By BECKY W. EVANS
South Coast Today
July 23, 2009
NEW BEDFORD — Guatemala's vice minister of foreign relations discussed immigration issues with leaders of the city's Mayan immigrant community on Wednesday.
Ambassador Miguel Angel Ibarra, who is traveling throughout the United States, said he and Carlos Escobedo, counsel general for Guatemala in Providence, made a stop in New Bedford due to the nearly 5,000 Mayan Guatemalans who live here, many of them undocumented.
Ibarra said Guatemala and its Central American neighbors are lobbying the U.S. government for comprehensive immigration reform.
"We are asking Congress to stop raids and deportations and to avoid the separation of families," he said in Spanish through an interpreter.
After dining at Antonio's Restaurant in the North End, Ibarra met with members of Organization Maya K'iche, an advocacy group for Mayan immigrants.
Anibal Lucas, director of the group, said he hoped the ambassador will help find support for immigrants.
"I also hope Mr. Obama understands our situation," Lucas said.
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