Posted on 04/19/2005 5:41:32 PM PDT by TexKat
MEXICO CITY – The father of a Mexican-born U.S. Marine slain in Iraq came back to his native Mexico on Tuesday to convince young Mexicans not to immigrate to the United States or allow themselves to be recruited into the U.S. armed services.
Fears abound here that Mexican youths may see service as a fast-track to citizenship, although the U.S. military does not recruit in Mexico. A minor violation of that recruitment rule occurred in 2003, when a U.S. Army recruiter went to the border city of Tijuana looking for two youths he had first contacted in the United States.
"People should stay here, rather than pursue the misnamed American dream," said Fernando Suarez del Solar of San Diego, who has traveled across the United States and visited Iraq during his anti-war campaign.
His son, Lance Cpl. Jesus Suarez del Solar, died in a cluster bomb explosion in 2003. The 20-year-old Solar joined the military two years earlier after recruiters told him enlisting would help him become a civilian police officer, his father said.
"Anybody who goes there risks being chased by vigilantes, or recruited into the army," Suarez de Solar said. "I want to talk to young people ... and tell them they should stay here and work for Mexico."
Suarez de Solar noted that the U.S. armed forces have seen shortfalls in their recruiting goals. "They (recruiters) are desperate, and that poses a risk for the Latino community and Mexicans on the border," he said.
"It's not fair for them to use our sons and daughters in their unjust war," he said.
Suarez del Solar was scheduled to speak later Tuesday to political science students at the Mexico City campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the country's top public college.
While such students are unlikely to emigrate, Suarez del Solar said he would like to reach a wider audience of Mexican young people with the message of his Guerrero Azteca Project, named in his son's honor.
"Mexico is paying a very high price in blood for this illegal and immoral war," said Suarez del Solar, who estimated that 202 soldiers of Hispanic origin have died in Iraq, 89 of them Mexicans who were legal residents in the United States.
He called them – and other Mexican immigrant soldiers serving in the U.S. armed forces – "the soldiers without a country" because many are not U.S. citizens and lose their Mexican citizenship by virtue of serving in a foreign army.
Non-citizen soldiers from countries including Mexico, the Philippines, Nigeria and Germany are legal immigrants who the military has long let serve as everything from cooks to front line soldiers, though not generally as officers.
The annual number of non-citizen enlistees has fallen nearly 20 percent from fiscal year 2001 to fiscal year 2004, from 11,829 to 9,477 recruits, according to military data.
Much of the decline came last year alone – and despite new rules that offer expedited citizenship for non-citizens soldiers.
By comparison, annual enlistment among U.S. citizens dropped 12 percent, from 264,832 to 232,957 recruits.
Fernando Suarez, father of Jesus Suarez, a Mexican-born U.S. Marine slain in Iraq, during a news conference in Mexico City, Tuesday, April 19, 2005. Fernando Suarez went back to his native Mexico to convince young Mexicans not to immigrate to the United States or allow themselves to be recruited into the U.S. armed services. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Yep, teach tnem how to sneak in for the benefits and freedoms earned by Americans, but never, never, earn it. I would say that father and son are opposits. I know how that is.
"Anybody who goes there risks being chased by vigilantes, or recruited into the army," Suarez de Solar said. "I want to talk to young people ... and tell them they should stay here and work for Mexico."
Wow, America sounds like hell for people like you, Mr. del Solar. So why are you still here?
And with that statement, sir, you have dishonored your son's sacrifice.
I remember this guy. He's a GlobalExchange.org fellow. Related to Code Pink.
http://www.globalexchange.org/getInvolved/speakers/109.html
I wonder who's paying for his trip.
But to those that have supported our military with their blood, sweat, tears, and their lives, I am deeply grateful.
Ah, thanks for the info Shermy.
ping
I'm sorry for his loss, but he seems to be using his son's death to fuel his left wing views that he had before the war.
I watch the news in Spanish quite regularly ~ depending on time of day on any one of 3 of the stations.
The US military in Iraq is a major topic on Spanish language news every day. It always seems respectful ~ the sacrifices of the soldiers are truly recognized. No doubt somebody in Latin America is criticizing the US and "W" over the war, but not on the Spanish language channels I can get. THis is more than I can say for the English language channels.
The father can go back to his corrupt, third world hellhole. I hope he can convince the illegals to stay there.
We'll honor his son's memory and the country he died for.
Senor Suarez, while I'm sorry for your loss, obviously your son eclipsed you in what it means to be a man. Go back to your gutter nation and stay there as you dishonor his death evening being near this great land.
We agree!! Stay in your country and tell everyone else to, as well.
I, for one, hope all the people of mexico listen to this guy. Maybe they will stay home and work for mexico, which is what they should do. That said, this guy is obviously a left wing idiot and dishonors his son and uses his son's death as a political tool.
Not willing to die for it? Don't bother coming. Thanks.
Even illegal aliens are requied to register with the Selective Service, under penalty of $250,000. I have read the registration card, which is now available.
This guy has a lot of gall.....(warning, VERY graphic images of the safety of Mexico)
http://www.ogrish.com/archives/murdered_by_machete_in_mexico_deep_cut_wounds_Apr_12_2005.html
http://www.ogrish.com/archives/murdered_by_machete_in_mexico_Apr_12_2005.html
http://www.ogrish.com/archives/floating_body_in_mexico_Mar_24_2005.html
http://www.ogrish.com/archives/strangled_and_raped_in_mexico_february_2005_Feb_23_2005.html
http://www.ogrish.com/archives/teenager_found_cut_up_in_bushes_mexico_Feb_03_2005.html
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