MEXICAN COMMUNITY IN NEW YORK

Mexicans in New York are coming from two main cultures: Náhuatl and Mixteca. It is the reason why their organizations are based around their deep religiosity, their own way to include all kind of issues in their efforts, and try to respond to their basic human needs and rights. These small Mexican organizations have been a way of continuing their traditional community organization which, in New York, have taken the name of Guadalupano Committees. They act related to their Catholic Parishes even when they are sometimes ignored. They work out relations with Pastors in order to get some support, inclusion, and the facilities of each Parish. Leaders organize their people in each area of the Parishes.

Our population consists of Mexican men and women of all ages, dispersed throughout New York City. Unlike other immigrant groups who have settled in specific neighborhoods, Mexicans have settled in large concentrations in each of the five boroughs, as well as Westchester County. According to the Center for Urban Research at the City University of New York, the Mexican population in New York City now numbers 306,000. Its rapid rate of growth has moved this population to the third largest Latino group, the majority being undocumented. Consequently, this status affects the ability to find adequate housing and work reasonable hours at reasonable wages.

It is common for undocumented immigrants to work 14 hours a day, 7 days a week for less than minimum wage. Employers capitalize from this situation. For example, many have refused to pay their workers, give them time off, and respect other basic rights. In extreme cases, employers have physically abused their workers. Once their rights have been violated, many workers fail to alert authorities for fear of being deported. Additionally, they lack documented evidence of their work history. One of the primary goals of our Association is to provide a means to address such concerns.

Mexican leaders are very concerned about the problems of their people. Mexicans are living a lot of abuses due to their legal status. People are abused not only by the excessive number of situations similar to a real slavery in the workplace, but also by the lawyers who swindle them when they need criminal and labor justice.

Mexicans are a group of more than 300 thousand new immigrants that have arrived for the most part, during the last 10 years in and around the New York State area. Their struggle to survive by working grueling hours, every day, most without any day off, has resulted in the lack of organization to defend against human rights violations. We have become vulnerable and defenseless to racial discrimination, raids from the department of immigration, labor violations, oppression, and high attorney fees. Also lack proper medical care, educational programs for our youth to keep them from falling completely behind, and risking the possibility of gang involvement.

During the past 10 years in New York, we have developed small community groups that, much like in our own village in Mexico, share a common religious worship of the Lady of Guadalupe. It has been through this medium that we have developed a leadership among our people that need so much help. This sense of leadership has obligated us to respond to the urgent needs, like defense and promotion of human rights, from a broader base.