Posted on 12/23/2005 1:39:32 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
TUCSON, Ariz. – For the third straight year, fewer illegal immigrants are returning to Mexico from Arizona for the holiday season, likely fearing tightened borders will make it too tough to re-enter the U.S., a Mexican consular spokesman says.
"It is happening," said Rodolfo Aguilar, a spokesman for the Mexican consulate in Nogales, the busiest port of entry between Arizona and the Mexican state of Sonora.
Mexican immigration figures show a trend of decline in the number of late-year southbound crossings through Nogales since 2003, as well as through all but one of the four other ports of entry between the two states, Aguilar said.
"Mexican authorities do not check everyone who comes into Mexico. But I think the trend is clear," he said.
More Mexican nationals who are in the United States without proper documentation probably are staying rather than going home for the holidays because of their concern about being able to cross the border again, given continuing federal efforts to strengthen border security, Aguilar said.
"There might be another explanation," he said. "But we're not sure."
The records' start and end dates vary for each year and encompass more than just the holiday period, which is celebrated in Mexico from Dec. 16, with Las Posadas, through Christmas, New Year's Day and the Jan. 6 Dia de los Santos Reyes (the Three Kings), when gifts are exchanged.
Mexican immigration figures showed that 141,412 paisanos, or "countrymen" – a reference often used in Mexico to describe migrants working in the United States – entered Mexico through the Nogales port between Nov. 24, 2003, and Jan. 11, 2004.
The number fell to 61,981 at Nogales between Nov. 18, 2004, and Jan. 9, 2005.
Figures from Nov. 1 of this year to Dec. 14 show only 17,896 going through the Nogales port.
Entries also fell at Agua Prieta, San Luis Rio Colorado and Naco, climbing only at Sonoyta – all of which have much fewer crossings than Nogales.
Sonia Coronado, 28, who has lived in Tucson for more than six years, all but one year illegally, said she's staying put this holiday "because it's very difficult for a person to come back."
"There's more vigilance on the border than before," she said.
Coronado of Tepache, Sonora, has entered the United States three times – twice guided by a smuggler and once after driving home for the holidays and returning legally with a one-year, now-expired visa.
The first coyote took her through a rank tunnel beneath Nogales frequented by drug- and people-smugglers when she was five months pregnant with the oldest of her three daughters.
Her journey to Phoenix and Tucson included being held in a safe house on Nogales' outskirts, crammed in a refrigerated cargo trailer with about 60 people, then locked for two days in a filthy Phoenix-area house with even more people before a cousin paid $600 to free her.
Only her oldest daughter knows her family in Mexico, Coronado said through a translator, and going home is "worth it because it's your family.
"But in the long run it's not worth it because how much harder is it for you to risk everything just for that short time at Christmas to be with your family?"
Mexicans with similar status in the United States have indicated in interviews that many "prefer to stay and not risk going and coming back," Aguilar said. "They prefer the contrary, that the families unite with them in the United States."
Arizona has had the most illegal entries in the nation in recent years, and the federal government is continuing to expand Border Patrol resources: 640 of 1,700 new agents will be alloted to Arizona by next October.
Last week, the House approved an immigration enforcement bill calling for 700 miles of new border fence, triggering outrage in Mexico.
Immigrants' rights advocates said they believe but can't prove that fewer illegal immigrants are returning to Mexico for Christmas because of re-entry difficulties, and federal spokesmen said enforcement agencies don't track numbers of vehicles or people leaving, or citizenship.
"I don't know how you'd gauge it," said Kathryn Rodriguez, coordinating organizer for Derechos Humanos, a Tucson-based border rights coalition. "I know that's the reality." In previous years, people "used to just buy a ticket and go home for Christmas and then cross through the desert" to return, she said.
"From our experience, most of the folks that we work with are all staying here for the holidays," said Jennifer Allen, director of the Border Action Network, another immigrants rights organization based in Tucson. "They're definitely staying for fear of not getting back in."
Hope it discourages new illegals too, Sonia.
Fox will not let this stand.
Saw a lot of paisanos lined up at Western Union today.
fewer are venturing S. @ Xmas cuz the whole fam damnily resides in the U.S. (illegally)
Like home invasion... that's really just migration.
And our gutless Govt. will not likely make them leave involuntarily.
maybe they don't like the water down there any more.
"fewer illegal immigrants "
When are these lying newspaper dolts going to get it straight??
"illegal" and "immigrant" re contradictions in terms.
An "immigrant" is somebody who comes to a country according to that Country's naturalization laws.
Its "illegal invaders" or "illegal aliens".
"Illegal immigrant" makes as much sense as "legal robbery".
ping
Why doesn't Sonia Coronado learn English if she's intent on staying here? Why does she have to speak through an 'interpreter'? And why the heck do all their relatives have to join them here to bleed the US white? Mexico is a country blessed with so many natural resources. It could be a first world country if they got their act together. But no.
We have most of the peasant class here, a quarter of Mexico's population. Half the remaining middle class has said in a poll that given half a chance, they'd head north. Fox and his cronies should be forced to clean up Mexico. How dare they rant and rave that we have no right to our borders. Mexico is a hellhole. They come here and bring that culture with them, crime, drugs, and an unwillingness to learn English. They don't want to become Americans. They want the US to become miniMexico.
More vigilance............as opposed to none at all : )
BINGO!
What you said! Correct!(After all, why return to "good 'ol Mexico" when they can stay here and "suck America's tit" Tax Free? The SHAME of it is those who are "Real Immigrants" and went through process to come here Legally and do really contribute to this nation.)
A way to get around this problem is to ban federal funding to any State or municipality that has sanctuary laws protecting these illegal immigrants. A law needs to be passed that makes it crystal clear that when a State or municipal government agency is notified of an illegal alians existance the agency should be required to take that person into custody so they could be turned over to the custody of I.C.E.
Another thing that must be done is to prevent these illegals from dumping kids into this country so they automaticly become U.S.citizens. Also Hospitals should be prevented from treating illegals and then allowing them to just walk away without notifying the local law enforcement agencies. They are requiered by law to notifye law enforcement of a number of Crimes that they're aware of,they can just add the name and location of illegal alians to the list.
Because in the "new America" it's not necessary.
We are now one of the largest Spanish-speaking nations in the world. We're a major source of Latin music, journalism and culture.
Just go to Miami, or San Antonio, Los Angeles, Chicago or West New York, New Jersey ... and close your eyes and listen. You could just as easily be in Santo Domingo or Santiago, or San Miguel de Allende.
For years our nation has debated this change -- some have praised it and others have resented it. By nominating me, my party has made a choice to welcome the new America.
George Bush from a campaign speech in Miami, August 2000.
Good cite. The words of Edmund Burke ring in my ears.
For those who cared to listen Bush was already taking off his conservative cloak during the election cycle. Most loyal partisan chose not to hear or remained mute for fear of the alternative.
We owe our present dilemma to these fine folks. They could have stood up in time to force change but they chose to remain silent.
Well no kidding. Most all their relatives are here now.
They've succeeded in making parts of California miniMexico, and we're paying for it to the tune of about 10 billion bucks every year.
GWBush should hang his head in shame for the millions of illegals he's allowed to come over our borders in the last 5 years.
He's allowed the importation of poverty, disease, ignorance and dependence, and we're supposed to think this is a good thing?. We know different, and our resentment against the open borders crowd (including Bush) is growing worse every day.
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