One day last July I picked up the phone and ordered a plane ticket to Mexico City, not knowing where my journey would lead from there.
My goal was to track down the families of Mexicans who died crossing into the United States and whose bodies had been identified through the DNA forensic work of Baylor University scientist Lori Baker. But when I booked my ticket July 18, nine days before my departure, I still had no clue who I would talk to or where I would find them.
The writer (center) with Rene and Alfredo Sanchez, brothers of Fidel Sanchez Rosas, who died in the Arizona desert. The brothers took Smith whitewater rafting on the Filo-Bobos River, where they work assisting raft tours. Their faces are smeared with gray mud from the banks of the river, mud that is famous for soothing the skin.
The idea had been simmering in my mind a couple of years after reporting on Professor Baker’s work. In March 2007, I turned the proposal into a last-minute application for a World Affairs Journalism Fellowship from the International Center for Journalists, which underwrites travel for international journalism.
They loved the idea as much as I did. If I could find families willing to talk, I was almost guaranteed a great story.
A big if.
It turned out that Dr. Baker, who contracted with the Mexican government to do the work, couldn’t give me a list of the deceased or their families. The medical examiner in Tucson, Ariz., could give me only names, ages and case numbers. It took months of barking up wrong bureaucratic trees to find the guy I needed: Jeronimo Garcia Ceballos, a helpful official at the Mexican Consulate in Tucson. Three days before I left for my three-week trip to Mexico, he got me permission to talk with three families in three states. It so happened that each was within a day’s drive of Mexico City.
Doors were opened . . .
It wasn’t the last time in reporting this piece that I had to depend on the kindness of strangers. In the mountain town of Real del Monte, I interviewed the family of Olaf Avila Gonzales, a 19-year-old who died in the Arizona desert. My girlfriend and I enjoyed a mini-vacation there, visiting old silver mines and eating trout wrapped in maguey leaves.
Then on the journey back down the mountain to the city of Pachuca, I managed to leave my laptop and video camera on a regional microbus.
My girlfriend, Bethany Wilson, got the lucky job of searching the back seats of each returning bus in Pachuca. I went back to Real del Monte and did the same, with the help of a sympathetic tamale vendor who helped me flag down drivers.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project couldn't have been reported without the help of dozens of people. Thanks to all who contributed interviews and information. A special thanks to the following for their assistance in making the trips to Mexico and Arizona a success:
International Center for Journalists, Washington, D.C.
Rosa and Diana Avila Gonzales, Real del Monte, Mexico
Paulina Torres Casco, Veronica Chavez, State Commission for Immigrant Assistance, Tehuacán and Puebla
Maria Luisa Ruiz Aponte, Tehuacán, Mexico
Agent Sean King, U.S. Border Patrol, Tucson, Ariz.
Bruce Parks and Bruce Anderson, Pima County Medical Examiner's Office
The Rev. Robin Hoover, Mike Humphrey and Barbara Marshall of Humane Borders, Tucson.
Jeronimo Garcia and Alejandro Ramos, Mexican Consulate, Tucson
Gary Christopherson, University of Arizona, Tucson
Gwen and Gary Kane, Tucson
Bethany Wilson, Waco
“I hate to tell you this, but this isn’t like being in America,” she said. “People there are honest. It’s not like that here. If they see something like that, they’ll just take it. I don’t have much hope for your computer.”
So imagine my relief when, after two hours, an approaching bus driver motioned to me and handed me a note from Bethany: “I’ve found the computer. Come back.”
It was the same bus on which I had left the computer that morning. He gave me a lift and what seemed to be a proud rebuttal to the tamale lady.
“You see, we Mexicans are very honest,” he said.
I saw Mexican hospitality in action over the next two weeks, as I rode buses to the towns of Tehuacán and Tlapacoyan.
Hearts were opened . . .
The officials with the state immigration assistance office in Puebla and Tehuacán helped me arrange interviews with the families of Maximino Hernandez and Faustino Francisco. Not only that, they drove me from Puebla to Tehuacán — more than an hour’s distance — and took me to the impoverished neighborhood where the family lived. And I can’t fathom the hospitality of the families themselves, who gave several hours of their time when the pain of their loss was still raw.
In Tlapacoyan, Veracruz, the family of Fidel Sanchez Rosas, yet another victim of the Arizona desert, not only talked to me but took me on a whitewater rafting trip down the Filo-Bobos River, where the boy had worked as a guide. His brothers staunchly refused any pay.
Traveling to Arizona, I found people who devoted hours to explaining the humanitarian crisis in the desert: volunteers with Humane Borders, Border Patrol Agent Sean King, Jeronimo Garcia at the Mexican Consulate and Dr. Bruce Anderson with the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office. My editor’s Tucson friends, Gwen and Gary Kane, not only took me out for carne seca enchiladas but lent me a couple of Arizona books that mysteriously vanished a few days later. (This apparent pattern of losing things is pure coincidence.)
Eyes were opened . . .
Only once in this whole odyssey did I feel fear, and it was in Arizona, not Mexico. West of Tucson, I climbed a ridge to snap pictures of the desert sunset. Coming down, I somehow strayed off the path and down a steep mountainside in the gathering dusk.
My feet slid with each step. Thorns scratched my ankles. My mouth went cotton-dry and my heart raced. In my dumb panic, I began running to beat nightfall. I slipped and cut my hand. I saw the lights of the highway and I realized I was overreacting: My rental car was only a quarter-mile away.
Recovering from the primal terror of being alone in the desert at night, I understood. After a hard day, an American journalist in Mexico or Arizona could retreat to the safe cocoon of a hotel room or car, or go have a beer in a nice cafe. The people I wrote about could not. I could leave a laptop on a bus and it would ruin my day’s travel plans. They could leave behind a water bottle and die. Whatever challenges I faced in my journey to chronicle their disastrous journeys, there was this difference: I could tell my story as comedy but theirs only as tragedy.
We can only hope that a regulated immgration policy
will be instituted, whereby laws are ahered to. Without this
we have chaos…Americans are tired of the chaos.
Thousand of legal applicants are being turned away so that
lawbreaking can be accomodated. Let’s play by the rules
and put a stop to the inherited crime and draining of social services by allowing illegals to sneak in.
It is truly sad to see how these immigrants suffer. Anyone who does not somewhat understand both sides of the story is truly inhumane. Yes we need a better immigration policy and a system that truly works, because it is not only Americans that loose money and the such (immigrants do not qualify for social services, its our own people here in America responsible for that, but thats another topic) but these people loose their dreams, hope, loved ones, and most importantly their lives. All so that they can seek a better future and pursue the American dream. Both parties would benefit from a better policy.
All you liberal Money Hungry leaches Need to get a life !!We Do Need laws !! We do Not Need to pity your Cheap labor source
FYI We Did not Tell Anyone to Come Here illegal it was there Fault
They Came here on there own !! They did not want there Country
to succeed They are to Blame for Mexico’s poverty if they can come
here and stat there own business why cant they help there own country ?
You are correct: it is their fault for crossing into a country thats not theirs and the such. Their government is so corrupted that it would be useless to even try to build a successful business, but to each’s own. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. But…shouldn’t you know how to spell the correct English language is you claim you are a true American? Be respectful of others, cause up to an extent I do share SOME of your views. And last, if people want to get rid of immigrants and their “cheap labor” stop complaining about the prices when you go out and buy your groceries or out to dinner, cause prices will only get higher once a employers stop hiring immigrants.
Remember, these are human beings we’re talking about! Most of them trying to earn money to keep their families alive. It’s not their fault that their government is corrupt, and there is little they can do about it. Those workers do NOT have a legal way to come across and work! That’s our fault, not theirs! We need them, but we haven’t bothered to set up a workable system for them to register and come in to work. We used to have the “Bracero Program” for bringing in unskilled workers. Let’s pressure our law makers to get busy and solve this problem in a fair and reasonable way, and quickly! We’re just throwing money at the problem. Fences and walls are not the answer. And there’s a lot of false information coming from hate groups. All human beings are our brothers and sisters and they are dying out there in the desert because we can’t seem to figure out how to deal with this problem. Americans used to be known as the most generous and caring people in the world. Our ancestors came here to find a better life. How can we now be so cruel to those in need?
Right now the (what once was) USA is going bankrupt. Each DAY our dollar falls a little more in value in the world market, so rather than continuing the impossible quest of trying to save all of the people on Earth, we had better start using our every resource to save our OWN country and it’s NATURAL BORN citizens!
It’s not that I don’t care. It’s that common sense dictates, when this country goes under, and it IS going under right now, we will be in the same situation as those who are coming here!
Keep in mind, those people who are coming here illegally are NOT coming here to contribute. They’re coming here to TAKE, and the fact is, unless SOMETHING changes our current path, in the near future there won’t be anything left TO take!
WAKE UP PEOPLE! The “United States of America” is NOT a wealthy country anymore. On the contrary, this United States of America is currently TRILLIONS of dollars in DEBT, and mounting!
No matter how you FEEL about it, illegal entry into this country is an INVASION, and it’s one part of what will eventually bring a total disaster! If you’re willing to give up YOUR LIFESTYLE along with everything you’ve been blessed with, then follow your ‘feel sorry for them’ all the way into destruction!
THAT is the TRUTH, no matter what your view might be! Take it or leave it!
SICK-N-TIRED of the sob stories. They KNOW they are breaking OUR laws when they cross the border! Period. It is a FEDERAL CRIME to cross OUR borders anywhere other than legal points of entry. AND it is NOT the responsibility of the U.S. Taxpayer to foot the bill because things are ‘bad’ in their country. FIXIT.
I’m SICK of the biased media and all the ILLEGAL enablers/supporters. Mexico’s government has had about the same amount of time to create a better place to live for their citizens and CHOSE NOT to. While in a little over 200 years - the U.S. has gone from raw land to putting a man on the moon!!!!
Their country CHOSE to have “class division” (haves & have nots) now they have to live with the consequences.
Why is this even a debate? The law is the law. Im tired of hearing all these sob stories of people dying in the desert while sneaking into our country to further drain it of its resources. How is this different than feeling sorry for the person that got shot while robbing someone’s house? This isnt about feelings. This is about our country going down the tubes. You want good paying jobs? lower taxes? less crime? of course. So why let in all these poverty level people that will do nothing but bankrupt our society and suck the government dry until nothing remains for the Americans that need its services such as veterans and our elders. We spend enough money already on foreign aid trying to be humanitarian and nice. Bottom line is it needs to be shut down now to stop the bleeding. America first…everyone else a distant second.
What is this new crusade to feel sorry for criminals? The law is the law. Im tired of hearing all these sob stories of people dying in the desert while sneaking into our country to further drain it of its resources. How is this different than feeling sorry for the person that got shot while robbing someone’s house? This isnt about feelings. This is about our country going down the tubes. You want good paying jobs? lower taxes? less crime? of course. So why let in all these poverty level people that will do nothing but bankrupt our society and suck the government dry until nothing remains for the Americans that need its services such as veterans and our elders. We spend enough money already on foreign aid trying to be humanitarian and nice. Bottom line is it needs to be shut down now to stop the bleeding. America first…everyone else a distant second.
I want all the ‘bleeding hearts’ out there (politicians/media/enablers/supporters) to HAVE TO FACE the families of “REAL VICTIMS” at the hands of ILLEGAL aliens.
Poor, pitiful people… not. Every choice in life is a calculated risk. Normally, we don’t reward people for taking stupid gambles with their lives, even if it IS the equivalent of the Mexican Lotto.
I’d like to say that I really give a damn, but these people are not victims. They are deliberate in their actions and they know perfectly well what they are doing. I’d rather feel sorry for real victims — like the American worker whose labor is being underbid by illegals, for the honest employer who can’t compete with the guy who loads cheap laborers into his panel van at the local Manpower office every morning. Heck, let’s feel sorry for the folks like you and I, the middle class who always, ALWAYS foot the bill for some do-gooder’s idea of “social justice”.
I don’t care how many illegal immigrants die trying to get into this country. It’s only 1% of those who try, and clearly, that isn’t deterrent enough. We should be making it harder, not easier, unless we want to encourage the behavior.
Let the recession come, and let it be long and hard. That will sweep out the economic opportunists — of every stripe and class, elite and illegal — better than any law or fence ever could.
I can not belive that you people are that selffish and thoughtless. We are talking about someone loosing there loved one and you people are worried about money. These people that do come over her to work illegal are only trying to provide for there families and do s** jobs for little of no pay cause just put food on the table. The people who do live in this country that are allowed to live in the United States don’t want to do the s** jobs cause they think they are to good to do the job. If if was not for these people working concrete jobs, roofing jobs and other hard labor jobs the majority of these things would not be complete cause our Americans that are legal here don’t want to do the job. Why is it that we will not allow these people in the United States but we allow the Pakastains and the Chinese and Japanese in with no problem and take over our gas stations and our businesses and take our money away from us here in American. Why don’t they go back to there country and make there living and stop taken out money from us. But no, we want to give the Mexican’s a hard time to be part of this Country that are human just like us. It doesn’t make any sense. If you were in there shoes you would do anything to have better for your kids..
As a supposed “Christian Nation”, America would do well to actually read the words of Christian Scripture, actually consider the words and very life of their supposed savior, Jesus Christ, and realize that the single largest subject, outside of “God”, addressed by the totality of Chritian Scriture is “the poor”. How we treat the poor, the stranger, the widow and orphan, these will determine our true faith and the depth of our humanity.
Many say “the law is the law” but fail to see how the benifited from, even endorsed, “immigrant labor” and thus violated the law they so sanctimoniously scream. The sins of our fore-fathers, the very sins of this country, are that this country was founded on genicide and slavery and no matter how many years have lapsed, our hands remain bloody and our faith flawed.
As a country, we enticed immigrant labor for most of the 20th Century because we wanted cheap labor and goods. We effectively gave them no rights and created another generation of “slavery” for our own benefit. Now, with the political winds changing, we wave the hypocritical flag of “the law” and feel justified in criminalizing those seeking LIFE through work. We are not far from the Nazi Germany mind-set of re-catigorizing a group people to justify our inhumane attitudes and acts against them.
The bankruptcy this country is facing is far deeper and far older than the current panic over the impact of immigrants. Whether the American Indian or as recent as the poor of New Orleans, the poor and powerless suffer under the greed and indiffernce of the powerful in this “Christian Nation”. And make no mistake, I am not talking about the 1% of hyper-rich or government officials when I say “the powerful”. WE have the power to choose to live in the love of God, in the image of Christ Jesus, or to live in the fear and hate that grows out of worshipping a flag, a boundry, the Dollar - worshipping self.
God have mercy.
I have the solution, it will save the lives of many illegal aliens as well as all the US citizens they rape and kill (and that’s a huge number) when they get here. Mine fields along the border, sure a few will have to die until they catch on but then it will be smooth sailing. In all seriousness people breaking the law and/or doing something stupid die everyday, those are the risks, that’s life, how about a little personal responsibility.
Phillip is right on target. I find it admirable that immigrants are willing to work less than desirable jobs because they want to provide better for their families. However, pretending that we are doing any illegals any favors by hiring them for less than minimum wage under the guise of “them doing jobs Americans don’t want” is nothing but foolish and selfish. This is why we need a guest worker program: it would ensure that people get paid fairly for their work, it would prevent an imported slave class, and it would provide a legal way for immigrants to enter this country and benefit from its economy. AND a guest worker program would even the playing field and bring immigrants into the tax system just like the rest of us.
I want all the ‘bleeding hearts’ out there (politicians/media/enablers/supporters) to HAVE TO FACE the families of “REAL VICTIMS” at the hands of ILLEGAL aliens.
Reality is; H1 visas for temp. work are now unlimited. If an employer requires workers to do a job in the U.S. he needs but to follow the guidelines and can get as many as needed for the alloted time required.
Reality is; those little comic books filled with “how to cross the border” information are given to prisoners getting out of jail in Mexico.
Reality is; There is no excuse for illegals to be helped in any way and is against federal law.
great series, great writing. Mexico is a developing country and has made huge strides in economic development. Anyone who thinks Mexico is, by world standards, a poor country has never been to the Third World of Africa and Asia. Mexico still has too many people for the number of jobs in the modernized sector and these are the people who look to the north for relief thru hard work at hard jobs. The price, of course, is the risk of death in the Sonoran desert.
From our side, there are 300+million of us, few of us being interested in the jobs an illegal takes in a flash. Even fewer of us want our children to grow up to carrying bricks at a construction site or manicuring the lawns on an estate. Demonizing those who want such work is uncharitable. Blaming these folks for our crime problems is beside the point. Cheap political rhetoric that leads to no solutions.
I THANK THAT IF I WERE NOT FOR ILLEGALS THAT USA WOULD NOT BE WHAT IS IS TODAY SO MANY PEOPLE ALWYAS PUT DOWN MEXICAN PEOPLE BUT THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ILLEGAL PEOPLE IS USA NEXT TIME YOU GO OUT TO EAT AND YOU SAY OH THIS IS SO GOOD GO BEHIND IN THE KITCHEN AND SEE WHO IS COOKING FOR YOU ,LOOK AROUND YOU WHEN YOU ARE OUT AND ABOUGHT LOOK WHO PICKS UP THE SLACK WHEN THERE ARE JOBS OUT THERE THAT CITIZENS DO NOT WANT TO TAKE BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT TO GET DIRTY.THERE ALL KINDS IN THIS WORLD THERE ARE HARD WORKING PEOPLE OF ALL RACES AND THER ARE ALSO PEOPLE OF ALL RACES THAT DONT WANT TO WORK. BUT DONT TAKE IT OUT ON THE MEXICAN PEOPLE THEY COME HERE TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THERE FAMILYS THAT IS WHAT WE ALL TRY TO DO SOME OF THESE PEOLPE DO TRY TO GET PERMITTS BUT FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER THEY ARE ALWAS DENIED JUST LOOK AT IT THIS WAS YES SO GET MEDICAL CARE AND YES THER KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL BUT THESE ARE HARD WORKING PEOPLE DOING JOBS AMERICAN DO NOT WANT TO DO IN ALL RACES THERE ARE CHILD MOLESTER AND THER ARE PEOPLE THAT KILL,STILL, BUT THAT IS IN ALL RACES NOT JUST MEXICNANS
MR SMITH AND LORI BAKER THANKS FOR THE ARTICAL ON IMMIGRATION I KNOW IT IS HARD WORK THAT YOU DO I KNOW THE FAMILYS ON THE PEOPLE THAT CROSS YOUR PATH ARE GRATEFULL FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK BUT THERE ARE SO MANY CLOSED MINDED IGNERANT PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DONT LIKE YOUR WORK BUT TUFF.GOD GAVE YOU’L A GIFT KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND I HOPE THAT MORE FAMILYS ARE BLESSED AND THAT YOU’L ARE ABLE TO HELP MORE FAMILYS FIND THERE LOVED ONES BECAUSE NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LOVED ONES IS THE BAD THING THANKS AGIAN FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK NO MATTER WHAT.GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILYS
Most of our ancestors had problems getting into this country, but they did it legally. I have no problem with people coming into America, but why can’t they do it legally. Why can’t they become citizens who pay taxes like everyone else? They want what America has, but they don’t want to be Americans.
People are always complaining about the criminals that cross over, but fail to see the 90% good that comes from immigration. So many people are always telling the nation to buy American products, well the only reason anything American is affordable is because of the hard working immigrants who dont want outrageous fees to do manual labor. The U.S mus first look to its welfare system and quit letting Americans abuse it. If you cut off most of the welfare system and assisted living (or at least make people try to get a job), you will creat less demand for foreign work. THERE IS NO SUPPLY IN A NATION WITH NO DEMAND. I dont support an all out amnesty, but do strongly support legalizing immigrant families that have lived here for years and have obeyed laws and paid taxes! And to Mary who strongly wants people to correctly write and speak the English language, maybe she should take spelling and grammer lessons, before talking about Mexicans. Also to FEDUP and other radicals that dedicate your life to hating illegal aliens, with all due respect get a life.
This is in response specifically to rogerg’s comments. I do not know where your information is coming from but it is incorrect. The reality today is that visas are strictly limited and neither H1B visas for temporary skilled workers (bachelor’s degree or higher) nor H2B visas for seasonal or temporary laborers (landscaping, restaurant work, etc.) are unlimited. There are 65,000 H1B visas available each year. Last year on the first day of filing, the immigration service received approximately 120,000 applications. Therefore more than half of the employers who applied were left out. H2B visas, which many companies rely on to operate, are also limited to 66,000 per year. 33,000 are available on October 1 and an additional 33,000 are available on April 1. We ran out of the April 1 visas in December. Thus, many employers will be unable to secure LEGAL temporary help this year. Every day employers are saying that they will be unable to operate their businesses without the labor that the seasonal and/or temporary workers provide. You don’t have to agree with people calling for positive immigration reform, but you should at least develop your opinions based on accurate facts and with a firm grounding in reality. Our immigration system is broken - we need workers and people from Latin America need jobs. Our focus needs to be on finding ways to accomplish both goals and the system we have now isn’t it. Until we come up with something better, this will keep happening and if we are the country of human and civil rights we hold ourselves out to be, we cannot continue to allow people to die who are coming to this country to perform labor we badly need.
I don’t mean to sound like particularly cold-blooded, but I could really give a rat’s backside
how many thousands of illegal aliens are put in mortal risk in their failed attempt to invade
the sovereign territory of the USA. They should be considered as much a plague as the
Biblical plague of locusts that struck ancient Egypt.
This country is/used to be a country of laws, of legal juriprudence. Foreigners seeking to
emigrate to the USA passed through Ellis Island. They were screened for contagious diseases.
They provided evidence that some individual, family, social organization, or employer backed
them financially, in order to assure that they would not be a burden to society.
Long before Ellis Island, this country had specific quotas by nationality, if only to balance the
needs between potential employers (like the railroads) and their larger impact upon society.
The Mid-West and the West were both mostly empty back then, and there was a notion called
“Manifest Destiny” to fulfill.
Today we have major employers, financial institutions, politicians, and organizations of illegal
aliens themselves ( La Raz, Mexicans Without Borders, etcetera ) which our Federal government
has deemed eligible for tax-exempt status ( Why? ) which all demand equal rights with citizens,
and without the social and financial guarantees that were required during the Ellis Island era.
Illegal aliens are not (and never have been) revenue-neutral. They are a burden to public health, to social services, to health care, to unfunded primary education — but not a burden
to the employers who illegal hire them. The social safety net that these illegal aliens use is
essentially a free-bee that the employers benefit from, not unlike some new bit of corporate
welfare. The over-taxed Middle Class and Poor in this country are effectively financing the
destruction of their own economic well-being. Any politician, political pundit, or religious
icon that publically equates the civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s to the current
struggle of the “oppressed undocumented immigrant” has (I guarantee it) some other vested
interest hidden in their “agenda”.
This country needs to preserve it’s sovereign boundaries, even if it means building a wall all
along both southern and northern borders. There needs to be a concerted effort by both
state and federal governments to enforce current laws against illegal aliens, the employers
that hire them, and those others who aid and abet these crimes. Document fraud is a felony,
identity theft is a felony, smuggling (aliens/drugs/weapons) is a felony, driving without a valid
license is a crime, as is driving without insurance. Any illegal alien who has been deported
and re-enters the USA has committed a felony worth 10 years. Persons who engage in the
manufacture of illicit documents, as well those who use them can both be charged under
RICO statutes. Employers who hire illegal aliens are also subject to RICO prosecution. The
RICO statutes call not only for prison time for “maintaining a continuing criminal enterprise”,
but also subject the convicted “up to the total value of assets attained in said crime”.
It looks to me like just enforcing our current laws to the fullest extent would not only cause
so level of mass exodous if illegal aliens, but would also provide the funds (siezed under RICO)
and the prison labor needed to construct those border walls relatively cheaply. What is really
needed is the public outcry against our current crop of politicians that want amnesty and
citizenship for all including the (estimated 885,000 violent street gang members) MS-13.
Amnesty is insane. Two other amnesties have been tried, in the 1970’s and the 1980’s —
without the enforcement part of those financed and implimented, it has been little but a
“green light” for an even greater invasion of illegal aliens.
I don’t mean to sound like particularly cold-blooded, but I could really give a rat’s backside
how many thousands of illegal aliens are put in mortal risk in their failed attempt to invade
the sovereign territory of the USA. They should be considered as much a plague as the
Biblical plague of locusts that struck ancient Egypt.
This country is/used to be a country of laws, of legal juriprudence. Foreigners seeking to
emigrate to the USA passed through Ellis Island. They were screened for contagious diseases.
They provided evidence that some individual, family, social organization, or employer backed
them financially, in order to assure that they would not be a burden to society.
Long before Ellis Island, this country had specific quotas by nationality, if only to balance the
needs between potential employers (like the railroads) and their larger impact upon society.
The Mid-West and the West were both mostly empty back then, and there was a notion called
“Manifest Destiny” to fulfill.
Today we have major employers, financial institutions, politicians, and organizations of illegal
aliens themselves ( La Raz, Mexicans Without Borders, etcetera ) which our Federal government
has deemed eligible for tax-exempt status ( Why? ) which all demand equal rights with citizens,
and without the social and financial guarantees that were required during the Ellis Island era.
Illegal aliens are not (and never have been) revenue-neutral. They are a burden to public health, to social services, to health care, to unfunded primary education — but not a burden
to the employers who illegal hire them. The social safety net that these illegal aliens use is
essentially a free-bee that the employers benefit from, not unlike some new bit of corporate
welfare. The over-taxed Middle Class and Poor in this country are effectively financing the
destruction of their own economic well-being. Any politician, political pundit, or religious
icon that publically equates the civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s to the current
struggle of the “oppressed undocumented immigrant” has (I guarantee it) some other vested
interest hidden in their “agenda”.
This country needs to preserve it’s sovereign boundaries, even if it means building a wall all
along both southern and northern borders. There needs to be a concerted effort by both
state and federal governments to enforce current laws against illegal aliens, the employers
that hire them, and those others who aid and abet these crimes. Document fraud is a felony,
identity theft is a felony, smuggling (aliens/drugs/weapons) is a felony, driving without a valid
license is a crime, as is driving without insurance. Any illegal alien who has been deported
and re-enters the USA has committed a felony worth 10 years. Persons who engage in the
manufacture of illicit documents, as well those who use them can both be charged under
RICO statutes. Employers who hire illegal aliens are also subject to RICO prosecution. The
RICO statutes call not only for prison time for “maintaining a continuing criminal enterprise”,
but also subject the convicted “up to the total value of assets attained in said crime”.
It looks to me like just enforcing our current laws to the fullest extent would not only cause
some level of mass exodous if illegal aliens, but would also provide the funds (siezed under RICO) and the prison labor needed to construct those border walls relatively cheaply. What is really needed is the public outcry against our current crop of politicians that want amnesty and
citizenship for all including the (estimated 885,000 violent street gang members) MS-13.
Amnesty is insane. Two other amnesties have been tried, in the 1970’s and the 1980’s —
without the enforcement part of those financed and implimented, it has been little but a
“green light” for an even greater invasion of illegal aliens.
There are serious problems that must be handled. The changes will not be made by running from them. The indocumentados are ++NEEDED++ in Mexico to make the change not by selfishly running away. Historically Mexico has a revolution every 100 years with the next one in 2010. Might not happen because the very people needed are in the US. It is more important to make the changes in our own country than to wash the gringos dishes.
TO THAT SORRY ** FEDUP, YOU THINK THAT ITS JUST ILLEGALS THAT DO ALL THOSE CRIMES HUH??? BOY I DONT KNOW WHAT YOU BEEN SMOKING MAN. I CAN REALLY TELL THAT YOU ARE SMART MAN.
First off, I would like to thank the ones who set this series up and for all the hard work ya’ll put forth towards it. I have really enjoyed reading it, as well my family and friends. I have seen lots of bogus comments that really make no sense.. people are so closed minded and confused about the whole immigration issue. Like a few have said, the Mexicanos are not the only illegals here in the country.. there are several types of people from hundreds of countries but we are stereo-typing the Mexican people that come over here just to look for a better life. They are only trying to escape poverty… Put yourself in that position, being born in a country of poverty, it is only natural to want the best for your family, your children, and your parents. And I’ve seen a few say “If people want what the Americans have, they should become legal”.. well if they COULD become legal, then they probably would. At this moment, there are so many people from SEVERAL countries that are applying for citizenship but it is not being granted. That is the main reason that people are coming over illegally.. we cannot put that blame on a certain race/ethnicity/origin and so on! Americans need to get over their full blown pride and wake up and realize we are all very grateful for what we have, and we take everything we have here for granted. We are so closed minded, and there is so much prejudice, racial issues, and stereo-typing. Being that we are a country founded on the belief of God, I don’t think it is right what we Americans are doing. We should stand up for what is right, but also we need to think before we speak. We should all be treated fairly and like human beings, NOT animals!! We are all created equal and we all want the best for ourselves! Let’s not act foolish on this wacotrib website.. let’s act like adults and speak wisely, not crazy. God bless!
America was founded on the idea of immigration, yes, the only true “Americans” are the native americans. Most of Americans now can trace their family origins from overseas, so you see I am not against immigration. However I believe that one must enter this country legally. Apply for visas, green cards, etc then enter when granted, that way people wont have to end up like these poor unfornutate souls. God give them rest!
FIRST OF ALL, I AM AN AMRERICAN CITZ. IF YOU HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH, WHAT THESE FAMILIES HAVE GONE THROUGH-COMING THROUG WATERS THAT ON THE WAY THER’S JUST PRAYER THAT ITS NOT A DEEP SPOT WHERE LIFE WILL BE LOST, OR WALKING FOR DAYS AND NIGHTS HOPING YOUR BODY WILL MAKE IT, OR SIMPLY THAT YOUR SHOES WILL SUPPORT THE LONG WALK AND PREASURE PUT ON THEM, AND GUES WHAT THE WHOLE TIME YOUR WALKING ALL YOU HAVE IN YOUR MIND IS THAT DREAM, THAT AMERICAN DREAM OF KNOWING YOU WILL @ LEAST HAVE A MEAL FOR YOUR CHILDREN. SO ITS EASY FOR YOU TO SAY “WHY DONT THEY JUST BECOME LEGAL”,BUT YOU DONT KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO TRY AND BECOME LEGAL- BELIVE IT OR NOT YOU CASE CAN BE OPEN FOR UP TO 15 YEARS BEFORE YOU GET THAT FIRST APPT WITH INS OFFICE.SO DONT SAY “WHY CANT THEY JUST BECOME LEGAL IF YOU DONT KNOW HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS…..THANK YOU MR SMITH AND LORI BAKER FOR WHAT YOURE DOING, I MEAN IT WITH ALL MY HEART.BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YALL ONE DAY IMMIGRANTS WILL BE TREATED LIKE HUMAN BEINGS THAT THEY ARE.”EDUP” BEFORE YOU THROW ALL THESE STATISTICS OUT LEARN THEM FIRST DONT JUST MAKE UP #S……THANKS……..
What part of ILLEGAL don’t you people understand! These people are invaders. They abuse our health care system, our schools, deflate our wages, etc. ALL of them need to be shipped back now!! They take jobs away from Americans and claim it is jobs no one wants to do, B.S.!!! I have no sympathy for ANYONE who sneaks in. All of them need to be shot as tresspassers and invaders.
I understand what they go through… over there in Mexico there are no jobs and no life over there! There are no oppurtunities, I bet anyone born and raised here couldn’t last with a job over there for at least two weeks!!! No one knows how hard it is over there, only people with families that are over there do. So before anyone puts people down get facts straight and learn hw difficult it is down there!!!!!!!
This message goes to everyone who thinks illegal immigrants are taking your jobs. If you really want to kick us out start to work hard. You people think the jobs with offices are the best ones and you can’t live with out one, but guess what we don’t care what kind of jobs they offer us if we get paid we do the job. You people think it will kill you to wofk outside in the sun. If ya’ll won’t do them jobs, then WHY ARE YA’LL COMPLAINING. This really makes me mad. No Offense to anybody, White people, first they treat the Black people wrong, now they try to kick the Mexicans out of the United states. Aint this the home of the FREE and the home of the brave. well not to me it aint. keep this world alive, and don’t try to cause no more wars with no one. LET US BE. PLAESE!!!!
For those of you that think that “illegal” immigrants are just coming to the US to make trouble, to invade…think again. I’m a Mexican-American, proudly born in Mexico, but a U.S. citizen by naturalization. My parents brought me illegaly to this country at the age of five. My mother managed to cross the river carrying me. Now, almost twenty years later, I have a college degree from Baylor, and I’m about to start law school. Before you people start talking crap about Mexicans and how they should all be thrown back, why don’t you try to survive on $5 per day or less? That’s barely enough to buy a coffee at starbucks! It’s not about laws to them, it’s all about survival. Do y’all honestly think people want to leave their loved ones, their home, their country? Come on! They do it because they have to. All immigrants, regardless of country of origin, come to this country to work hard and make a better living for themselves and those around them. I have been blessed to have fulfilled the American dream, but it’s just so sad to see that there are so many ignorant people out there. Remember this… there will never be a river too deep, a desert too hot or a wall too high…illegal immigration will always exist, so you might as well get used to it. Oh, and if you’re scared of the “invasion” maybe it’s because you know someone better than you will be taking over…or has taken over (in my case)!
well i would just like to say that this country was taken from the indian so the fore fathers of the so called “americans” dont belong here either this land was stolen right from under neath them.Secound, these people dont want to be here they rather be with there famlies in mexico but in order to survive and feed there families they have to put there lives in danger for 6 or 7 dollar job,that an american wont do. Third they didnt take american jobs, if you are an american you had a longer oppertunity to find a job then them,but sociaity rather stay at home and collect walfare.who cleans your homes, cooks food in restruants,fixes your roof,cleans yards,builds new homes, construction work,and works in the filds,think about that!!
I don’t think that coming to this country illegally is that big of a crime. At most it should be a misdemeanor. These people are coming to this country like many others to improve their lives by earning money. If we don’t want them coming here to the United States then we should eliminate the ability to obtain the jobs that bring them here. How is it that I can fear a person that does not speak read or write English? If he can take my job away from me then it is my fault that I do not have enough education to compete with this type of individual. I believe that it is the persons that have not taken advantage of the educational system that are doing the most complaining. If you are not happy with the education that you have received in this country then you should hold the education system in your district accountable for the product it produced and not take it out on someone that should not be able to compete for your job.
Amazing that so much is made of how helpful this technology can be and at the same time we’re treated to the hearts and violins about what anyone knows will happen when you attempt to cross the desert to enter the US illegally. I wish that the media would spend some time writing so passionately on the tragedies that impact American citizens lives each and every day. A friend of mine lost her husband because they couldn’t afford health insurance and being citizens there was no lobby demanding that the state provide medicaid to them. He was ill, and cancer didn’t get diagnosed until it was too late. He died three weeks after being diagnosed. He left a widow and three small children. They aren’t alone either. American citizens who are black, brown and white are suffering because they have been discriminated against in the workplace, because they are American citizens and legally entitled to wage standards They face homelessness and hunger, but the media ignores that. Just as the media has ignored what has happened to the poor who were tossed aside after Katrina, they too were replaced by illegals so wages could be gutted.
I do not care about illegal aliens any longer. They have brought this on themselves. Our ancestors fought to get higher wages and more opportunities, those in other countries have the same ability to protest and demand better wages. Others in their country have said as much. Instead illegals want to come here to take jobs away from American citizens. It is to me no surprise tha the countries south of the border are corrupt cesspools, because those people do not care about working for something bigger than themselves, they are selfish and hate filled human beings.
Your ancestors, the Spanish were the ones who sailed to the lands that are now called Mexico, Central and South America and committed genocide against the Aztec, Incan and Mayan peoples, and those few that remained were enslaved, and their resources stolen. If you want to talk about going back to where ancestors come from, you are free to purchase a plane ticket and head back home to Spain. Your ancestors attempted to commit genocide here with the native peoples when you first started your cross border treks. I am a Native American and my people do NOT appreciate your exploitation of our history. You can attempt revisionism all you like, it doesn’t wash.
You are right that we don’t want you here, nor do American citizens of African, Hispanic and many other heritage. Have you ever heard of You Don’t Speak For Me? It’s an organization comprised of American citizens of Hispanic origin who are as fed up and angry about illegal aliens destroying our economy, undercutting their and their children’s jobs, education health care systems. I live in an urban area, filled with working poor and struggling middle class American citizens of all races and ethnic origins and they are all angry and swearing to vote out any and all politicians who support amnesty or open borders. You have no idea how angry the majority of the American people are and how united we all are against illegals and their lobbies. You can sneer all you like, but we are the ones who will have the last laugh. We all report businesses who we see having illegal employees. We take down info and share the information and mass call ICE and other governmental agencies. I have a friend who works in a hospital who takes down information on illegals who are illegally benefiting from medicaid and she reports them. We are always networking and encouraging others to get involved and we shall overcome.
This has nothing to do the desire of illegals. It does, however have to do with what the majority of people in OUR country want…and end to illegals dictating what we can and cannot do in again, OUR country, not Mexico’s…and please for God’s sakes, wake up and quit saying the the only “true” Americans are “native Americans”…True Americans are those people who are here LEGALLY…and there have been many generations of Americans who built this country…but the main theme was they were Legal! The Americans who built this country…and they include damn near all races are the ones entitled to decide who does what in American…not the Democrats, La Racist (Raza..please the “white” version is called the KKK, (who only want illegals for more voters), not the Republicans (who only want cheap labor at the expense of Americans). No, Americans will decide, not Mexico (why don’t they use their immense wealth to take care of their own people…oh, that’s right, they have a cast system that completley disregards you if you don’t have a family name)…no, I want them out, and I’m not a racist…we all know the race card comes out when there is no true, good argument left to argue…that said, once you get out of college and grow up a bit, you will understand that the world in not an “ideal” place, but rather more practical.
As a Native American who knows history, I’ll educate you on a fact your revisionist history lessons might not have informed you of. Spain, the country of your ancestors created the big slave trade. They picked it up from the Arabs, and decided to make a big business of it. Spain created the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and centuries before the English came to these shores, your ancestors had committed genocide against the native peoples of what is now called Latin America, and had started bringing over African slaves to do the work. To this day, your people are racist against blacks, and are racist against the few remaining indigenous peoples. It’s well documented, look at the racist stereotypes that are still shown in Mexico. President Fox disrespected Americans of African heritage and then made a bunch of excuses (not one of them were believed) because he realized he had shown his racism.
Your people could get higher wages in your own country if you were too lazy to work for them. Also, while wages are lower south of the border, so are prices. There are no starving illegals from south of the border, you see no pictures of malnourished Hispanics crossing over. This is about stealing jobs with lower wages and then demanding welfare to make up the difference so you can buy cars and houses and other luxuries.
We will pass laws, one state, one city at a time, we will punish, fine and imprison employers of illegals. We will cut off tax dollars going to sanctuary cities and states (do you hear me, California?) we will cut off access to everything, and we will deport all those who do not leave voluntarily, confiscating any property to pay for the deportations and other costs.
I see comments such as those by Luis and Klau, and it seems that you do not understand the big problem here. These illegals are just that, illegal, criminals when they break the law, and if one will do that to make his life better, then what is the differnce between him and the person who robs a convenience store to provide for his family? None, in my books. There are legal ways to come here, as proven by thousands of immigrants over the years. They had to go through the same process, same hardships, so what would make you better than those peoples? Why would we want to grant amnesty to the illegals that are here now, and not grant that amnesty and offer the jobs to the American citizens that are incarcerated United States prisons and jails some for committing crimes to try to provide for their families? And for Greg, it was the majority of Democrats voting for amnesty so that they could keep the cheap labor.
Immigration has been a problem of the US for far too long with little or no progress being made to rectify it. Our social security benefits are at risk, for one thing. People who are LEAGAL citizens that work their whole life, paying into this fund may not receive these benefits when they become of age, I say again may not even receive them. And why???? because our government lets it happen. I say enough is enough, cut off any and all assistance to a plague on our nation. No more jobs, no more money, and for cryin out loud, no more freakin watering stations in the desert to help them. What is wrong with people. Yes, our nation was founded on immigration, but there is such a thing as over population. It is a drain on our economy as a whole, and I dare anyone to prove me wrong!
I’m really fed up with “FEDUP”!. He needs to get his facts right. I’m not saying that Illegals don’t committ horrible crimes, but so do NATURAL BORN CITIZENS or their crimes don’t count?. Was Timothy Mcveigh an Illegal?. Can you research that for me FEDUP?. What about the guys that dragged an African-American man to his death,a few years ago (for no reason) in a small TEXAS town?. I’m wondering if those guys were Illegals too. Oh and the Mother in Houston who killed her five childrena by drowning them, she MUST of being a darn illegal too huh?. A NATURAL BORN CITIZEN WOULD OF NEVER DONE it huh?. Darn illegals shame on you for being hardworking, and trying to provide a better life for your family!. A crime is a crime regarless of status. Everyone should be treated the same when it comes to crimes. Fedup look around and see who lives in HOUSING, NOT ILLEGALS. Want me to draw a picture or do you get my point?. Oh and in case you are wondering, I’m not ILLEGAL, I’m just like you only with a human heart. “KLAU” I’m proud of you for proving narrow minded people like FEDUP that not all illegals are criminals.
for the people that think there social security is at risk, think about this. all the illegals pay in to social security under false numbers, so the ssa has no way to apply payments to there accounts. this means that 15.3% of there gross wages are surplus funds. they also can’t file tax returns so any money they pay in is not claimed as tax overpayment. so the overall picture is they are paying there own way. and they are willing to do the jobs that our spoiled youth won’t. do you want to mow the side of the roads?
Hearing from people how they don’t care, makes me angry and I wanted to start throwing arguments at those idiiots, but instead I will try to calm down and say it in a different way:
I wish all you racist a***** would trade life with one of the “illegal” alien’s life. I wish you would be so desperate that you would have to walk thousands of miles without water. I wish you suffered as much as these people do. What I don’t wish is that you die. Death is probably only a releaf for these people and sadly to say, they DO NOT deserve it.
But guess who deserves it? Yes, you! You racist little bastard, born in wealth and boohooing about your job and life, when you should be gracefull of what you have.
There is no place for justice anymore, and too bad you can’t choke on your own words.. I’d wish for it!
Hearing from people how they don’t care, makes me angry and I wanted to start throwing arguments at those idiiots, but instead I will try to calm down and say it in a different way:
I wish all you racist a***** would trade life with one of the “illegal” alien’s life. I wish you would be so desperate that you would have to walk thousands of miles without water. I wish you suffered as much as these people do. What I don’t wish is that you die. Death is probably only a releaf for these people and sadly to say, they DO NOT deserve it.
But guess who deserves it? Yes, you! You racist little bastard, born in wealth and boohooing about your job and life, when you should be gracefull of what you have.
There is no place for justice anymore, and too bad you can’t choke on your own words.. I’d wish for it!
Hearing from people how they don’t care, makes me angry and I wanted to start throwing arguments at those idiiots, but instead I will try to calm down and say it in a different way:
I wish all you racist a***** would trade life with one of the “illegal” alien’s life. I wish you would be so desperate that you would have to walk thousands of miles without water. I wish you suffered as much as these people do. What I don’t wish is that you die. Death is probably only a releaf for these people and sadly to say, they DO NOT deserve it.
But guess who deserves it? Yes, you! You racist little bastard, born in wealth and boohooing about your job and life, when you should be gracefull of what you have.
There is no place for justice anymore, and too bad you can’t choke on your own words.. I’d wish for it!
To Jenny, first of all you need to know that Not everyone from Mexico is PURE SPANISH OR FROM SPAIN, plain and simple. And you also need to know that there is no Dwindling indigenous population in Mexico. They are denied their identity most of the times.
Also the black slaves were brought over by the Spanish because they did not care about the native population and the many many deaths that were happening to them in the mines. They brought over the black slaves and treated them better and were valued more. They did not care if the Native slaves died, but they did care if the black slaves died. Just a little history lesson.
Also you say you are American Indian, well then if you are then we are brothers and sisters, but you do not see it that way. You must be far detached from your traditions and elders. You seem to forget about those Nations that are on the border itself, on both sides. What they should just ** off and die? You do know that there are more Nations in Mexico besides The Aztec and Maya, right? ANd you want to talk about the Spanish genocide, well you do know it was a common practice with ALL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND THEIR DESCENDANTS. The U.S itself has done many many acts of genocide, hell even up to at the very least 1960’s. SO maybe you really need to look at the US’s history more.
David is right on, on what he says about the UNDOCUMENTED giving money into the economy and sending what they take home in hand back home to Mexico to their families. WHat do you care what they do with it? DO people complain when someone just waste money on needless things as in cars, tv’s, radios, electronics, clothes, ect? Probably f*** not because those people earned their money, just like the Undocumented.
And to the person who wanted to bring up Undocumented taking jobs from the Katrina tragedy, you are really ignorant. You think the jobs were offered to the Undocumented first? Come on, those people were to lazy to actually go back and build. Guess what will happen to the undocumented when all the cleaning and fixing up is done? The undocumented will m move on or get kicked out.
This was a great piece b y J.B, i commend him for actually thinking about the people. I commend him for looking further into the stories, to the problems.
J.B. smith thank you for caring. I am a american citizen i have been to mexico i have seen the life styles they live. and if it was me i would do the same thing they do… come here. yes its true they are responsible for what they do, but what some people dont understand is that their hunger for a better life is bigger; their hunger for giving their kids an education a meal every day, shoes, cloths a good roof to live in is bigger than any f* racist on their a* its much bigger!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is unfortunate that people do not have compassion for the undocumented people who have risked their lives to come to this country for “a better life.”
This country was built on the blood, sweat and tears of immigrants — whether it be 100 years ago or a new housing development built just last week. Unless, you are Native American (i.e. Apache, Navajo, Sioux, Cherokee), your ancestors probably came to this country illegally and raped the land, culture and language of the original people who lived on this soil now called the United States. Perhaps, we should remove the Statue of Liberty, the symbol of freedom and opportunity since it no longer applies to those who seek to come to this country?
Thank you J.B. Smith for putting a name and a face to the people and their families who cross to come here to do jobs that many “Americans” look down on. Also, to Dr. Lori Baker for helping families get the answers to why they never hear from their loved ones once they get to El Norte.
Excellent report on the plight of the tired, the poor, the week and the oppressed immigrants fleeing from the gross poverty at the hands of the corrupt police and government officials of Latin America.
TO the so-called Minutemen: I guess its time to dismantle the Statue of Liberty and send it back to France, now that all the Anglo and European immigrants have already made America—home. How about Mr. Garza, an allegedly 5th generation American Citizen who has joined the Minutemen organization because of financial losses at his estate along the border. How cowardly and self-serving of you Senor Garza! Why dont you just change your last name while you’re at it. After all it is the same name used to book many misdemeanant Latinos for illegal entry into the U.S. May I refer you to Michael Jackson’s team of plastic surgeons so you don’t have to look like the “animals” that are dying by scores in the scorching deserts in search of a means to support their families? Maybe these surgeons can Whiten you a little more? .Do the right thing and provide these poor souls with water and if you feel compelled, have Border Patrol agents seize them to keep them from dying. May I recommend some good reading? See Non-Fiction section for the biography of Harriet Tubman…
As wisely written by Linda, unless you’re a direct decendant of the local native tribal nations, you too are a direct decendant of immigrants who came to this North American land, fleeing from misery and impossible life….be it in Europe where millions were facing oppression and starvation or other continents where conditions were oppressive and no different from the plight of the Latino-American immigrants. Just a different time, but the same circumstances.
Mr. Garza, now, that you have a few generations of Mexican-Americans in between you and the parched desperados crossing the Arizona desert in search for a chance for freedom, you join the ranks of the Elitist ‘Militia’ Men? Face the facts Jack! The truth is bitter and tough to swallow but true. You’re not a patriot. You’re a self serving elitist whose whining about financial losses at your estate. Bet you got a check from your insurance company for your ‘losses.’
These supposed Minutemen should be looking at the facts:
Millions of Mexican and Hispanic Immigrants pay billions of dollars monthly into our social security system to keep it from bankrupting. All with absolutely no benefit to them…
Thousands of Mexican and Hispanic Immigrants have worn the American Uniform in defense of freedom in military campaigns dating as far back as the Cuban Charges with Teddy Roosevelt. Before you open your mouth, Look at the rosters for voluntary immigrant military servicemen who shed their blood, limbs, lives, and innocence in the name of the United States Military. These soldiers, marines, and sailors have sacrificed all in defense of this nation, its Constitution, and the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and Democracy. Many had never even had a chance to read the Constitution, but knew of the land that provided a chance to be free, the land of opportunity, and that alone was reason enough to sign up to fight for it.
How many many Mexican or Latin-American Terrorists have been proven enemies of the state, strapped bombs, or taken arms against America? Z E R O
Open your eyes and see that there have been ZERO terrorists caught to date at the Mexican border!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Open your eyes and see that the terrorists have been coming from the North. Does the name Ahmed Ressam mean anything to you! Think real hard……Time’s up… Think Canada-Washington border, Think Al-Qaida, Think LAX bombing plot.. Got it yet? Yes he was making entry through the north! Very GOOD! Here’s another question for thought..
How many Hispanic Immigrants took part in the 9-11 attacks against the U.S.? ZERO
How many Hispanic Immigrants took part in bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City? ZERO.
How many Hispanic Immigrants bombed the World trade Center in the 80’s? ZERO.
How many Hispanic Immigrants took up arms against the ATF and FBI and US Marshalls at Ruby Ridge? ZERO
How many Hispanic Immigrants were advocating violence and hostility at the Koresh Compound? How about Hayden Lake, Idaho, former home of the armed pro-Nazi Aryan nation?
How many Hispanic Immigrants have voluntarily joined the U.S. Military and civilian law enforcement to help fight terrorism? ANSWER: Thousands. Look at the numbers before you open your mouth and prove yourself and ignorant.
Geography and History Quiz:
California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Montana are states with Mexican/Spanish names because they were stolen from Mexico. How well do you know your history? Challenge yourself and look into the Putrid tactics such as biological warfare and gross violence the White Man pulled to rape, pillage, and illegally seize lands belonging to the Native Nations.
Ask yourself: Gee due the ‘illegals’ that bust their asses in the muggy fields, muddy farms, dirty factories, hot kitchens, and nasty labor jobs we don’t want our kids to do because they deserve better, look like more like the Native American people that were beseiged and pillaged by the European immigrant or the European himself? Anwer: They mostly look like the Natives!
In your own intimacy, with the computer screen in front of you, you should be contrite with the fact that the European Invader who stole lands from the Native Inhabitants may be your ancestor. And as his decendant, you should be embroiled in embarrassment of your predecessors’ illegal, immoral, and violent immigration into the peaceful lands of the natives.
If you’re going to open your mouth, be patient and wise. Think about history and how our actions are judged by history. It was once legal and endorsed by the Government of the United States and other states such as California, to bring about hostility and ruin to the native people of these lands we now call the United States.
It was once legal and enforceable to sick a police dog, water canons, and all force necessary to enforce the “no colored” rules all across America.
It was once enforceable and legal to seize and arrest anyone not white, who sat in the front of a public bus.
It was once legal to round up every “slant eyed, yellow-skinned Asian” for interrogation and confinement behind razor wired concentration camps if discovered to be of Japanese ancestry.
It was once legal and enforceable to whip, torture, and hang an African slave in the name of justice and discipline. You couldn’t do it to a white person, but certainly to any colored folk. These African immigrants were legally immigrated here, except that it was by force and with chains around their necks. Do you rememeber?
Why would the European force African, Chinese, and Mexican slaves here? Because to live as an Elitist, you must have a lower class to force your will upon. To make you feel superior, you must find a lower or third world being and make him your inferior.
HISTORY HAS A WAY OF PROVING ALL THESE ACTS AS IMMORAL, UNJUST, AND INHUMANE….
To Sheriff Arpaio from Maricopa County:
History will judge you as a bigot. You call yourself a lawman. So did the Sheriffs and Chiefs from the South who hid behind the penal code to bring about distress and misery to the African Slave descendants. Go Ahead and Live up your hollow fame while you can, but know that on your way out, and long after you’re gone, the Oppressed, the Hungry, and the Weak will, at Lady Liberty’s invitation, continue to come to where freedom and the pursuit of hapiness resides.
You are a legend in your own mind, “The Toughest Sheriff in America.” Your antics, albeit entertaining, won’t keep the oppressed from seeking a decent existence. Your followers can’t see how twisted your antics are but in time their descendants will, just like we all do when seeing the sepia toned footage of barbaric acts against a peaceful people guilty of being of the wrong color.
Its not too late to change. It takes more courage to do the right thing than to pretend you don’t see what will be crystal clear for generations to come. You have been tough on crime in Arizona. Be tough on crime, but do it as a conscientious American who has sworn to protect and defend the Constitution.
To the future President and Congressional Members of this Nation:
Ask yourself: Do Canadian Citizens leave Canada for illegal entry into the U.S. at the same rate that Latin American immigrants do? When you answer that question, explore why not?
Could it be that your European-descendant neighbors to the north have it pretty good? Better standard of living and education? Less overt corruption than in Mexico? Real Social Security? Real Jobs with real wages from countless U.S. mega firms like Ford, GM, Chrysler, Etc? Why Canada? and Why not Mexico? If its not a racist issue? Then find an answer to that question… When you’re exhausted of exploring the answer, you’ll surmise that Canada looks more like America. Same Language, Same ethnic look… But the Mexicans and Latinos look different. Still not a racist issue?
I challenge you to be true to the American Spirit of embracing diversity and making of many, one. E.Pluribus Unum.
Asside from learning do things better, copy and paste what works in Canada into Mexico and our Latin American neighbors, if you REALLY want to stem the flow of illegal immigration into the U.S.
Help make the ‘dark’ guys to the south stronger and self sufficient so they don’t have to migrate to the U.S. Nobody wants to leave their loved ones, their homeland, their customs and traditions to trek across the deadly Arid deserts of Arizona, for the freaking thrill of it! As enticing as it might sound to get spat on and looked down upon by bigots, it sucks!
But $6/hour is much better than $6/month. Fence or no fence, as long as necesity exists, illegal immigration will continue.
So level the playing field. But really level it. I know that its been peachy and all to have the Dark guys to do all the dirty work around here but its time our Elitist Asses got off the couch and we treat all people with basic human decency. Teach a nation how to fish, and it will sustain itself.
If we can spend Billions of taxpayer dollars in stabilizing foreign lands few of us can even spell or even know the capital cities to, we can invest soundly into the infrastructure of Latin American Neighbors where, most everything American is cool and hip. We’ve poured BILLIONS into these faraway nations in other hemispheres, where enemy combatants await the chance to bring destruction to America. Yet, our Latin neighbors have never aimed to destroy America. In stark contrast, they have sacrificed much to make it better and to defend it. Latinos don’t want to blow us up in the name of some violent religious belief. Latinos have dawned the Nation’s uniform in defense of America, The Land of The Free.
Better to be thought of as a fool, than to open your mouth and itterate noise that proves you one….
Mike M
Washington State
Veteran and Retired Policeman
Hispanic-American Descendant of a Vietnam Vet Illegal Immigrant granted amnesty for voluntary valorous service in the US Army.
I am an American citizen, I was born here. I have several problems with the illegals coming to our country, illegally.
First off, you have wrecked the economy in your country by
breeding every year, over populating, having kids you can’t
afford to feed, clothe or school. You want to come to America
use facilities that we have paid for by our sweat and taxes…
You are in the process of draining every social service that
we have, free medical, dental, school, school breakfast, lunches,
WIC, AIDFC, Welfare and every free thing that you can partake of.
You are wrecking our economy like you did yours in your country.
You want to come over here and change our culture to accomodate
your non-English language and your culture…
If I immigrated to Mexico, I doubt they would give me teachers
who spoke English by demand, I doubt I could get free medical
and dental, go to the emergency rooms to dr. my 15 kids colds…
while ambulances are calling different hospitals to see if they
can take car accident victims…
Our roads are suffering the ravages of the extra vehicles, our
intrastructures are suffering the strain that the masses have
shoved upon their resources…
Go home, learn English then apply for a green card or citizenship. I hope some of the politicians get the guts to
deport every last illegal, and if you have one of your kids over
here and you are illegal, your kid is too….I am tired of supporting you and your hoarde of kids. We have made it easy
for you to live here….now we must make it easier to send your
butts home.
Jdavisson, I must say those were very ignorant and general statements. You want to see who is draining those things, look inside first. Those so called “ILLEGALS” you speak of actually work. Yes some part-take in some free things. But medical aid should be free, plain and simple. People shouldnt be dying on th e sides of the roads because they do not have the money to pay to get treated.
You speak of ruining their own country. For one it is not them who ruined it. It is the elite, the top of the top. The corrupt. The way to change it is revolution of to have money, but money corrupts all. To see that look within these borders at those who are so high up on the money scale. Do you think they care about the little guy? Hell no, they want to make as much money as possible for themselves. Just look at the outsourcing going on. But no, people want to say it is because Big Business is being taxed to hard.
The thing is, Ever since colonialism 500 yrs ago started EUropean countries and its descendants have been draining the resources it took via conquest. When i say conquest i speak of more then just the Spanish.
One only has to look at CAUSE AND EFFECT to see how the U.S has played a hand in keeping the poor, poor in Mexico and many other “Latin” American countries.
I appologize, ignorant may be to harsh, they are your thoughts afterall. But very general and kind of close minded, probably suit them better as a title.
Dear J B Smith
I think your series was wonderful….
Thank you for writing this.
As I read the responses to your article, it is obvious that we all have our opinions and beliefs as how to best handle the Illegal immigration situation. My hat is off to you for giving these people a name and a history and for acknowledging their life has meaning. My prayers go out to the families who have lost loved ones seeking the freedom to do manual labor at mimimum wage in the U.S.A.
In my opinion, jdavisson’s comment was stereotypical and ignorant. I know many immigrants (legal and undocumented) who have NEVER used the system nor do they have “hoards” of children.
I was born in the United States and would hate to see the day that “some of the politicians get the guts to deport every last illegal” because the economy would crumble. I have a heart for those who come here to work TWICE AS HARD for HALF THE PAY of the average citizen. It’s all about the money, right? Since you focus on the resources that you feel are being depleted by the undocumented, I will put it this way — in basic economics — immigrants picked the vegetables that are in your refrigerator. Imagine the cost of a head of lettuce if the produce companies had to pay what the average American citizen expects to be paid? I’ve been hearing a lot of (election year) chatter about jobs getting sent overseas and across the border — what do the American people want? I’m opening another can of worms here. I hope you get the picture.
TO JDAVISSON- YOU MENTION IN YOUR COMMENT-“IF I EVER WENT TO MEXICO” YOU KNOW JUST BY READING YOUR “HATEFULL” COMMENT PEOPLE IN MEXICO WOULD READ YOUR APPEARANCE RIGHT AWAY, THAT
Comments
By eric teitel
January 14, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this
We can only hope that a regulated immgration policy will be instituted, whereby laws are ahered to. Without this we have chaos…Americans are tired of the chaos. Thousand of legal applicants are being turned away so that lawbreaking can be accomodated. Let’s play by the rules and put a stop to the inherited crime and draining of social services by allowing illegals to sneak in.
By ann
January 14, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this
http://www.voiac.org/
By Mary
January 14, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this
It is truly sad to see how these immigrants suffer. Anyone who does not somewhat understand both sides of the story is truly inhumane. Yes we need a better immigration policy and a system that truly works, because it is not only Americans that loose money and the such (immigrants do not qualify for social services, its our own people here in America responsible for that, but thats another topic) but these people loose their dreams, hope, loved ones, and most importantly their lives. All so that they can seek a better future and pursue the American dream. Both parties would benefit from a better policy.
By Ruben
January 14, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this
All you liberal Money Hungry leaches Need to get a life !!We Do Need laws !! We do Not Need to pity your Cheap labor source
FYI We Did not Tell Anyone to Come Here illegal it was there Fault They Came here on there own !! They did not want there Country to succeed They are to Blame for Mexico’s poverty if they can come here and stat there own business why cant they help there own country ?
By Mary
January 14, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this
You are correct: it is their fault for crossing into a country thats not theirs and the such. Their government is so corrupted that it would be useless to even try to build a successful business, but to each’s own. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. But…shouldn’t you know how to spell the correct English language is you claim you are a true American? Be respectful of others, cause up to an extent I do share SOME of your views. And last, if people want to get rid of immigrants and their “cheap labor” stop complaining about the prices when you go out and buy your groceries or out to dinner, cause prices will only get higher once a employers stop hiring immigrants.
By Tom
January 15, 2008 12:44 AM | Link to this
Remember, these are human beings we’re talking about! Most of them trying to earn money to keep their families alive. It’s not their fault that their government is corrupt, and there is little they can do about it. Those workers do NOT have a legal way to come across and work! That’s our fault, not theirs! We need them, but we haven’t bothered to set up a workable system for them to register and come in to work. We used to have the “Bracero Program” for bringing in unskilled workers. Let’s pressure our law makers to get busy and solve this problem in a fair and reasonable way, and quickly! We’re just throwing money at the problem. Fences and walls are not the answer. And there’s a lot of false information coming from hate groups. All human beings are our brothers and sisters and they are dying out there in the desert because we can’t seem to figure out how to deal with this problem. Americans used to be known as the most generous and caring people in the world. Our ancestors came here to find a better life. How can we now be so cruel to those in need?
By Gary
January 15, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
Right now the (what once was) USA is going bankrupt. Each DAY our dollar falls a little more in value in the world market, so rather than continuing the impossible quest of trying to save all of the people on Earth, we had better start using our every resource to save our OWN country and it’s NATURAL BORN citizens!
It’s not that I don’t care. It’s that common sense dictates, when this country goes under, and it IS going under right now, we will be in the same situation as those who are coming here!
Keep in mind, those people who are coming here illegally are NOT coming here to contribute. They’re coming here to TAKE, and the fact is, unless SOMETHING changes our current path, in the near future there won’t be anything left TO take!
WAKE UP PEOPLE! The “United States of America” is NOT a wealthy country anymore. On the contrary, this United States of America is currently TRILLIONS of dollars in DEBT, and mounting!
No matter how you FEEL about it, illegal entry into this country is an INVASION, and it’s one part of what will eventually bring a total disaster! If you’re willing to give up YOUR LIFESTYLE along with everything you’ve been blessed with, then follow your ‘feel sorry for them’ all the way into destruction!
THAT is the TRUTH, no matter what your view might be! Take it or leave it!
By FEDUP
January 15, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
SICK-N-TIRED of the sob stories. They KNOW they are breaking OUR laws when they cross the border! Period. It is a FEDERAL CRIME to cross OUR borders anywhere other than legal points of entry. AND it is NOT the responsibility of the U.S. Taxpayer to foot the bill because things are ‘bad’ in their country. FIXIT.
I’m SICK of the biased media and all the ILLEGAL enablers/supporters. Mexico’s government has had about the same amount of time to create a better place to live for their citizens and CHOSE NOT to. While in a little over 200 years - the U.S. has gone from raw land to putting a man on the moon!!!!
Their country CHOSE to have “class division” (haves & have nots) now they have to live with the consequences.
By Irritated
January 15, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
Why is this even a debate? The law is the law. Im tired of hearing all these sob stories of people dying in the desert while sneaking into our country to further drain it of its resources. How is this different than feeling sorry for the person that got shot while robbing someone’s house? This isnt about feelings. This is about our country going down the tubes. You want good paying jobs? lower taxes? less crime? of course. So why let in all these poverty level people that will do nothing but bankrupt our society and suck the government dry until nothing remains for the Americans that need its services such as veterans and our elders. We spend enough money already on foreign aid trying to be humanitarian and nice. Bottom line is it needs to be shut down now to stop the bleeding. America first…everyone else a distant second.
By Irritated
January 15, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
What is this new crusade to feel sorry for criminals? The law is the law. Im tired of hearing all these sob stories of people dying in the desert while sneaking into our country to further drain it of its resources. How is this different than feeling sorry for the person that got shot while robbing someone’s house? This isnt about feelings. This is about our country going down the tubes. You want good paying jobs? lower taxes? less crime? of course. So why let in all these poverty level people that will do nothing but bankrupt our society and suck the government dry until nothing remains for the Americans that need its services such as veterans and our elders. We spend enough money already on foreign aid trying to be humanitarian and nice. Bottom line is it needs to be shut down now to stop the bleeding. America first…everyone else a distant second.
By FEDUP
January 15, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
I want all the ‘bleeding hearts’ out there (politicians/media/enablers/supporters) to HAVE TO FACE the families of “REAL VICTIMS” at the hands of ILLEGAL aliens.
Illegal aliens murder 12 Americans daily http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53103
Illegal aliens & traffic accidents http://www.darksideofillegalimmigration.com/page9.html
Twelve serial sex offenders cross the U.S. border illegally daily http://www.abc15.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=5f26227e-9f17-4444-b1d1-d8d27c4e72f6
The Danger of Immigration from Violent Cultures Author: Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, Ph.D., heads the Violent Crimes Institute in Atlanta, GA. http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/index.php?id=1011612
The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Sex Crimes http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/homeland.php?id=1386104 Quote: Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants in the United States
By J. Cline
January 15, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
Poor, pitiful people… not. Every choice in life is a calculated risk. Normally, we don’t reward people for taking stupid gambles with their lives, even if it IS the equivalent of the Mexican Lotto.
I’d like to say that I really give a damn, but these people are not victims. They are deliberate in their actions and they know perfectly well what they are doing. I’d rather feel sorry for real victims — like the American worker whose labor is being underbid by illegals, for the honest employer who can’t compete with the guy who loads cheap laborers into his panel van at the local Manpower office every morning. Heck, let’s feel sorry for the folks like you and I, the middle class who always, ALWAYS foot the bill for some do-gooder’s idea of “social justice”.
I don’t care how many illegal immigrants die trying to get into this country. It’s only 1% of those who try, and clearly, that isn’t deterrent enough. We should be making it harder, not easier, unless we want to encourage the behavior.
Let the recession come, and let it be long and hard. That will sweep out the economic opportunists — of every stripe and class, elite and illegal — better than any law or fence ever could.
By Fuffy1
January 15, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
I can not belive that you people are that selffish and thoughtless. We are talking about someone loosing there loved one and you people are worried about money. These people that do come over her to work illegal are only trying to provide for there families and do s** jobs for little of no pay cause just put food on the table. The people who do live in this country that are allowed to live in the United States don’t want to do the s** jobs cause they think they are to good to do the job. If if was not for these people working concrete jobs, roofing jobs and other hard labor jobs the majority of these things would not be complete cause our Americans that are legal here don’t want to do the job. Why is it that we will not allow these people in the United States but we allow the Pakastains and the Chinese and Japanese in with no problem and take over our gas stations and our businesses and take our money away from us here in American. Why don’t they go back to there country and make there living and stop taken out money from us. But no, we want to give the Mexican’s a hard time to be part of this Country that are human just like us. It doesn’t make any sense. If you were in there shoes you would do anything to have better for your kids..
By Phillip
January 15, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
As a supposed “Christian Nation”, America would do well to actually read the words of Christian Scripture, actually consider the words and very life of their supposed savior, Jesus Christ, and realize that the single largest subject, outside of “God”, addressed by the totality of Chritian Scriture is “the poor”. How we treat the poor, the stranger, the widow and orphan, these will determine our true faith and the depth of our humanity. Many say “the law is the law” but fail to see how the benifited from, even endorsed, “immigrant labor” and thus violated the law they so sanctimoniously scream. The sins of our fore-fathers, the very sins of this country, are that this country was founded on genicide and slavery and no matter how many years have lapsed, our hands remain bloody and our faith flawed. As a country, we enticed immigrant labor for most of the 20th Century because we wanted cheap labor and goods. We effectively gave them no rights and created another generation of “slavery” for our own benefit. Now, with the political winds changing, we wave the hypocritical flag of “the law” and feel justified in criminalizing those seeking LIFE through work. We are not far from the Nazi Germany mind-set of re-catigorizing a group people to justify our inhumane attitudes and acts against them. The bankruptcy this country is facing is far deeper and far older than the current panic over the impact of immigrants. Whether the American Indian or as recent as the poor of New Orleans, the poor and powerless suffer under the greed and indiffernce of the powerful in this “Christian Nation”. And make no mistake, I am not talking about the 1% of hyper-rich or government officials when I say “the powerful”. WE have the power to choose to live in the love of God, in the image of Christ Jesus, or to live in the fear and hate that grows out of worshipping a flag, a boundry, the Dollar - worshipping self. God have mercy.
By Carl
January 15, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
I have the solution, it will save the lives of many illegal aliens as well as all the US citizens they rape and kill (and that’s a huge number) when they get here. Mine fields along the border, sure a few will have to die until they catch on but then it will be smooth sailing. In all seriousness people breaking the law and/or doing something stupid die everyday, those are the risks, that’s life, how about a little personal responsibility.
By Katy
January 15, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
Phillip is right on target. I find it admirable that immigrants are willing to work less than desirable jobs because they want to provide better for their families. However, pretending that we are doing any illegals any favors by hiring them for less than minimum wage under the guise of “them doing jobs Americans don’t want” is nothing but foolish and selfish. This is why we need a guest worker program: it would ensure that people get paid fairly for their work, it would prevent an imported slave class, and it would provide a legal way for immigrants to enter this country and benefit from its economy. AND a guest worker program would even the playing field and bring immigrants into the tax system just like the rest of us.
By FEDUP
January 15, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
Like I said:
I want all the ‘bleeding hearts’ out there (politicians/media/enablers/supporters) to HAVE TO FACE the families of “REAL VICTIMS” at the hands of ILLEGAL aliens.
Illegal aliens murder 12 Americans daily http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53103
Illegal aliens & traffic accidents http://www.darksideofillegalimmigration.com/page9.html
Twelve serial sex offenders cross the U.S. border illegally daily http://www.abc15.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=5f26227e-9f17-4444-b1d1-d8d27c4e72f6
The Danger of Immigration from Violent Cultures Author: Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, Ph.D., heads the Violent Crimes Institute in Atlanta, GA. http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/index.php?id=1011612
The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Sex Crimes http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/homeland.php?id=1386104 Quote: Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants in the United States
By rogerg
January 15, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
Reality is; H1 visas for temp. work are now unlimited. If an employer requires workers to do a job in the U.S. he needs but to follow the guidelines and can get as many as needed for the alloted time required. Reality is; those little comic books filled with “how to cross the border” information are given to prisoners getting out of jail in Mexico. Reality is; There is no excuse for illegals to be helped in any way and is against federal law.
By john
January 15, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
great series, great writing. Mexico is a developing country and has made huge strides in economic development. Anyone who thinks Mexico is, by world standards, a poor country has never been to the Third World of Africa and Asia. Mexico still has too many people for the number of jobs in the modernized sector and these are the people who look to the north for relief thru hard work at hard jobs. The price, of course, is the risk of death in the Sonoran desert.
From our side, there are 300+million of us, few of us being interested in the jobs an illegal takes in a flash. Even fewer of us want our children to grow up to carrying bricks at a construction site or manicuring the lawns on an estate. Demonizing those who want such work is uncharitable. Blaming these folks for our crime problems is beside the point. Cheap political rhetoric that leads to no solutions.
Thanks for the great journalism.
By JEN
January 15, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
I THANK THAT IF I WERE NOT FOR ILLEGALS THAT USA WOULD NOT BE WHAT IS IS TODAY SO MANY PEOPLE ALWYAS PUT DOWN MEXICAN PEOPLE BUT THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY ILLEGAL PEOPLE IS USA NEXT TIME YOU GO OUT TO EAT AND YOU SAY OH THIS IS SO GOOD GO BEHIND IN THE KITCHEN AND SEE WHO IS COOKING FOR YOU ,LOOK AROUND YOU WHEN YOU ARE OUT AND ABOUGHT LOOK WHO PICKS UP THE SLACK WHEN THERE ARE JOBS OUT THERE THAT CITIZENS DO NOT WANT TO TAKE BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT TO GET DIRTY.THERE ALL KINDS IN THIS WORLD THERE ARE HARD WORKING PEOPLE OF ALL RACES AND THER ARE ALSO PEOPLE OF ALL RACES THAT DONT WANT TO WORK. BUT DONT TAKE IT OUT ON THE MEXICAN PEOPLE THEY COME HERE TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THERE FAMILYS THAT IS WHAT WE ALL TRY TO DO SOME OF THESE PEOLPE DO TRY TO GET PERMITTS BUT FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER THEY ARE ALWAS DENIED JUST LOOK AT IT THIS WAS YES SO GET MEDICAL CARE AND YES THER KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL BUT THESE ARE HARD WORKING PEOPLE DOING JOBS AMERICAN DO NOT WANT TO DO IN ALL RACES THERE ARE CHILD MOLESTER AND THER ARE PEOPLE THAT KILL,STILL, BUT THAT IS IN ALL RACES NOT JUST MEXICNANS
By LISA
January 15, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
MR SMITH AND LORI BAKER THANKS FOR THE ARTICAL ON IMMIGRATION I KNOW IT IS HARD WORK THAT YOU DO I KNOW THE FAMILYS ON THE PEOPLE THAT CROSS YOUR PATH ARE GRATEFULL FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK BUT THERE ARE SO MANY CLOSED MINDED IGNERANT PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DONT LIKE YOUR WORK BUT TUFF.GOD GAVE YOU’L A GIFT KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND I HOPE THAT MORE FAMILYS ARE BLESSED AND THAT YOU’L ARE ABLE TO HELP MORE FAMILYS FIND THERE LOVED ONES BECAUSE NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LOVED ONES IS THE BAD THING THANKS AGIAN FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK NO MATTER WHAT.GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILYS
By Debbie Smith
January 15, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
Most of our ancestors had problems getting into this country, but they did it legally. I have no problem with people coming into America, but why can’t they do it legally. Why can’t they become citizens who pay taxes like everyone else? They want what America has, but they don’t want to be Americans.
By JUAN
January 15, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
People are always complaining about the criminals that cross over, but fail to see the 90% good that comes from immigration. So many people are always telling the nation to buy American products, well the only reason anything American is affordable is because of the hard working immigrants who dont want outrageous fees to do manual labor. The U.S mus first look to its welfare system and quit letting Americans abuse it. If you cut off most of the welfare system and assisted living (or at least make people try to get a job), you will creat less demand for foreign work. THERE IS NO SUPPLY IN A NATION WITH NO DEMAND. I dont support an all out amnesty, but do strongly support legalizing immigrant families that have lived here for years and have obeyed laws and paid taxes! And to Mary who strongly wants people to correctly write and speak the English language, maybe she should take spelling and grammer lessons, before talking about Mexicans. Also to FEDUP and other radicals that dedicate your life to hating illegal aliens, with all due respect get a life.
By Amy
January 15, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
This is in response specifically to rogerg’s comments. I do not know where your information is coming from but it is incorrect. The reality today is that visas are strictly limited and neither H1B visas for temporary skilled workers (bachelor’s degree or higher) nor H2B visas for seasonal or temporary laborers (landscaping, restaurant work, etc.) are unlimited. There are 65,000 H1B visas available each year. Last year on the first day of filing, the immigration service received approximately 120,000 applications. Therefore more than half of the employers who applied were left out. H2B visas, which many companies rely on to operate, are also limited to 66,000 per year. 33,000 are available on October 1 and an additional 33,000 are available on April 1. We ran out of the April 1 visas in December. Thus, many employers will be unable to secure LEGAL temporary help this year. Every day employers are saying that they will be unable to operate their businesses without the labor that the seasonal and/or temporary workers provide. You don’t have to agree with people calling for positive immigration reform, but you should at least develop your opinions based on accurate facts and with a firm grounding in reality. Our immigration system is broken - we need workers and people from Latin America need jobs. Our focus needs to be on finding ways to accomplish both goals and the system we have now isn’t it. Until we come up with something better, this will keep happening and if we are the country of human and civil rights we hold ourselves out to be, we cannot continue to allow people to die who are coming to this country to perform labor we badly need.
By FEDUP
January 15, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Juan, et al
Take off the rose colored glasses. I was pointing out that many only see the ‘feel good’ stories the media and others portray.
The truth is - that more Americans have been killed at the hands of ILLEGAL aliens since 9/11 than have been killed in the war in Iraq.
ILLEGAL aliens murder 12 people EVERY DAY or 4,380 every year. 21,900 since 9/11..
ILLEGAL aliens who are driving under the influence kill 13 people EVERY DAY or 4,745 per year. 23,725 since 9/11.
ILLEGAL aliens molest 8 children EVERY DAY. That’s 2,920 every year.
http://www.victimsofillegalaliens.org/
http://www.immigrationshumancost.org/text/crimevictims.html
All of these crimes should have NEVER happened. They were preventable. ILLEGAL immigration is NOT a victimless crime.
As I said - I want each supporter/enabler to HAVE TO FACE the families of these victims and tell them….but they only want a better life.
By David L. Porowski
January 15, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this
I don’t mean to sound like particularly cold-blooded, but I could really give a rat’s backside how many thousands of illegal aliens are put in mortal risk in their failed attempt to invade the sovereign territory of the USA. They should be considered as much a plague as the Biblical plague of locusts that struck ancient Egypt.
This country is/used to be a country of laws, of legal juriprudence. Foreigners seeking to emigrate to the USA passed through Ellis Island. They were screened for contagious diseases. They provided evidence that some individual, family, social organization, or employer backed them financially, in order to assure that they would not be a burden to society.
Long before Ellis Island, this country had specific quotas by nationality, if only to balance the needs between potential employers (like the railroads) and their larger impact upon society. The Mid-West and the West were both mostly empty back then, and there was a notion called “Manifest Destiny” to fulfill.
Today we have major employers, financial institutions, politicians, and organizations of illegal aliens themselves ( La Raz, Mexicans Without Borders, etcetera ) which our Federal government has deemed eligible for tax-exempt status ( Why? ) which all demand equal rights with citizens, and without the social and financial guarantees that were required during the Ellis Island era.
Illegal aliens are not (and never have been) revenue-neutral. They are a burden to public health, to social services, to health care, to unfunded primary education — but not a burden to the employers who illegal hire them. The social safety net that these illegal aliens use is essentially a free-bee that the employers benefit from, not unlike some new bit of corporate welfare. The over-taxed Middle Class and Poor in this country are effectively financing the destruction of their own economic well-being. Any politician, political pundit, or religious icon that publically equates the civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s to the current struggle of the “oppressed undocumented immigrant” has (I guarantee it) some other vested interest hidden in their “agenda”.
This country needs to preserve it’s sovereign boundaries, even if it means building a wall all along both southern and northern borders. There needs to be a concerted effort by both state and federal governments to enforce current laws against illegal aliens, the employers that hire them, and those others who aid and abet these crimes. Document fraud is a felony, identity theft is a felony, smuggling (aliens/drugs/weapons) is a felony, driving without a valid license is a crime, as is driving without insurance. Any illegal alien who has been deported and re-enters the USA has committed a felony worth 10 years. Persons who engage in the manufacture of illicit documents, as well those who use them can both be charged under RICO statutes. Employers who hire illegal aliens are also subject to RICO prosecution. The RICO statutes call not only for prison time for “maintaining a continuing criminal enterprise”, but also subject the convicted “up to the total value of assets attained in said crime”.
It looks to me like just enforcing our current laws to the fullest extent would not only cause so level of mass exodous if illegal aliens, but would also provide the funds (siezed under RICO) and the prison labor needed to construct those border walls relatively cheaply. What is really needed is the public outcry against our current crop of politicians that want amnesty and citizenship for all including the (estimated 885,000 violent street gang members) MS-13. Amnesty is insane. Two other amnesties have been tried, in the 1970’s and the 1980’s — without the enforcement part of those financed and implimented, it has been little but a “green light” for an even greater invasion of illegal aliens.
By David L. Porowski
January 15, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this
I don’t mean to sound like particularly cold-blooded, but I could really give a rat’s backside how many thousands of illegal aliens are put in mortal risk in their failed attempt to invade the sovereign territory of the USA. They should be considered as much a plague as the Biblical plague of locusts that struck ancient Egypt.
This country is/used to be a country of laws, of legal juriprudence. Foreigners seeking to emigrate to the USA passed through Ellis Island. They were screened for contagious diseases. They provided evidence that some individual, family, social organization, or employer backed them financially, in order to assure that they would not be a burden to society.
Long before Ellis Island, this country had specific quotas by nationality, if only to balance the needs between potential employers (like the railroads) and their larger impact upon society. The Mid-West and the West were both mostly empty back then, and there was a notion called “Manifest Destiny” to fulfill.
Today we have major employers, financial institutions, politicians, and organizations of illegal aliens themselves ( La Raz, Mexicans Without Borders, etcetera ) which our Federal government has deemed eligible for tax-exempt status ( Why? ) which all demand equal rights with citizens, and without the social and financial guarantees that were required during the Ellis Island era.
Illegal aliens are not (and never have been) revenue-neutral. They are a burden to public health, to social services, to health care, to unfunded primary education — but not a burden to the employers who illegal hire them. The social safety net that these illegal aliens use is essentially a free-bee that the employers benefit from, not unlike some new bit of corporate welfare. The over-taxed Middle Class and Poor in this country are effectively financing the destruction of their own economic well-being. Any politician, political pundit, or religious icon that publically equates the civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s to the current struggle of the “oppressed undocumented immigrant” has (I guarantee it) some other vested interest hidden in their “agenda”.
This country needs to preserve it’s sovereign boundaries, even if it means building a wall all along both southern and northern borders. There needs to be a concerted effort by both state and federal governments to enforce current laws against illegal aliens, the employers that hire them, and those others who aid and abet these crimes. Document fraud is a felony, identity theft is a felony, smuggling (aliens/drugs/weapons) is a felony, driving without a valid license is a crime, as is driving without insurance. Any illegal alien who has been deported and re-enters the USA has committed a felony worth 10 years. Persons who engage in the manufacture of illicit documents, as well those who use them can both be charged under RICO statutes. Employers who hire illegal aliens are also subject to RICO prosecution. The RICO statutes call not only for prison time for “maintaining a continuing criminal enterprise”, but also subject the convicted “up to the total value of assets attained in said crime”.
It looks to me like just enforcing our current laws to the fullest extent would not only cause some level of mass exodous if illegal aliens, but would also provide the funds (siezed under RICO) and the prison labor needed to construct those border walls relatively cheaply. What is really needed is the public outcry against our current crop of politicians that want amnesty and citizenship for all including the (estimated 885,000 violent street gang members) MS-13. Amnesty is insane. Two other amnesties have been tried, in the 1970’s and the 1980’s — without the enforcement part of those financed and implimented, it has been little but a “green light” for an even greater invasion of illegal aliens.
By Carlos Martinez
January 15, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
There are serious problems that must be handled. The changes will not be made by running from them. The indocumentados are ++NEEDED++ in Mexico to make the change not by selfishly running away. Historically Mexico has a revolution every 100 years with the next one in 2010. Might not happen because the very people needed are in the US. It is more important to make the changes in our own country than to wash the gringos dishes.
By DON JUAN
January 15, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
TO THAT SORRY ** FEDUP, YOU THINK THAT ITS JUST ILLEGALS THAT DO ALL THOSE CRIMES HUH??? BOY I DONT KNOW WHAT YOU BEEN SMOKING MAN. I CAN REALLY TELL THAT YOU ARE SMART MAN.
By RoGeR (NoRtH WaCo)
January 15, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
First off, I would like to thank the ones who set this series up and for all the hard work ya’ll put forth towards it. I have really enjoyed reading it, as well my family and friends. I have seen lots of bogus comments that really make no sense.. people are so closed minded and confused about the whole immigration issue. Like a few have said, the Mexicanos are not the only illegals here in the country.. there are several types of people from hundreds of countries but we are stereo-typing the Mexican people that come over here just to look for a better life. They are only trying to escape poverty… Put yourself in that position, being born in a country of poverty, it is only natural to want the best for your family, your children, and your parents. And I’ve seen a few say “If people want what the Americans have, they should become legal”.. well if they COULD become legal, then they probably would. At this moment, there are so many people from SEVERAL countries that are applying for citizenship but it is not being granted. That is the main reason that people are coming over illegally.. we cannot put that blame on a certain race/ethnicity/origin and so on! Americans need to get over their full blown pride and wake up and realize we are all very grateful for what we have, and we take everything we have here for granted. We are so closed minded, and there is so much prejudice, racial issues, and stereo-typing. Being that we are a country founded on the belief of God, I don’t think it is right what we Americans are doing. We should stand up for what is right, but also we need to think before we speak. We should all be treated fairly and like human beings, NOT animals!! We are all created equal and we all want the best for ourselves! Let’s not act foolish on this wacotrib website.. let’s act like adults and speak wisely, not crazy. God bless!
By Vicki
January 16, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
America was founded on the idea of immigration, yes, the only true “Americans” are the native americans. Most of Americans now can trace their family origins from overseas, so you see I am not against immigration. However I believe that one must enter this country legally. Apply for visas, green cards, etc then enter when granted, that way people wont have to end up like these poor unfornutate souls. God give them rest!
By ELIZABETH
January 16, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
FIRST OF ALL, I AM AN AMRERICAN CITZ. IF YOU HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH, WHAT THESE FAMILIES HAVE GONE THROUGH-COMING THROUG WATERS THAT ON THE WAY THER’S JUST PRAYER THAT ITS NOT A DEEP SPOT WHERE LIFE WILL BE LOST, OR WALKING FOR DAYS AND NIGHTS HOPING YOUR BODY WILL MAKE IT, OR SIMPLY THAT YOUR SHOES WILL SUPPORT THE LONG WALK AND PREASURE PUT ON THEM, AND GUES WHAT THE WHOLE TIME YOUR WALKING ALL YOU HAVE IN YOUR MIND IS THAT DREAM, THAT AMERICAN DREAM OF KNOWING YOU WILL @ LEAST HAVE A MEAL FOR YOUR CHILDREN. SO ITS EASY FOR YOU TO SAY “WHY DONT THEY JUST BECOME LEGAL”,BUT YOU DONT KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO TRY AND BECOME LEGAL- BELIVE IT OR NOT YOU CASE CAN BE OPEN FOR UP TO 15 YEARS BEFORE YOU GET THAT FIRST APPT WITH INS OFFICE.SO DONT SAY “WHY CANT THEY JUST BECOME LEGAL IF YOU DONT KNOW HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS…..THANK YOU MR SMITH AND LORI BAKER FOR WHAT YOURE DOING, I MEAN IT WITH ALL MY HEART.BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YALL ONE DAY IMMIGRANTS WILL BE TREATED LIKE HUMAN BEINGS THAT THEY ARE.”EDUP” BEFORE YOU THROW ALL THESE STATISTICS OUT LEARN THEM FIRST DONT JUST MAKE UP #S……THANKS……..
By ELIZABETH
January 16, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
“FED UP”, BEFORE YOU JUST THROW #S OUT, GO GET THE REAL STATISTICS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE INCORRECT!
By Don
January 16, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
What part of ILLEGAL don’t you people understand! These people are invaders. They abuse our health care system, our schools, deflate our wages, etc. ALL of them need to be shipped back now!! They take jobs away from Americans and claim it is jobs no one wants to do, B.S.!!! I have no sympathy for ANYONE who sneaks in. All of them need to be shot as tresspassers and invaders.
By frankie
January 16, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
I understand what they go through… over there in Mexico there are no jobs and no life over there! There are no oppurtunities, I bet anyone born and raised here couldn’t last with a job over there for at least two weeks!!! No one knows how hard it is over there, only people with families that are over there do. So before anyone puts people down get facts straight and learn hw difficult it is down there!!!!!!!
By Luis
January 16, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
This message goes to everyone who thinks illegal immigrants are taking your jobs. If you really want to kick us out start to work hard. You people think the jobs with offices are the best ones and you can’t live with out one, but guess what we don’t care what kind of jobs they offer us if we get paid we do the job. You people think it will kill you to wofk outside in the sun. If ya’ll won’t do them jobs, then WHY ARE YA’LL COMPLAINING. This really makes me mad. No Offense to anybody, White people, first they treat the Black people wrong, now they try to kick the Mexicans out of the United states. Aint this the home of the FREE and the home of the brave. well not to me it aint. keep this world alive, and don’t try to cause no more wars with no one. LET US BE. PLAESE!!!!
By Klau
January 16, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
For those of you that think that “illegal” immigrants are just coming to the US to make trouble, to invade…think again. I’m a Mexican-American, proudly born in Mexico, but a U.S. citizen by naturalization. My parents brought me illegaly to this country at the age of five. My mother managed to cross the river carrying me. Now, almost twenty years later, I have a college degree from Baylor, and I’m about to start law school. Before you people start talking crap about Mexicans and how they should all be thrown back, why don’t you try to survive on $5 per day or less? That’s barely enough to buy a coffee at starbucks! It’s not about laws to them, it’s all about survival. Do y’all honestly think people want to leave their loved ones, their home, their country? Come on! They do it because they have to. All immigrants, regardless of country of origin, come to this country to work hard and make a better living for themselves and those around them. I have been blessed to have fulfilled the American dream, but it’s just so sad to see that there are so many ignorant people out there. Remember this… there will never be a river too deep, a desert too hot or a wall too high…illegal immigration will always exist, so you might as well get used to it. Oh, and if you’re scared of the “invasion” maybe it’s because you know someone better than you will be taking over…or has taken over (in my case)!
By rhonda
January 16, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
well i would just like to say that this country was taken from the indian so the fore fathers of the so called “americans” dont belong here either this land was stolen right from under neath them.Secound, these people dont want to be here they rather be with there famlies in mexico but in order to survive and feed there families they have to put there lives in danger for 6 or 7 dollar job,that an american wont do. Third they didnt take american jobs, if you are an american you had a longer oppertunity to find a job then them,but sociaity rather stay at home and collect walfare.who cleans your homes, cooks food in restruants,fixes your roof,cleans yards,builds new homes, construction work,and works in the filds,think about that!!
By Al
January 16, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
I don’t think that coming to this country illegally is that big of a crime. At most it should be a misdemeanor. These people are coming to this country like many others to improve their lives by earning money. If we don’t want them coming here to the United States then we should eliminate the ability to obtain the jobs that bring them here. How is it that I can fear a person that does not speak read or write English? If he can take my job away from me then it is my fault that I do not have enough education to compete with this type of individual. I believe that it is the persons that have not taken advantage of the educational system that are doing the most complaining. If you are not happy with the education that you have received in this country then you should hold the education system in your district accountable for the product it produced and not take it out on someone that should not be able to compete for your job.
By Jenny
January 16, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
Amazing that so much is made of how helpful this technology can be and at the same time we’re treated to the hearts and violins about what anyone knows will happen when you attempt to cross the desert to enter the US illegally. I wish that the media would spend some time writing so passionately on the tragedies that impact American citizens lives each and every day. A friend of mine lost her husband because they couldn’t afford health insurance and being citizens there was no lobby demanding that the state provide medicaid to them. He was ill, and cancer didn’t get diagnosed until it was too late. He died three weeks after being diagnosed. He left a widow and three small children. They aren’t alone either. American citizens who are black, brown and white are suffering because they have been discriminated against in the workplace, because they are American citizens and legally entitled to wage standards They face homelessness and hunger, but the media ignores that. Just as the media has ignored what has happened to the poor who were tossed aside after Katrina, they too were replaced by illegals so wages could be gutted.
I do not care about illegal aliens any longer. They have brought this on themselves. Our ancestors fought to get higher wages and more opportunities, those in other countries have the same ability to protest and demand better wages. Others in their country have said as much. Instead illegals want to come here to take jobs away from American citizens. It is to me no surprise tha the countries south of the border are corrupt cesspools, because those people do not care about working for something bigger than themselves, they are selfish and hate filled human beings.
By Jenny
January 16, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this
To Rhonda,
Your ancestors, the Spanish were the ones who sailed to the lands that are now called Mexico, Central and South America and committed genocide against the Aztec, Incan and Mayan peoples, and those few that remained were enslaved, and their resources stolen. If you want to talk about going back to where ancestors come from, you are free to purchase a plane ticket and head back home to Spain. Your ancestors attempted to commit genocide here with the native peoples when you first started your cross border treks. I am a Native American and my people do NOT appreciate your exploitation of our history. You can attempt revisionism all you like, it doesn’t wash.
You are right that we don’t want you here, nor do American citizens of African, Hispanic and many other heritage. Have you ever heard of You Don’t Speak For Me? It’s an organization comprised of American citizens of Hispanic origin who are as fed up and angry about illegal aliens destroying our economy, undercutting their and their children’s jobs, education health care systems. I live in an urban area, filled with working poor and struggling middle class American citizens of all races and ethnic origins and they are all angry and swearing to vote out any and all politicians who support amnesty or open borders. You have no idea how angry the majority of the American people are and how united we all are against illegals and their lobbies. You can sneer all you like, but we are the ones who will have the last laugh. We all report businesses who we see having illegal employees. We take down info and share the information and mass call ICE and other governmental agencies. I have a friend who works in a hospital who takes down information on illegals who are illegally benefiting from medicaid and she reports them. We are always networking and encouraging others to get involved and we shall overcome.
By GREG
January 16, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this
This has nothing to do the desire of illegals. It does, however have to do with what the majority of people in OUR country want…and end to illegals dictating what we can and cannot do in again, OUR country, not Mexico’s…and please for God’s sakes, wake up and quit saying the the only “true” Americans are “native Americans”…True Americans are those people who are here LEGALLY…and there have been many generations of Americans who built this country…but the main theme was they were Legal! The Americans who built this country…and they include damn near all races are the ones entitled to decide who does what in American…not the Democrats, La Racist (Raza..please the “white” version is called the KKK, (who only want illegals for more voters), not the Republicans (who only want cheap labor at the expense of Americans). No, Americans will decide, not Mexico (why don’t they use their immense wealth to take care of their own people…oh, that’s right, they have a cast system that completley disregards you if you don’t have a family name)…no, I want them out, and I’m not a racist…we all know the race card comes out when there is no true, good argument left to argue…that said, once you get out of college and grow up a bit, you will understand that the world in not an “ideal” place, but rather more practical.
By Jenny
January 16, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this
Luis,
As a Native American who knows history, I’ll educate you on a fact your revisionist history lessons might not have informed you of. Spain, the country of your ancestors created the big slave trade. They picked it up from the Arabs, and decided to make a big business of it. Spain created the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and centuries before the English came to these shores, your ancestors had committed genocide against the native peoples of what is now called Latin America, and had started bringing over African slaves to do the work. To this day, your people are racist against blacks, and are racist against the few remaining indigenous peoples. It’s well documented, look at the racist stereotypes that are still shown in Mexico. President Fox disrespected Americans of African heritage and then made a bunch of excuses (not one of them were believed) because he realized he had shown his racism.
Your people could get higher wages in your own country if you were too lazy to work for them. Also, while wages are lower south of the border, so are prices. There are no starving illegals from south of the border, you see no pictures of malnourished Hispanics crossing over. This is about stealing jobs with lower wages and then demanding welfare to make up the difference so you can buy cars and houses and other luxuries.
We will pass laws, one state, one city at a time, we will punish, fine and imprison employers of illegals. We will cut off tax dollars going to sanctuary cities and states (do you hear me, California?) we will cut off access to everything, and we will deport all those who do not leave voluntarily, confiscating any property to pay for the deportations and other costs.
Have a laugh, go ahead, I don’t mind. :)
By Just Me
January 16, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this
I see comments such as those by Luis and Klau, and it seems that you do not understand the big problem here. These illegals are just that, illegal, criminals when they break the law, and if one will do that to make his life better, then what is the differnce between him and the person who robs a convenience store to provide for his family? None, in my books. There are legal ways to come here, as proven by thousands of immigrants over the years. They had to go through the same process, same hardships, so what would make you better than those peoples? Why would we want to grant amnesty to the illegals that are here now, and not grant that amnesty and offer the jobs to the American citizens that are incarcerated United States prisons and jails some for committing crimes to try to provide for their families? And for Greg, it was the majority of Democrats voting for amnesty so that they could keep the cheap labor.
By clint b
January 16, 2008 9:53 PM | Link to this
Immigration has been a problem of the US for far too long with little or no progress being made to rectify it. Our social security benefits are at risk, for one thing. People who are LEAGAL citizens that work their whole life, paying into this fund may not receive these benefits when they become of age, I say again may not even receive them. And why???? because our government lets it happen. I say enough is enough, cut off any and all assistance to a plague on our nation. No more jobs, no more money, and for cryin out loud, no more freakin watering stations in the desert to help them. What is wrong with people. Yes, our nation was founded on immigration, but there is such a thing as over population. It is a drain on our economy as a whole, and I dare anyone to prove me wrong!
By Really FED UP
January 16, 2008 10:20 PM | Link to this
I’m really fed up with “FEDUP”!. He needs to get his facts right. I’m not saying that Illegals don’t committ horrible crimes, but so do NATURAL BORN CITIZENS or their crimes don’t count?. Was Timothy Mcveigh an Illegal?. Can you research that for me FEDUP?. What about the guys that dragged an African-American man to his death,a few years ago (for no reason) in a small TEXAS town?. I’m wondering if those guys were Illegals too. Oh and the Mother in Houston who killed her five childrena by drowning them, she MUST of being a darn illegal too huh?. A NATURAL BORN CITIZEN WOULD OF NEVER DONE it huh?. Darn illegals shame on you for being hardworking, and trying to provide a better life for your family!. A crime is a crime regarless of status. Everyone should be treated the same when it comes to crimes. Fedup look around and see who lives in HOUSING, NOT ILLEGALS. Want me to draw a picture or do you get my point?. Oh and in case you are wondering, I’m not ILLEGAL, I’m just like you only with a human heart. “KLAU” I’m proud of you for proving narrow minded people like FEDUP that not all illegals are criminals.
By david
January 17, 2008 12:18 AM | Link to this
for the people that think there social security is at risk, think about this. all the illegals pay in to social security under false numbers, so the ssa has no way to apply payments to there accounts. this means that 15.3% of there gross wages are surplus funds. they also can’t file tax returns so any money they pay in is not claimed as tax overpayment. so the overall picture is they are paying there own way. and they are willing to do the jobs that our spoiled youth won’t. do you want to mow the side of the roads?
By ovi
January 17, 2008 2:22 AM | Link to this
Hearing from people how they don’t care, makes me angry and I wanted to start throwing arguments at those idiiots, but instead I will try to calm down and say it in a different way:
I wish all you racist a***** would trade life with one of the “illegal” alien’s life. I wish you would be so desperate that you would have to walk thousands of miles without water. I wish you suffered as much as these people do. What I don’t wish is that you die. Death is probably only a releaf for these people and sadly to say, they DO NOT deserve it.
But guess who deserves it? Yes, you! You racist little bastard, born in wealth and boohooing about your job and life, when you should be gracefull of what you have.
There is no place for justice anymore, and too bad you can’t choke on your own words.. I’d wish for it!
By ovi
January 17, 2008 2:23 AM | Link to this
Hearing from people how they don’t care, makes me angry and I wanted to start throwing arguments at those idiiots, but instead I will try to calm down and say it in a different way:
I wish all you racist a***** would trade life with one of the “illegal” alien’s life. I wish you would be so desperate that you would have to walk thousands of miles without water. I wish you suffered as much as these people do. What I don’t wish is that you die. Death is probably only a releaf for these people and sadly to say, they DO NOT deserve it.
But guess who deserves it? Yes, you! You racist little bastard, born in wealth and boohooing about your job and life, when you should be gracefull of what you have.
There is no place for justice anymore, and too bad you can’t choke on your own words.. I’d wish for it!
By ovi
January 17, 2008 2:24 AM | Link to this
Hearing from people how they don’t care, makes me angry and I wanted to start throwing arguments at those idiiots, but instead I will try to calm down and say it in a different way:
I wish all you racist a***** would trade life with one of the “illegal” alien’s life. I wish you would be so desperate that you would have to walk thousands of miles without water. I wish you suffered as much as these people do. What I don’t wish is that you die. Death is probably only a releaf for these people and sadly to say, they DO NOT deserve it.
But guess who deserves it? Yes, you! You racist little bastard, born in wealth and boohooing about your job and life, when you should be gracefull of what you have.
There is no place for justice anymore, and too bad you can’t choke on your own words.. I’d wish for it!
By Cornelio III
January 17, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
To Jenny, first of all you need to know that Not everyone from Mexico is PURE SPANISH OR FROM SPAIN, plain and simple. And you also need to know that there is no Dwindling indigenous population in Mexico. They are denied their identity most of the times.
Also the black slaves were brought over by the Spanish because they did not care about the native population and the many many deaths that were happening to them in the mines. They brought over the black slaves and treated them better and were valued more. They did not care if the Native slaves died, but they did care if the black slaves died. Just a little history lesson.
Also you say you are American Indian, well then if you are then we are brothers and sisters, but you do not see it that way. You must be far detached from your traditions and elders. You seem to forget about those Nations that are on the border itself, on both sides. What they should just ** off and die? You do know that there are more Nations in Mexico besides The Aztec and Maya, right? ANd you want to talk about the Spanish genocide, well you do know it was a common practice with ALL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND THEIR DESCENDANTS. The U.S itself has done many many acts of genocide, hell even up to at the very least 1960’s. SO maybe you really need to look at the US’s history more.
David is right on, on what he says about the UNDOCUMENTED giving money into the economy and sending what they take home in hand back home to Mexico to their families. WHat do you care what they do with it? DO people complain when someone just waste money on needless things as in cars, tv’s, radios, electronics, clothes, ect? Probably f*** not because those people earned their money, just like the Undocumented.
And to the person who wanted to bring up Undocumented taking jobs from the Katrina tragedy, you are really ignorant. You think the jobs were offered to the Undocumented first? Come on, those people were to lazy to actually go back and build. Guess what will happen to the undocumented when all the cleaning and fixing up is done? The undocumented will m move on or get kicked out.
This was a great piece b y J.B, i commend him for actually thinking about the people. I commend him for looking further into the stories, to the problems.
Alot of yall just sound and seem **en heartless.
By ANNIE
January 18, 2008 4:18 AM | Link to this
THIS IS TO J.B. SMITH, I THINK YOUR SERIES WAS GREAT, WELL WORTH READING, REALLY MAKES ONE SEE OTHER SIDES TO THE STORY…I APPLAUD YOU!!
By ANNIE
January 18, 2008 4:18 AM | Link to this
THIS IS TO J.B. SMITH, I THINK YOUR SERIES WAS GREAT, WELL WORTH READING, REALLY MAKES ONE SEE OTHER SIDES TO THE STORY…I APPLAUD YOU!!
By Why?
January 18, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
J.B. smith thank you for caring. I am a american citizen i have been to mexico i have seen the life styles they live. and if it was me i would do the same thing they do… come here. yes its true they are responsible for what they do, but what some people dont understand is that their hunger for a better life is bigger; their hunger for giving their kids an education a meal every day, shoes, cloths a good roof to live in is bigger than any f* racist on their a* its much bigger!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By joe
January 20, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
help them, jesus will satan not
By Linda
January 21, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
It is unfortunate that people do not have compassion for the undocumented people who have risked their lives to come to this country for “a better life.”
This country was built on the blood, sweat and tears of immigrants — whether it be 100 years ago or a new housing development built just last week. Unless, you are Native American (i.e. Apache, Navajo, Sioux, Cherokee), your ancestors probably came to this country illegally and raped the land, culture and language of the original people who lived on this soil now called the United States. Perhaps, we should remove the Statue of Liberty, the symbol of freedom and opportunity since it no longer applies to those who seek to come to this country?
Thank you J.B. Smith for putting a name and a face to the people and their families who cross to come here to do jobs that many “Americans” look down on. Also, to Dr. Lori Baker for helping families get the answers to why they never hear from their loved ones once they get to El Norte.
By Mike M
January 22, 2008 6:53 AM | Link to this
*PLEASE READ****
Excellent report on the plight of the tired, the poor, the week and the oppressed immigrants fleeing from the gross poverty at the hands of the corrupt police and government officials of Latin America.
TO the so-called Minutemen: I guess its time to dismantle the Statue of Liberty and send it back to France, now that all the Anglo and European immigrants have already made America—home. How about Mr. Garza, an allegedly 5th generation American Citizen who has joined the Minutemen organization because of financial losses at his estate along the border. How cowardly and self-serving of you Senor Garza! Why dont you just change your last name while you’re at it. After all it is the same name used to book many misdemeanant Latinos for illegal entry into the U.S. May I refer you to Michael Jackson’s team of plastic surgeons so you don’t have to look like the “animals” that are dying by scores in the scorching deserts in search of a means to support their families? Maybe these surgeons can Whiten you a little more? .Do the right thing and provide these poor souls with water and if you feel compelled, have Border Patrol agents seize them to keep them from dying. May I recommend some good reading? See Non-Fiction section for the biography of Harriet Tubman…
As wisely written by Linda, unless you’re a direct decendant of the local native tribal nations, you too are a direct decendant of immigrants who came to this North American land, fleeing from misery and impossible life….be it in Europe where millions were facing oppression and starvation or other continents where conditions were oppressive and no different from the plight of the Latino-American immigrants. Just a different time, but the same circumstances.
Mr. Garza, now, that you have a few generations of Mexican-Americans in between you and the parched desperados crossing the Arizona desert in search for a chance for freedom, you join the ranks of the Elitist ‘Militia’ Men? Face the facts Jack! The truth is bitter and tough to swallow but true. You’re not a patriot. You’re a self serving elitist whose whining about financial losses at your estate. Bet you got a check from your insurance company for your ‘losses.’
These supposed Minutemen should be looking at the facts:
Millions of Mexican and Hispanic Immigrants pay billions of dollars monthly into our social security system to keep it from bankrupting. All with absolutely no benefit to them…
Thousands of Mexican and Hispanic Immigrants have worn the American Uniform in defense of freedom in military campaigns dating as far back as the Cuban Charges with Teddy Roosevelt. Before you open your mouth, Look at the rosters for voluntary immigrant military servicemen who shed their blood, limbs, lives, and innocence in the name of the United States Military. These soldiers, marines, and sailors have sacrificed all in defense of this nation, its Constitution, and the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and Democracy. Many had never even had a chance to read the Constitution, but knew of the land that provided a chance to be free, the land of opportunity, and that alone was reason enough to sign up to fight for it.
How many many Mexican or Latin-American Terrorists have been proven enemies of the state, strapped bombs, or taken arms against America? Z E R O
Open your eyes and see that there have been ZERO terrorists caught to date at the Mexican border!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Open your eyes and see that the terrorists have been coming from the North. Does the name Ahmed Ressam mean anything to you! Think real hard……Time’s up… Think Canada-Washington border, Think Al-Qaida, Think LAX bombing plot.. Got it yet? Yes he was making entry through the north! Very GOOD! Here’s another question for thought..
How many Hispanic Immigrants took part in the 9-11 attacks against the U.S.? ZERO
How many Hispanic Immigrants took part in bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City? ZERO.
How many Hispanic Immigrants bombed the World trade Center in the 80’s? ZERO.
How many Hispanic Immigrants took up arms against the ATF and FBI and US Marshalls at Ruby Ridge? ZERO
How many Hispanic Immigrants were advocating violence and hostility at the Koresh Compound? How about Hayden Lake, Idaho, former home of the armed pro-Nazi Aryan nation?
How many Hispanic Immigrants have voluntarily joined the U.S. Military and civilian law enforcement to help fight terrorism? ANSWER: Thousands. Look at the numbers before you open your mouth and prove yourself and ignorant.
Geography and History Quiz:
California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Montana are states with Mexican/Spanish names because they were stolen from Mexico. How well do you know your history? Challenge yourself and look into the Putrid tactics such as biological warfare and gross violence the White Man pulled to rape, pillage, and illegally seize lands belonging to the Native Nations.
Ask yourself: Gee due the ‘illegals’ that bust their asses in the muggy fields, muddy farms, dirty factories, hot kitchens, and nasty labor jobs we don’t want our kids to do because they deserve better, look like more like the Native American people that were beseiged and pillaged by the European immigrant or the European himself? Anwer: They mostly look like the Natives!
In your own intimacy, with the computer screen in front of you, you should be contrite with the fact that the European Invader who stole lands from the Native Inhabitants may be your ancestor. And as his decendant, you should be embroiled in embarrassment of your predecessors’ illegal, immoral, and violent immigration into the peaceful lands of the natives.
If you’re going to open your mouth, be patient and wise. Think about history and how our actions are judged by history. It was once legal and endorsed by the Government of the United States and other states such as California, to bring about hostility and ruin to the native people of these lands we now call the United States.
It was once legal and enforceable to sick a police dog, water canons, and all force necessary to enforce the “no colored” rules all across America.
It was once enforceable and legal to seize and arrest anyone not white, who sat in the front of a public bus.
It was once legal to round up every “slant eyed, yellow-skinned Asian” for interrogation and confinement behind razor wired concentration camps if discovered to be of Japanese ancestry.
It was once legal and enforceable to whip, torture, and hang an African slave in the name of justice and discipline. You couldn’t do it to a white person, but certainly to any colored folk. These African immigrants were legally immigrated here, except that it was by force and with chains around their necks. Do you rememeber?
Why would the European force African, Chinese, and Mexican slaves here? Because to live as an Elitist, you must have a lower class to force your will upon. To make you feel superior, you must find a lower or third world being and make him your inferior.
HISTORY HAS A WAY OF PROVING ALL THESE ACTS AS IMMORAL, UNJUST, AND INHUMANE….
To Sheriff Arpaio from Maricopa County:
History will judge you as a bigot. You call yourself a lawman. So did the Sheriffs and Chiefs from the South who hid behind the penal code to bring about distress and misery to the African Slave descendants. Go Ahead and Live up your hollow fame while you can, but know that on your way out, and long after you’re gone, the Oppressed, the Hungry, and the Weak will, at Lady Liberty’s invitation, continue to come to where freedom and the pursuit of hapiness resides.
You are a legend in your own mind, “The Toughest Sheriff in America.” Your antics, albeit entertaining, won’t keep the oppressed from seeking a decent existence. Your followers can’t see how twisted your antics are but in time their descendants will, just like we all do when seeing the sepia toned footage of barbaric acts against a peaceful people guilty of being of the wrong color.
Its not too late to change. It takes more courage to do the right thing than to pretend you don’t see what will be crystal clear for generations to come. You have been tough on crime in Arizona. Be tough on crime, but do it as a conscientious American who has sworn to protect and defend the Constitution.To the future President and Congressional Members of this Nation:
Ask yourself: Do Canadian Citizens leave Canada for illegal entry into the U.S. at the same rate that Latin American immigrants do? When you answer that question, explore why not?
Could it be that your European-descendant neighbors to the north have it pretty good? Better standard of living and education? Less overt corruption than in Mexico? Real Social Security? Real Jobs with real wages from countless U.S. mega firms like Ford, GM, Chrysler, Etc? Why Canada? and Why not Mexico? If its not a racist issue? Then find an answer to that question… When you’re exhausted of exploring the answer, you’ll surmise that Canada looks more like America. Same Language, Same ethnic look… But the Mexicans and Latinos look different. Still not a racist issue?
I challenge you to be true to the American Spirit of embracing diversity and making of many, one. E.Pluribus Unum.
Asside from learning do things better, copy and paste what works in Canada into Mexico and our Latin American neighbors, if you REALLY want to stem the flow of illegal immigration into the U.S.
Help make the ‘dark’ guys to the south stronger and self sufficient so they don’t have to migrate to the U.S. Nobody wants to leave their loved ones, their homeland, their customs and traditions to trek across the deadly Arid deserts of Arizona, for the freaking thrill of it! As enticing as it might sound to get spat on and looked down upon by bigots, it sucks!
But $6/hour is much better than $6/month. Fence or no fence, as long as necesity exists, illegal immigration will continue.
So level the playing field. But really level it. I know that its been peachy and all to have the Dark guys to do all the dirty work around here but its time our Elitist Asses got off the couch and we treat all people with basic human decency. Teach a nation how to fish, and it will sustain itself.
If we can spend Billions of taxpayer dollars in stabilizing foreign lands few of us can even spell or even know the capital cities to, we can invest soundly into the infrastructure of Latin American Neighbors where, most everything American is cool and hip. We’ve poured BILLIONS into these faraway nations in other hemispheres, where enemy combatants await the chance to bring destruction to America. Yet, our Latin neighbors have never aimed to destroy America. In stark contrast, they have sacrificed much to make it better and to defend it. Latinos don’t want to blow us up in the name of some violent religious belief. Latinos have dawned the Nation’s uniform in defense of America, The Land of The Free.
Better to be thought of as a fool, than to open your mouth and itterate noise that proves you one….
Mike M Washington State Veteran and Retired Policeman Hispanic-American Descendant of a Vietnam Vet Illegal Immigrant granted amnesty for voluntary valorous service in the US Army.
By jdavisson
January 22, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
I am an American citizen, I was born here. I have several problems with the illegals coming to our country, illegally. First off, you have wrecked the economy in your country by breeding every year, over populating, having kids you can’t afford to feed, clothe or school. You want to come to America use facilities that we have paid for by our sweat and taxes… You are in the process of draining every social service that we have, free medical, dental, school, school breakfast, lunches, WIC, AIDFC, Welfare and every free thing that you can partake of. You are wrecking our economy like you did yours in your country. You want to come over here and change our culture to accomodate your non-English language and your culture… If I immigrated to Mexico, I doubt they would give me teachers who spoke English by demand, I doubt I could get free medical and dental, go to the emergency rooms to dr. my 15 kids colds… while ambulances are calling different hospitals to see if they can take car accident victims… Our roads are suffering the ravages of the extra vehicles, our intrastructures are suffering the strain that the masses have shoved upon their resources… Go home, learn English then apply for a green card or citizenship. I hope some of the politicians get the guts to deport every last illegal, and if you have one of your kids over here and you are illegal, your kid is too….I am tired of supporting you and your hoarde of kids. We have made it easy for you to live here….now we must make it easier to send your butts home.
By Cornelio III
January 22, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
Jdavisson, I must say those were very ignorant and general statements. You want to see who is draining those things, look inside first. Those so called “ILLEGALS” you speak of actually work. Yes some part-take in some free things. But medical aid should be free, plain and simple. People shouldnt be dying on th e sides of the roads because they do not have the money to pay to get treated.
You speak of ruining their own country. For one it is not them who ruined it. It is the elite, the top of the top. The corrupt. The way to change it is revolution of to have money, but money corrupts all. To see that look within these borders at those who are so high up on the money scale. Do you think they care about the little guy? Hell no, they want to make as much money as possible for themselves. Just look at the outsourcing going on. But no, people want to say it is because Big Business is being taxed to hard.
The thing is, Ever since colonialism 500 yrs ago started EUropean countries and its descendants have been draining the resources it took via conquest. When i say conquest i speak of more then just the Spanish.
One only has to look at CAUSE AND EFFECT to see how the U.S has played a hand in keeping the poor, poor in Mexico and many other “Latin” American countries.
By Cornelio III
January 22, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this
I appologize, ignorant may be to harsh, they are your thoughts afterall. But very general and kind of close minded, probably suit them better as a title.
By Beth
January 22, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this
Dear J B Smith I think your series was wonderful…. Thank you for writing this. As I read the responses to your article, it is obvious that we all have our opinions and beliefs as how to best handle the Illegal immigration situation. My hat is off to you for giving these people a name and a history and for acknowledging their life has meaning. My prayers go out to the families who have lost loved ones seeking the freedom to do manual labor at mimimum wage in the U.S.A.
By Linda
January 23, 2008 2:30 AM | Link to this
In my opinion, jdavisson’s comment was stereotypical and ignorant. I know many immigrants (legal and undocumented) who have NEVER used the system nor do they have “hoards” of children.
I was born in the United States and would hate to see the day that “some of the politicians get the guts to deport every last illegal” because the economy would crumble. I have a heart for those who come here to work TWICE AS HARD for HALF THE PAY of the average citizen. It’s all about the money, right? Since you focus on the resources that you feel are being depleted by the undocumented, I will put it this way — in basic economics — immigrants picked the vegetables that are in your refrigerator. Imagine the cost of a head of lettuce if the produce companies had to pay what the average American citizen expects to be paid? I’ve been hearing a lot of (election year) chatter about jobs getting sent overseas and across the border — what do the American people want? I’m opening another can of worms here. I hope you get the picture.
By ana
January 24, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
TO JDAVISSON- YOU MENTION IN YOUR COMMENT-“IF I EVER WENT TO MEXICO” YOU KNOW JUST BY READING YOUR “HATEFULL” COMMENT PEOPLE IN MEXICO WOULD READ YOUR APPEARANCE RIGHT AWAY, THAT