[Marxism] Action Alert--Salvadoran Union Leader Denied Visa

[Greg McDonald]

Action Alert

July 28, 2009

Union leader invited to CISPES National Convention denied visa by U.S.
Embassy in San Salvador

Call State Department TODAY and demand that María de los Ángeles
Pleitez be allowed to travel to the United States AND call for
President Obama to appoint an Ambassador to El Salvador
Staff at the U.S. Embassy denied a non-immigrant visa application last
Thursday for María de los Ángeles Pleitez Carcamo, a director of the
SIGEESAL health care workers union who had been invited to participate
in CISPES' upcoming National Convention in Seattle. The Embassy
determined that Pleitez Carcamo cannot be trusted to return to El
Salvador when her visa expires, despite her family connections and
high profile job at home, and despite CISPES' 30-year history of
hosting Salvadoran organizers and political leaders without once
having a guest overstay a visa.

The Embassy refused to fully review Pleitez Carcamo's application,
limiting her visa appointment to approximately one minute. Among other
factors ignored, Embassy staff did not review several letters of
support from prominent figures, including three Members of the U.S.
Congress, the Salvadoran Vice-minister of Labor, and the presidents of
the international Teamsters and SEIU labor unions.

Last Thursday's visa denial is the latest in a series of attempts over
last few years by the Embassy in San Salvador to limit interactions
between Salvadoran social movement leaders and the U.S. public by
preventing Salvadorans from traveling to the U.S. The Embassy has been
without an Ambassador since President Obama was inaugurated in
January, leaving Bush-era diplomats in charge of representing the U.S.
in El Salvador.

TAKE ACTION – CALL THE EL SALVADOR DESK AT THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT:
(202) 647-4161
1)      Demand that María de los Ángeles Pleitez Carcamo be
immediately granted a visa to travel from El Salvador to the United
States in early August.

2)      Call for President Obama to nominate a new Ambassador to El Salvador.

 [CLICK HERE <http://www.cispes.org/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=613&amp;Itemid=32>
for a list of criteria for the new Ambassador.]
<http://www.cispes.org/>