Homeland Security and Commerce Department Harass U.S.-Cuba Friendship Caravan at the U.S.-Mexico Border Volunteers attempting to deliver tons of humanitarian and hurricane relief to Cuba could be held for days at the border in McAllen, Texas McAllen, TX - Hundreds of Pastors for Peace volunteers preparing to deliver a massive shipment of humanitarian aid to Cuba have been barred at the U.S.-Mexico border and could be held there for days. Commerce Department officials are saying they will search every vehicle in the caravan and every item of humanitarian aid, which hasn't been done for years, and they will only allow "licensable" goods to be allowed to cross into Mexico. Border agents are threatening to tow the caravan's vehicles and have already seized some aid donations, including computers. Some volunteers are walking across the U.S.-Mexico border carrying wheelchairs, crutches and other medical supplies. Others are holding a protest at the border. There are 130 U.S. Citizens traveling with the delegation, as well as a truck and 2 small cars. They are attempting to deliver 140 tons of aid. Pastors for Peace is asking supporters to call the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and their Members of Congress to urge homeland security and the Commerce department to let the caravan and its humanitarian and hurricane aid cross the U.S.-Mexico border immediately. Pastors for Peace does not accept or apply for a license to deliver humanitarian aid to Cuba. "As people of faith and conscience, it is our duty to resist and condemn this cruel U.S. policy," declared Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., executive director and founder of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), a 38-year-old ecumenical agency which is the parent organization of Pastors for Peace. "IFCO/Pastors for Peace rejects this licensing system as both immoral and illegal. It is immoral because it endangers the lives of millions of Cubans and inflicts suffering on innocent children, as well as adults. It is illegal under international law because it uses medicine and food as weapons of war to force another nation to change its government. Licensing is also unconstitutional because it requires people of faith to submit their acts of conscience and friendship to government licensing, in violation of our right to freedom of religious expression, political thought, association and travel." Despite calls for an end to the blockade and travel ban from the UN and the majority of nations around the world, the Bush Administration tightened restrictions against Cuba in 2004, and is using "homeland security" funds to investigate those suspected of travel to the island. For more information, see http://www.ifconews.org and http://www.caravan16.blogspot.com/ Aid group stuck at Texas border
By AMY HAMBLIN
Santa Cruz Sentinel - July 22, 2005
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2005/July/22/local/stories/08local.htm Aid group`s annual trek to Cuba delayed at U.S.-Mexico border
Associated Press Ft. Worth Star-Telegram - July 21, 2005
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/12191476.htm | 
