M. Rovin, and his chief, Special Agent ‘Kuan’ (special agent in charge for the interrogation, I don’t his name because he refuse give me), and Officer Vic Livingston also played a forceful role.  

Officer Kal Abdel was very much what you would want your Secret Service officer to be.  He was very firm, very professional, and very intelligent; but at the same time he respected my rights, was civil, and appropriately respectful.  I am certain that I was very respectful and cooperative with him, as I always am with everyone, unless my right to basic respect is being violated, in which case my cooperation ceases, until respect is restored.  This is my human duty.  I am certain Officer Abdel would attest to my cooperation and respectfulness. 

As a refugee from Mexican kidnapped and torture victims (with my wife Maria Elena) from which I am seeking Legal Asylum through the courts in Texas, I have been a law abiding resident of the United States, along with my family for many, many years.  My record of excellent behavior is clear.  No person should be subjected to the treatment I received today.  

The behavior of Special Agent ‘Kuan’ and Officer Livingston was as destructive and inappropriate as the behavior of Officer Abdel was appropriate and constructive. ‘Kuan’ and Livingston were exceedingly rude, threatened me, sought to intimidate me, all without any reason.  “In the United States you speak English only,” said ‘Kuan’ was the gruff reply to my polite and respectful request for a Spanish interpreter.  Officer Vic Livingston in front to everybody in the coffee shop loudly said: ‘Hey, compadre: Do you like la ‘Migra’ ¿Do you know who is the ICE? I’m going to call ICE on you now for your deportation today to Mexico because you are illegal here in the USA,” was another attempt to be rude and intimidate.   To an officer that was being respectful I would happily have provided any and all information requested of me, as I have in the 45 days I’ve been here in DC.

Finally, and most disturbing to me, at the end of the interrogation I was asked to sign a form.  My first response was to say “no.”  I had received so much inappropriate, intimidating treatment that I felt unwilling to cooperator further.  But cooperation is my nature, so I said, “I will sign it, but I need to have a copy.”  The solution I proposed, as there was no copier available, was that after I signed and the officer signed I would make a photo with my camera.  “OK,” was the assurance given to me by Special Agent Sean M. Rovin.  So I signed, and Officer Rovin signed, AND HE REFUSED TO ALLOW ME TO MAKE A PHOTO.  What?  The Secret Service lies like this?  This is what you want them to do to law-abiding people Mr. President Obama?  I was shocked, and I am extremely sad to have experienced this here in front of the White House, your house.

Mr. President, in conclusion, my sole purpose in writing to you is to help you and the Secret Service accentuate what the Secret Service does so well, but to eliminate such terrible breakdowns in professionalism as I experienced yesterday.

 Respectfully Mr. President Obama, your friend and admirer,

 

Rodolfo Macias Cabrera

Former Provisional President of Mexico in exile (july1, 1989-december 1, 1994)

Architect, Director of San Antonio Newspaper
P.O. Box 27229 Washington, DC 20038-7229
210-409-3341 / e-mail: sanewspaper@yahoo.com cell: 210-409-3341

Copy to:

Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano
State Department, Hillary Clinton
Mark Sullivan
Director of U.S. Secret Service
Office of Government and Public Affairs
245 Murray Drive, Building 410,
Washington, DC 20223
202-406-5708
E-Mail Public Affairs
web.master@usss.dhs.gov
Secret Service officer Kal Abdel
Secret Service officer Vic Livingston
Officer Victor M. Marroquin #0658,
Special Agent Sean M. Rovin, and his chief, Special Agent ‘Kuan’

 

                    

www.sanewspaper.com  sanewspaper@yahoo.com