Young Migrants Risk All to Reach U.S.

The Washington Post ^ | 2 August 2006 | N.C. Aizenman

[Czar]

"As it is I would ship every single one back"

As would I.

No exceptions.

[jude24]

But if they had done this *legally*, they wouldn't put their children in danger, in the first place.

Desparation generally means they don't have the two years or so applying for legal residency takes.

[kinoxi]

At the law.

So you have a special definition of illegal. One which I do not understand.

[Kitten Festival]

They are really sweet people. At my sister's church, there was some fundraiser and half the parish was rich whites in the suburbs and the other half was poor Guatemalan illegals. The Guatemalan illegals shelled out as generously as the rich whites even though the priest told thtem they didn't have to give anything. They gave because they were good. Meanwhile, this week I investigated vile Hugo Chavez's threats against Guatemala, the communist scumbag is trying to steal the seat they EARNED on the UN security council. I can't tell you how offended I was at this - Hugo's never given a dime to the UN while the Guatemalans have been contributing dues and troops any time the UN asked. Now Chavez is gallivanting all over the world in a campaign against Guatemala, trying to steal their seat by cavorting with leftist and Islamofascist dictators and screaming about Israel and the US. It's one sickening spectacle and Guatemala is the victim. They sure as heck don't deserve this piggishness and bullying from Hugo Chavez.

[CondiRice08]

You seem to be offering more problems than solutions. How could we justify letting these people in? We let in Cubans trying to escape tyrrany. Any one else must go through the legal process. I feel sorry for these people, but we have rules to sustain order, and ultimately to sustain society, if the rules go, so do order and society

[Kitten Festival]

Really? I am not aware of that.

[monkeywrench]

They are sweet. Consistantly. The first thing that I think of is manners. What wonderful manners these very poor people have.

[VOA]

Guatemalans are such sweet honorable people, you never hear of them
committing crimes.

I agree.
And I disagree.

During my time in Los Angeles (1995-2005), I had to sit on two juries.
The second one was for a Guatemalan guy who'd threatened his family
with bodily injury and tried to break into their house.

I had an open mind on the charges until it was revealed this was
part of a pattern...he'd bitten off part of an ear-lobe of a
brother-in-law that had intervened in an EARLIER attack on his wife.
Fortunately, the brother-in-law had kept the perp from finally pushing
his wife all the way out the window and to the pavement!

We convicted; and hoped nothing had been lost in translation as
he had to have a translator.

Also, one of the janitors at my place of employment was a Guatemalan
lady...as sweet as could be.

Just saying that Guatemalans are like Americans.
A mixed bag.

As for the young folks that make the overland trek to the USA...
they have to be desparate.
Trying to get across the southern border of Mexico is an insane act
in its' own right.

I'm sympathetic.
But I'm even more sympathetic to the folks who fill out the papers,
play by the rules and wait their LONG turn to enter legally.

[LasVegasMac]

but I still wish we had a more concerted pro immigration policy.

Our current laws are just fine.

If only they were enforced.

Emotional story, yes.

Unfortunately, emotions do not make good policy.

Reality does.

Too bad we don't use more of it.

[lonestar67]

just brought a family here from Zimbabwe

also support mission work to Mexico

personally did Christian youth work in South Texas


It is quite evident that illegal immigration has made life in Texas unbearable. I hope you don't have to leave the US given such adverse conditions.

[CondiRice08]

One presumes your being sarcastic. All I'm saying is that liberals act on emotion no matter what the consequences, conservatives act on principles, looking at the bigger picture. You talk about the people at your sisters church. I'm sure they're upstanding people, would you not also like them to be legal? And your positive sterotyping is just as bad as negative sterotyping. There are good and bad people in every group. That day at the church you met the good side.

[skeeter]

If thugs presided over empty prairies and vacant villages there would be little basis for global struggles against the US.

Thugs tend not to allow their most productive to immigrate. Therefore under your policy we should look forward to something akin to the Muriel Boatlift times 10,000. You might have trouble selling that one.

[MrEdd]

Sorry, But people from all around the world want to come here too.

My Position from the start has been:
If we need people we can process in new citizens who have never committed any crime including entering illegally.

And who are drawn from every country in the world
From Iceland To South Africa, From Norway to South Korea
Every corner of the globe, not giving ANY preference to the few nations to our immediate south.

My Position Has Not Changed.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

More like 7-9 years, j. Sadly, you're right.

[BW2221]

We have between 12 and 20 million illegals in the country now. If they are granted amnesty, they will be bringing relatives. How many of the world's poor can we support? At what point do we risk no longer being the United States but a country that's merged with Mexico (which may well be what the President wants).

[Kitten Festival]

Yes, I would like them to be legal. No, I am not positive stereotyping, I am speaking from experience. All peoples are not created equally - this is not Uniworld where all people are morally alike.

[skeeter]

How do you feel about the American People?

[jude24]

Someone fleeing oppression, violence, and rape will not wait for the niceties of legalized status - nor should they have to.

[skeeter]

Someone fleeing oppression, violence, and rape will not wait for the niceties of legalized status - nor should they have to.

I'm for allowing such people in immediately as well.

Now, how about the other 99% who are here illegally for a larger paycheck? Should they have to wait?

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Agreed, j. Sad that it had to get to that point, isn't it?