Across the border, "a humanitarian crisis" is brewing

[warpedskydiver 0]

Across the border, "a humanitarian crisis" is brewing
Apr 7, 2008
Lornet Turnbull
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004332022_mexicodeport07m.html
It's a message that welcomes Mexican compatriots driving or flying back to Mexico for holidays or to visit family and friends.

They aren't just empty words but part of the government embrace of its citizens abroad who remain connected — and financially committed — to the country.

At airports and border crossings, the returnees are given information on staying safe and reporting any government corruption they encounter.

But for those Mexicans unceremoniously returned home — those deported and dropped off by U.S. immigration in Mexican border towns such as Nogales, Tijuana and Juárez — there is no such welcome.

"The poor undocumented guy who gets sent back is seen as a burden on the government," said Erica Dahl-Bredine, country manager for Catholic Relief Services' Mexico program in Tucson, Ariz.

"Those who have documents are seen as the heroes."

While the Mexican government is taking small steps in response to growing criticism that it ignores Mexicans deported from the U.S. — unveiling a test program in Tijuana last week to provide emergency help to those at the border — experts believe it's not nearly enough.

There appears little consensus on where the bulk of the responsibility should lie.

Many say the Mexican government must address the conditions that cause its citizens to flock north in the first place. Others believe the U.S. creates problems when it deposits hundreds of thousands of those same people — jobless, some criminals — back into Mexico.

About 60 percent of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living and working in the U.S. are from Mexico. Last year, immigration officials returned more than 870,000 Mexicans, most of them caught along the border before they ever became established in the U.S.

Illegal immigrants living in the U.S. contribute a big share of the $24 billion that Mexicans living abroad sent home last year. Under one program, Mexico's federal, state and municipal governments even match money sent by citizens to help build roads, schools and other infrastructure.

"The money being sent back to Mexico exceeds any U.S. foreign-aid package," said Walter Coleman, pastor of the Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago, which gave sanctuary to an undocumented Mexican woman before she was deported in a highly publicized case last year.

He called the remittances "a self-reliant, people-to-people operation that benefits the Mexican government in a big way."

Generating crime?

From the Pacific Northwest, Mexican deportees are flown to San Diego on two flights a week. From there they are taken by bus to the border and delivered to Mexican immigration authorities, who verify their nationality.

At the same time, border officials are apprehending and sending back hundreds of thousands of others who sneak across the border each year.

The deportations happen "every hour, every day, every week, all year," the Mexican government says.

It has long complained the influx of deportees has generated crime in Mexico's border towns. And violence has so escalated, at least one police chief recently sought asylum in the U.S.

Once on Mexican soil, some make their way home. Others don't have the money to get themselves back.

Overall, most are biding their time, hoping to find a way to re-enter the U.S., knowing there's little for them back in the towns they had fled, where spouses and children depend on the money they sent from the states.

"It's a humanitarian crisis ... ," said Irasema Corenado, an associate professor at the University of Texas at El Paso.

But it's a crisis that is the responsibility of the Mexican government, not the U.S., immigration officials say.

"These are Mexican nationals that are being returned," said Neil Clark, Seattle-based field director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "If there is trouble in the border towns ... . The U.S. can't be responsible for everything. We're doing as much as we feel we have to."

Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favors tougher policies, points out that while Mexico is always quick to assert its sovereignty, "with that comes responsibility."

"The migration flow is often the result of conditions that Mexico created and allowed to fester, and the consequences of that are theirs to deal with."

Mexican officials call deportation a "huge challenge of great proportion."

And officials point to the ways they are responding — citing programs for immigrant children separated from their parents, and the limited financial assistance Mexican consulates provide stranded deportees wanting to go home.

Last week, the Mexican government also unveiled a pilot program called Humane Repatriation, guaranteeing deportees temporary shelter, emergency medical care and, if they need it, short-term employment.

It will also provide them with identification, which many lack. Launched in Tijuana, which receives more than 40 percent of Mexican deportations, the program may be started in other border towns.

"The idea is to create conditions so that repatriated Mexicans are incorporated successfully — if they desire — into the development of the nation," said Francisco Javier Reynoso Nuño, of Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Migración.

But no such program was in place when Christian Quiroz was deported last fall from the Seattle area, where he had worked as a drywaller.

Quiroz, 24, said he was stuck for weeks in Tijuana, with no money to get to his family in Mexico City.

His mother, who had brought him to the U.S. 17 years before, had been deported two months earlier.

Quiroz said he wandered around Tijuana homeless and without identification before he was picked up by police and held. "They thought I was South American," he said. "I was put in a holding cell for eight hours until I got cleared."

His family finally came through with money for a bus ticket for the four-day trip to Mexico City.

"The government doesn't do anything for its people here," he said in Mexico City. "Why would it help those of us who have been deported?"

It was a far different experience for Adolfo Ojeda-Casimiro, an immigration attorney in Redmond who first came to the U.S. from Mexico as a child and is now a U.S. citizen.

He receives the "Paisano welcome" at the airport when he returns for visits: He's given information about how to report corruption and stay safe.

"Every time I go back they welcome me with more open arms," he said. "It's completely solicitous."

[SkyPiggie 0]

Mexico would much rather create the crises in America, by sending America all their unemployed, their unhealthy, and their criminals. As long as they have that relief valve, they don't have to actually fix all the things that are wrong in their own country.

[billvon 2,406]

>by sending America all their unemployed, their unhealthy, and
>their criminals.

Well, we do ask for them.

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

>by sending America all their unemployed, their unhealthy, and
>their criminals.

Well, we do ask for them.

Yes. We NEED them. Not the unhealthy.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[warpedskydiver 0]

I missed the part on the base of the SoL where it says "Send us your criminal enterprise, and your drug related gangs of murdering, kidnapping, assholes, who pimp out little girls."

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

I missed the part on the base of the SoL where it says "Send us your criminal enterprise, and your drug related gangs of murdering, kidnapping, assholes, who pimp out little girls."

Then you missed the whole history of US immigration.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[SkyPiggie 0]

Quote

Quote

I missed the part on the base of the SoL where it says "Send us your criminal enterprise, and your drug related gangs of murdering, kidnapping, assholes, who pimp out little girls."

Then you missed the whole history of US immigration.

Negative.

There were standards back then when the Statue of Liberty was the immigration checkpoint from Europe. If you were sick or a criminal, you didn't get to stay. Plus, in order to be able to cross the Atlantic back then, it meant that you were usually someone who was already skilled, thrifty and enterprising - a good fit for America.

[lawrocket 3]

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There were standards back then when the Statue of Liberty was the immigration checkpoint from Europe

the papers were prepared by the ship companies that brought them.

It wasn't until 1921 that any immigrant needed papers to immigrate to the US. They had no idea WHO was or was not a criminal back then, did they? Lucky Luciano came in through Ellis Island.

Shoot - the Pilgrims were criminals in their country.

Also note - there is goign to be a difficult time for a sick Latino to enter the US. They've got to be hardy to make that trek.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[billvon 2,406]

>If you were sick or a criminal, you didn't get to stay. Plus, in order to be
>able to cross the Atlantic back then, it meant that you were usually
>someone who was already skilled, thrifty and enterprising - a good fit for
>America.

I can personally attest to the fact that both those claims are false. (If they didn't allow sick/poor people here, I wouldn't be here, either.)

Here's the entire inscription, btw:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

[kallend 1,635]

Quote

>If you were sick or a criminal, you didn't get to stay. Plus, in order to be
>able to cross the Atlantic back then, it meant that you were usually
>someone who was already skilled, thrifty and enterprising - a good fit for
>America.

I can personally attest to the fact that both those claims are false. (If they didn't allow sick/poor people here, I wouldn't be here, either.)

Here's the entire inscription, btw:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

It is truly amazing how so many of these angry Americans are so ignorant of their own history.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[JohnnyD 0]

Quote

Quote

Quote

I missed the part on the base of the SoL where it says "Send us your criminal enterprise, and your drug related gangs of murdering, kidnapping, assholes, who pimp out little girls."

Then you missed the whole history of US immigration.

Negative.

There were standards back then when the Statue of Liberty was the immigration checkpoint from Europe. If you were sick or a criminal, you didn't get to stay. Plus, in order to be able to cross the Atlantic back then, it meant that you were usually someone who was already skilled, thrifty and enterprising - a good fit for America.

The public school system has certainly failed you.

[algboy 0]

Quote

>by sending America all their unemployed, their unhealthy, and
>their criminals.

Well, we do ask for them.

Uh, noooo . . . it's corporate America that asks for them. Joe and Mary 6P, who lose their jobs to them, just get to pay for the illegal's bennies and live amongst them once they're here. [Socialism for the rich--free enterprise for the rabble]

Few things piss me off more than the urban legend of "they do the jobs that Americans won't do". Bull-effin-crap! They do the jobs that Americans won't do for that pisspoor WAGE.

Pay any American citizen a decent wage to do ANYTHING and you'll find workers--especially if you pull the dole mat out from under them. Unfortunately, paying legal American workers a competitive wage might affect the bottom line of Mr. and Mrs. Thurston Howell III.

You wanna pretend that you're all about the "free market", Mr. Howell? Let the market determine what your strawberry pickers should earn--not some backroom deal with your politico pals to cut-out the American workers.

“Keep your elbow up!"

[lawrocket 3]

It can be said, professor. Then again, I was taught this stuff in public school. I just did a couple of things many others didn't in my classes:
1) Paid attention;
2) Read the assignments; and
3) Did a little reading of my own.

I knew of the trail of tears. I remember spending a lot of time with conquistadors, etc., in the 5th grade. (Mr. Carson fully rednecked the pronunciation of Ponce de Leon.)

We all know about the wars with the indians - growing up playing cowboys and indians, right?

It's all known, just not really acknowledged sufficiently.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[kschilk 0]

Quote

I missed the part on the base of the SoL where it says "Send us your criminal enterprise, and your drug related gangs of murdering, kidnapping, assholes, who pimp out little girls."

Well, no wonder....that sign's posted on the Capitol building.

"T'was ever thus."

[billvon 2,406]

>it's corporate America that asks for them.

I am more thinking about the inscription at the base of the Statue of Liberty, erected next to the US's primary port of immigration for decades.

>Few things piss me off more than the urban legend of "they do the jobs
>that Americans won't do". Bull-effin-crap! They do the jobs that Americans
>won't do for that pisspoor WAGE.

Correct. If you paid a landscaper $30 an hour to weed, you'd have no problem filling the jobs. If you want to pay $4 an hour, you might have trouble filling the job with US citizens.

>You wanna pretend that you're all about the "free market", Mr. Howell?
>Let the market determine what your strawberry pickers should earn.

Are you saying we should repeal minimum wage laws and allow the market to determine pay scales? Fair enough. I can't see US citizens clamoring to make $2.14 an hour though. (Average pay for migrant workers during a 2001 survey.)

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

Quote

Well, we do ask for them.

Uh, noooo . . . it's corporate America that asks for them. Joe and Mary 6P, who lose their jobs to them, just get to pay for the illegal's bennies and live amongst them once they're here. [Socialism for the rich--free enterprise for the rabble]

Few things piss me off more than the urban legend of "they do the jobs that Americans won't do". Bull-effin-crap! They do the jobs that Americans won't do for that pisspoor WAGE.

Pay any American citizen a decent wage to do ANYTHING and you'll find workers--especially if you pull the dole mat out from under them. Unfortunately, paying legal American workers a competitive wage might affect the bottom line of Mr. and Mrs. Thurston Howell III.

And yet half of America shops at Walmart. How do you think they can deliver lower prices? They squeeze the suppliers as hard as they can. The suppliers in kind need to pay lower wages, offshore, use cheaper parts, etc.

So the question is, and it's a chicken and egg situation, will Americans pay higher prices for food and products in order to support better paying local jobs that don't have to go to illegal aliens? The typical response of most when cities propose 'living wage' increases suggests probably not.

[masterrig 1]

The problems in our border towns is the increase in drug cartels trying to take-over and gain control of trafficking routes into the U.S. It's like a war zone in some of our border towns. Laredo, Texas comes to mind. I'm certain, many illegals, when sent back to their country, get involved with the drug trade and crime. I have no sympathy for illegals. They took their chances and some of them lost. Mexico, just doesn't want to have to deal with them. Big Business has caused a 'demand' for illegals and if folks want to come to this country, they can do it legally or stay where they're at. If, Big Business wants them so bad, let Big Business take care of them!!!


Chuck


Chuck

[mnealtx 0]

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I can't see US citizens clamoring to make $2.14 an hour though. (Average pay for migrant workers during a 2001 survey.)

Clamoring? No...but I know wait staff that are being paid that wage (plus tips, of course).

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[KidWicked 0]

Quote

Quote

I missed the part on the base of the SoL where it says "Send us your criminal enterprise, and your drug related gangs of murdering, kidnapping, assholes, who pimp out little girls."

Then you missed the whole history of US immigration.

LOL

Coreece: "You sound like some skinheads I know, but your prejudice is with Christians, not niggers..."

[GQ_jumper 4]

Am I the only one who sees the irony in Mexico's complaints about a bunch of Mexicans flooding their country??

How bout anytime we deport someone we send a bill to the Mexican government for the cost of deportation, how long do you think it would take after that for them to do something about the situation?

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

[masterrig 1]

Quote

Am I the only one who sees the irony in Mexico's complaints about a bunch of Mexicans flooding their country??

How bout anytime we deport someone we send a bill to the Mexican government for the cost of deportation, how long do you think it would take after that for them to do something about the situation?

That's a damned good idea! Just try, to get that through the House & Senate and all the bleeding hearts out there. Bill them not only for deportation but, all the free lunches their kids got in our schools, free medical, welfare and food stamps.


Chuck

[dannydan 0]

not saying billing the Mex gvt isn't a good idea.... but I am thinking that our gvt has already reached the ceiling with unpaid loans to just about every nation on earth just so we SUBJECTS can "feel" good about getting some 'free" money in the form of refunds, stimulus etc etc...

"We're the us gvt and we are here to help you"...

[AWL71 0]

Quote

Quote

Quote

Well, we do ask for them.

Uh, noooo . . . it's corporate America that asks for them. Joe and Mary 6P, who lose their jobs to them, just get to pay for the illegal's bennies and live amongst them once they're here. [Socialism for the rich--free enterprise for the rabble]

Few things piss me off more than the urban legend of "they do the jobs that Americans won't do". Bull-effin-crap! They do the jobs that Americans won't do for that pisspoor WAGE.

Pay any American citizen a decent wage to do ANYTHING and you'll find workers--especially if you pull the dole mat out from under them. Unfortunately, paying legal American workers a competitive wage might affect the bottom line of Mr. and Mrs. Thurston Howell III.

And yet half of America shops at Walmart. How do you think they can deliver lower prices? They squeeze the suppliers as hard as they can. The suppliers in kind need to pay lower wages, offshore, use cheaper parts, etc.

So the question is, and it's a chicken and egg situation, will Americans pay higher prices for food and products in order to support better paying local jobs that don't have to go to illegal aliens? The typical response of most when cities propose 'living wage' increases suggests probably not.

We as Americans need tp pay higher prices for things to keep jobs in the states. I do not shop at Wal-Mart. They pump billions of dollars into the Chinese Economy. The same people that bitch about jobs going overseas love the great prices that the imported items have. We can't have it both ways.

I understand that we live in a global economy but we as Americans can't see the forest for the trees. People bitch about jobs going overseas but they keep supporting those that go overseas by spending their money with them.

The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

[masterrig 1]

That is something I just don't understand. Here we are with the greatest national debt, EVER and the president wants to give all of us 'free money'. Why doesn't the govt. just use that money on our multi-trillion dollar debt? Most folks will probably pay bills with the money... how, does that help the economy? I think, we need to kick every member of our government out of office and start over. Couldn't hurt.


Chuck

[skydyvr 0]

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Why doesn't the govt. just use that money on our multi-trillion dollar debt?

Buying votes is so much more expedient.

. . =(_8^(1)