Posted on 02/01/2004 8:50:31 AM PST by Pa' fuera
Por Ernesto Álvarez ealvarez@frontera.info
In what is considered a normal development during low season, the US Consulate in Tijuana has issued a small number of laser visas since the beginning of 2004, when compared to other months and seasons.
The head of public relations, Lorena Blanco, informed that, year-to-date, an average of only 500 of these documents per day in the main office in the Zona Río and the Consulate in the Hipódromo neighborhood of Tijuana.
If compared to Easter Break or summer vacation, the demand is at about very low, about 50%, said Blanco.
"En high season we are giving out an average of about 1,000 visas per day. Based on our experience from previous years, the demand starts to pick up in February, and we begin to see the higher numbers that I mentioned", she explained.
As a result of this low demand, she added, the people seeking the visas don't have to wait as long for their appointments, since there are more open appointments available, and there is more of a chance to expedite the process.
Lorena Blanco indicated that the lower demand early in the year is due to the money spent during the holidays by those who are thinking of requesting the visas, along with the new rhythm of life that goes along with the start of the new year. These factors influence the decision of potential solicitors to postpone the process until later in the year.
The Mexican Consulate in Tijuana distributes visas in two locations in Tijuana, one on the corner of Diego Rivera Street and Vía Rápida Poniente, in the Zona Rio, and the other on Tapachula Avenue en the Hipodromo neighborhood.
This is an error by the author. It should read "The US Consulate in Tijuana...". One wonders, however, how long it will be before this becomes a factual statement.
Assuming a daily average throughout the year of 750, and 260 working days per year, that is 195,000 visas per year, from one city. In about 8 years, the entire population of Tijuana would have a visa. The thing is, though, they don't stay in Tijuana with their visas.
I think the government is aware of what is going on, and promotes it. For example, to get one of these visas, you need a job in Tijuana. However, 40,000 cars are crossing into San Diego every day morning rush hour, and returning at evening rush hour. They are flashing their laser visas to get through the border and off to work. So, paradoxically, the visa holder has declared to the State Department that he/she works in Tijuana. That holder crosses every weekday into the US, and the Border Patrol knows this, because each license plate is scanned and the number goes into a computer. And they do nothing about it. They should, at a minimum, seize the visa, but they don't.
The agents are not to blame, they only do as they're told. But there has been an administrative decision made to ignore the fact that thousands of people are violating immigration law and have lied to the State Department. Is it any wonder that terrorists can so easily enter the US, even legally?
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