Luisde8cd From Venezuela, joined Aug 2004, 2518 posts, RR: 34 Posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 1834 times:
Hey all,
This past week I was in McAllen, TX for a shopping trip. As I was returning to Mexico, I decided to stop at a fast food restaurant to have a quick typical greasy american meal about 2 blocks from the Intl. Bridge.
I had my car parked in the restaurant and I was picking up some paper trash in my car mats when I hear the sound of people running, when I lift my head I see 5 guys coming into the restaurant from a green area which is right next to the parking lot. (With the help of google earth I can now confirm that I was exactly 950 ft or 250m from the Rio Grande and that green area was the only thing between the restaurant and the river).
These 5 guys enter the restaurant, some of them order a drink and they sit in a table looking everywhere around them. They stood there for about 2 minutes and suddenly a SUV with Texas Plates came rushing into the parking lot and flashed its headlights into the restaurant. At this moment, the guys quickly left the restaurant and rushed into the SUV. The SUV then quickly backed up and left the parking lot with the sound of screeching tires.
With this experience I dare to make the assumption that these guys had just crossed the Rio Grande,which was just 250m from the restaurant, illegally and had a perfectly organized operation which apparently went smoothly.
Will a wall help deter this? I doubt it. I believe that if Americans don't want undocumented migrants coming into their country, the government should perform employee checks on business in order to find those undocumented migrants. If an undocumented employee is found, the employer should be sent to jail for at least 10 years. That way, I doubt you will see employers taking the risk to hire undocumented migrants. If there are no jobs, they won't come! as simple as that. Solve the problem from its root. There are some who claim that a wall will protect USA against terrorism, well, remember that the 9/11 hijackers flew into the US with Valid US Visas and were enrolled in a pilot academy in Florida without raising any suspicions.
Saludos desde Monterrey,
Luis
[Edited 2007-11-26 20:46:22]
Viasa we miss you!. Good times will return after Chavez is gone!
Tootallsd From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 543 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1821 times:
I think you are generally right. I live in San Diego, hard by the border, site of the most frequently cross border (legally) in the world. We have the wall, I don't think it has much of a deterral force.
The issue is economic. Rich next to poor is like a vacuum. The pull is irresistable. Just like hating China but loving cheap toys at Wal Mart -- you can't have it both ways. Californians love cheap fruits and vegetables, gardeners, restaurant meals, etc, etc, etc. We all know what underwrites the low wages and the low prices but we dare not speak about our role in the problem -- if it is a problem.
JetsGo From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 2971 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1750 times:
Quoting Luisde8cd (Thread starter): I believe that if Americans don't want undocumented migrants coming into their country, the government should perform employee checks on business
Although your suggestions are spot on, there is no guarantee they would have done anything to stop the particular incident you witnessed. Who knows why they were coming here. They could just be planning to bum off their legal family?
Luisde8cd From Venezuela, joined Aug 2004, 2518 posts, RR: 34 Reply 3, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1733 times:
Quoting JetsGo (Reply 3): Who knows why they were coming here
Indeed we cannot know what were exactly their reasons, but the vast majority of Latin American migrants come to the US in order to do the same work they do in their home countries but receiving a 10X larger monthly wage. They use some of their money for own expenses and the rest is sent back home to support relatives.
JetsGo From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 2971 posts, RR: 5 Reply 4, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1724 times:
Quoting Luisde8cd (Reply 4): I don't know what you mean by PC Garbage...
PC = Politically Correct. Undocumented immigrants is too politically correct. They are simply illegal aliens.
Luisde8cd From Venezuela, joined Aug 2004, 2518 posts, RR: 34 Reply 6, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1700 times:
Quoting LAXspotter (Reply 6): do Texans have the "legal Right" to shoot these illegal immigrants?
Apparently yes if they can prove that their property was going to be stolen by them. Maybe if I had a gun in my car and saw the guys running towards me, I could have shot them all and claim they were coming at me to steal me car. That would be perfectly legal under Texan law. I'm not a lawyer but I think that's the law in Texas.
Saludos desde Monterrey,
Luis
Viasa we miss you!. Good times will return after Chavez is gone!
LAXspotter From India, joined Jan 2007, 3650 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1689 times:
Quoting Luisde8cd (Reply 7): Maybe if I had a gun in my car and saw the guys running towards me, I could have shot them all and claim they were coming at me to steal me car.
and obviously they're not entitled protection under US law because they're illegals. might as well shoot em
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" Samuel Johnson
AirTranTUS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days ago) and read 1665 times:
Quoting LAXspotter (Reply 10): get Nile Crocodiles in that river, it will be a new twist to the Wilderbeest getting dragged into the water by the Reptilian beasts.
Quoting Luisde8cd (Thread starter): the government should perform employee checks on business in order to find those undocumented migrants.
That would accomplish very little in the way of clearing street corners and commercial parking lots full of day laborers waiting for building contractors and landscapers. In fact, it may increase the size of the informal economy.
Tsaord From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1619 times:
As long as they can get a job here without knowing English nothing will stop them. That President of their's Senor Calderon is at it again too. He is blaming the USA for mistreating Mexican Immigrants all the while still not answering the question of why he can't take of his people.
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25869 posts, RR: 79 Reply 15, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1603 times:
Quoting Luisde8cd (Thread starter): If there are no jobs, they won't come! as simple as that.
And then, we will have a huge labor, and potentially food shortage
Quoting LAXspotter (Reply 5): Just wondering, do Texans have the "legal Right" to shoot these illegal immigrants?
No
Quoting AirTranTUS (Reply 8): Along the Mexico-NM/AZ/CA border is a great place for one though.
Because it will do what?
Quoting Viaggiare (Reply 12): If it's like the Israeli West Bank Barrier then yes.
Looks like the Berlin Wall to me.
Quoting ZOTAN (Reply 13): Any person on US territory, regardless of their status, is entitled to the same protections that a full fledged citizen receives.
He knows that.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
only cause the illegals to devise other ways of getting here, nothing else.
Quoting N1120A (Reply 15): huge labor, and potentially food shortage
judging by the large number of migrant workers in California which supplies a vast portion of the US's agricultural output it would be a devastating blow. Who else is going to work the fields, college students?
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" Samuel Johnson
Copaair737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 1578 times:
If we cut off the illegal immigrants it will perpetuate a growth of new technology to harvest fruit and vegetables.
That, I would argue, is a good thing.
Mham001 From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 3017 posts, RR: 2 Reply 18, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1530 times:
Quoting Copaair737 (Reply 17): If we cut off the illegal immigrants it will perpetuate a growth of new technology to harvest fruit and vegetables.
That, I would argue, is a good thing.
The crackdowns have already caused a surge in the purchase of that equipment. The doomdayers are wrong when they claim we "can't live without them".
AirTran737 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 3644 posts, RR: 12 Reply 19, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1519 times:
A wall won't stop this mess. When we finally pull out of Iraq we should put our troops on the borders, they can do a better job of ensureing that fewer illegals slime their way into this counrty.
Nice Trip Report!!! Great Pics, thanks for posting!!!! B747Forever
Want to come here and work - do it legally, and I'll welcome you with open arms. Do it illegally, and you're simply an illegal alien that needs to go back. - PERIOD!
Flipdewaf From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2006, 1529 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1479 times:
Why can they not just come in and get a proper work permit? I though america would be all for that, all being immigrants, or desendants of, anyway. Those mexicans should just go get a work permit.
Itsnotfinals From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1469 times:
Quoting Flipdewaf (Reply 21): I though America would be all for that
our big business government is too worried about spending us into a 3rd world nation status right now (We are already the largest debtor nation in the world), to worry about work permits. maybe in 10-15 years the US will be on par with Mexico and there will be no reason for any border breaking activity.
Queso From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (5 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 1455 times:
Quoting N1120A (Reply 15): Looks like the Berlin Wall to me.
The Berlin Wall was built to keep people in, much like a prison. The border fence would be built to keep invaders out. If you want to compare it to some other fence, compare it to the Great Wall of China or a mote around a fort.
Did you actually post that?? 12-20 million people the government can neither keep track of nor adequately insure, educate, or count is most definitely a problem.
Quoting JetsGo (Reply 2): Get over the PC garbage. They are illegal aliens.
Quoting Tsaord (Reply 14): He is blaming the USA for mistreating Mexican Immigrants all the while still not answering the question of why he can't take of his people.
That's because no Mexican president wants to answer those questions since it would require accountability. I wonder where they learned that from...covet thy neighbor! The present day Mexican elite are a disgrace to the otherwise proud and rich history of their nation. Four decades of unyielding greed have resulted in the quiet revolution heading north.
Quoting N1120A (Reply 15): And then, we will have a huge labor, and potentially food shortage
Imported food is cheaper anyway. Maybe then we can end our ridiculous domestic agricultural subsidies.
Quoting Itsnotfinals (Reply 22): our big business government is too worried about spending us into a 3rd world nation status right now (We are already the largest debtor nation in the world), to worry about work permits.
If you need someone to blame / throw a rock in the air / you'll hit someone guilty
25 Carmenlu15: In Luis' defense, I'll say that "undocumented migrants" is the literal translation of what we usually call them in Spanish - inmigrantes indocumentad
26 ORFflyer: Fair enough, and your statement below is spot on as well. BTW - I like your graphics.
27 AGM100: The Primary infiltration routes into Tucson are the dry washes that run though the city from the outlying border territory. The Mex border is approx 1
28 Transpac787: That would be great. Let's import MORE.....
29 Luisde8cd: What's most ironic about the Mexican Govt. policy towards migrants is that they whine every time the US touches a mexican national illegally crossing
30 Viaggiare: True, the term is reminiscent of painful internal probes. Undocumented immigrants (Inmigrantes indocumentados)...
31 N1120A: Try doing that with citrus fruit. Try that with strawberries. Not when it comes to fruits and vegetables.
32 LAXspotter: he lives in the Central Valley I think, maybe he can tell us how many College students are willing to work the fields for a few extra bucks.....
33 WellHung: Was there a Home Depot nearby? It is possible that this pickup just needed some cheap help for a construction project and the alleged illegals were al
34 AM744: Hypocresy. That's a bit over the top. That was the case in the 50's. I don't deny it can happen, but it's not the norm. The birth rate has plunged in
35 Abrelosojos: = I will pass on that info to the next illegal I come across. = Because America has developed such a skewed immigration system that it pays to be ill
36 N1120A: And is sure to get you deemed a communist by the US.
37 Abrelosojos: = Yup. That is the irony of the whole situation in'nit? The real people who can create change in Latin America are kept at bay because it does not su
38 AM744: Actually, at least in Mexico, they are no better, it's just a facade. The same teachers work at public and private institutions. Private institutions
39 Abrelosojos: = I have a very simple test to determine whether social mobility and egalitarianness (is that a word?) has taken off in any particular Latin American
40 Abrelosojos: = My ITAM and Tec friends will probably crucify you . Cheers, A,
41 Luisde8cd: Abrelosojos, a couple of months ago I was ordering a McDonalds meal from my car in an Auto-Mac in Caracas. While I was waiting for my burger, a poor
42 MIAMIx707: ROFL.. @Carmenlu never seen an "alien" emoticon before The other day ex Mexican president Vicente Fox was on Glenn Beck, he's a friendly guy and all
43 Abrelosojos: = I think you have a very simplified view of poverty. But lets agree to disagree. = First off, irrespective of your numerous attempts to brand me as
44 AM744: He is certainly mestizo, not white, and thus representative of 70% of the population (Fox wasn't, since he is son of two europeans.). Mestizo 70% Ame
45 AM744: Right on the spot. Many many people have the opportunity to prosper, they just don't take it.
46 MIAMIx707: Te ganaste el Premio Nobel! One day I was hanging out in Coconut Grove with a friend and a black guy in a bicycle asked for money so I said to my fri
47 Luisde8cd: The view that I have from poverty was based in a social studies class that I took in my early semesters of college. The textbook we used had some sta
48 Abrelosojos: = My characterization of your view was a direct response to the example you used; i.e. of the begging kid. It had no connection to your theme of fami
49 Luisde8cd: 110% agree with you there. Indeed the injustice has led to the rise of Chavez and I know there are people part of the upper classes who have exploite
50 Abrelosojos: = I apologize if you felt demonized and am frankly surprised by your posturing. Either way, I would encourage you to search for A.Net postings where
51 Luisde8cd: No harm done then. I would love to prove you wrong, it would be a great thing if most people in Latam could have internet access. Regretfully that's
52 57AZ: Building a barrier-whether physical or electronic-won't do a thing but inconvenience legal border crossers. They've already shut down all informal bo
53 G5ive: Favoritism. This can also be seen in the U.S. with Latin media flooding the rest of us that are not Mexican with music, programming aimed towards Mex
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