Chihuahua governor: U.S. presidential election has spurred anti-immigrant sentiment
The city of Juarez is abuzz less one day before Pope Francis arrives.
The governor of Chihuahua along with officials from the Juarez Catholic Diocese held a news conference today to update the media. They said more than a thousand journalists are in the area to cover the pope, and more than 5,000 officers and military members are on patrol and can be seen on almost every corner and busy intersection.
Officials talked about safety in the streets and said much of it has improved. A city official said that just five years ago, people were too scared to leave their homes after dark, and drivers dreaded traffic lights because it was too dangerous. But, the Juarez official said, the pope’s visit will help change that.
“It’s going to be good time in Juarez,” Chihuahua Gov. Cesar Duarte said. “All the people are happy. We have 1 million people coming to the papal Mass. It’s a real party.”
While the pope is slated to talk about immigration during his visit to Juarez, Duarte also had a message for the United States about the controversial issue. Speaking deliberately and slowly during the news conference, the governor said in Spanish, “Let’s not forget the pope is Latin-American and the son of immigrants in Argentina.”
Duarte also said the U.S. presidential election has brought about radical intolerant rhetoric against immigrants. Though he didn’t mention presidential candidates by name, the governor said the anti-immigrant sentiment was coming from the right of the political spectrum.
When asked to elaborate his comments after the news conference, he said those were only his personal views.
“I’m not discuss (American politics). I’m only (sharing) my vision, personal in the moment of the visit of the pope,” he said.
When he introduced himself to the United States Congress last year, Pope Francis introduced himself as the son of immigrants. The Catholic Diocese of El Paso has also said Pope Francis initially wanted to cross the border as an immigrant would.
