About a week ago, I wrote about the upcoming Dream Act III being pitched by Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).   There's a few more pieces to the puzzle that may come into play at some point or another.  Taken separately, they don't seem like too much, but put together could spell out some trouble and could act as an addendum to the Dream Act III.

Within the United Nations, there are several different committees that deal with a myriad of issues.  One of those committees is the Human Rights Council (HCR) which is made up of various nations, some of which are notorious violators of human rights like China and Cuba.  Lost in the news earlier this week was a story discussing how Sec. of State Hilary Clinton was going to be meeting with various advocacy groups, citizens, and non-governmental organizations (NGO) to discuss the human rights conditions, records or violations within our United States.  That in itself is not an alarming event per se, but the fact that Sec. Clinton will be reporting these findings to the HCR is.

One of the charges of the HCR is examining migrant workers and possible violation of human rights regarding migrant workers.  Some of the conditions or concerns that the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants looks at/for?

(a) To examine ways and means to overcome the obstacles existing to the full and effective protection of the human rights of migrants, recognizing the particular vulnerability of women, children and those undocumented or in an irregular situation;

(b) To request and receive information from all relevant sources, including migrants themselves, on violations of the human rights of migrants and their families;

(c) To formulate appropriate recommendations to prevent and remedy violations of the human rights of migrants, wherever they may occur;

(d) To promote the effective application of relevant international norms and standards on the issue;

(e) To recommend actions and measures applicable at the national, regional and international levels to eliminate violations of the human rights of migrants;

(f) To take into account a gender perspective when requesting and analysing information, and to give special attention to the occurrence of multiple discrimination and violence against migrant women;

(g) To give particular emphasis to recommendations on practical solutions with regard to the implementation of the rights relevant to the mandate, including by identifying best practices and concrete areas and means for international cooperation;

(h) To report regularly to the Council, according to its annual programme of work, and to the General Assembly, at the request of the Council or the Assembly.

One organization that believes in free and unfettered rights of migrant workers, illegal or otherwise, is the National Council of La Raza.  They are perhaps the leading organization for the rights of Hispanics - workers and citizens, but they also concern themselves with the rights of the illegal immigrants, or in the language of progressives - undocumented workers or undocumented migrant workers.  NCLR is also a leading proponent of the Dream Act. 

Another committee that meets under the Office of Human Rights is the Committee of Migrant Workers.  This committee recommended to the UN General Assembly, and passed in 1990 by the UN General Assembly an International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.  At this time, the United States is not a signatory to this Convention.  Read through this Convention and see what it all entails because space and time to list everything is limited. 

So, what am I getting at?  President Obama promised much during his campaign, and he could do an end around Congress regarding the Dream Act III by placing his signature on the Convention.  It would still have to be ratified by the United States Senate, but considering Mexico is a signatory to the Convention, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has decided to halt the "virtual fence", Sec. Clinton reporting to the HCR, and finally, President Obama's promises to the NCLR and other organizations to take up the case of illegal immigration, should there be some signs of concern?  Also, taking into consideration President Obama's tendency to circumvent the normal Constitutional procedures, should there be concerns?  As soon as this health care mess is over, I guess we'll find out...