Young Migrants Risk All to Reach U.S.

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

[Kitten Festival]

QUETZALTENANGO, Guatemala -- Across Central America, growing numbers of impoverished children appear to be setting out for the United States on their own, risking robbery, rape and death as they try to sneak illegally through Mexico and across the U.S. border.

Last year, 6,460 underage illegal immigrants from Central America were detained in the United States while traveling without their parents and sent to government shelters, a 35 percent increase over the previous year. Many others likely slipped in undetected.

[BW2221]

"What?! There's no crying at The Free Republic!!
No group hugs either!"

Should we ban Saturn and Subaru owners too?

[Graybeard58]

We have fairly draconian enforcement of the Cuban immigration issue and more than 3000 people take to the Atlantic every year despite the huge disincentives.

Draconian? If there were not 90 miles of water seperating us from Cuba, half that island's population would be here.

[Flavius]

Young Migrants Risk All to Reach U.S.

its is sad that young migrants dont risk all to change hell holes they live in

[lonestar67]

You are correct.

We do have an aggressive Coast Guard policy and the Elian Gonzales story illustrates the beautiful side of our enforcement :)

[Graybeard58]

Kumbaya

[kcvl]

Nurith Celina Aizenman, a reporter with the Washington Post



http://tinyurl.com/pw6za



Last year, 6,460 underage illegal immigrants from Central America were detained in the United States while traveling without their parents and sent to government shelters, a 35 percent increase over the previous year. Many others likely slipped in undetected.

[BW2221]

"No matter what the question is, the rats do not have the right answer."

You really think their plan to increase the number of poor, uneducated immigrants (80% of whom will vote Democratic) isn't smarter long-range than George Bush's plan to increase the number of poor, uneducated immigrants because business interests want him to?

The wave of immigrants is going to replace of all the babies liberal Democrats aborted at the polls in 10 years.

[Graybeard58]

Of course it's correct for them but not for the country.

GWB misses the boat on this issue too.

[dljordan]

"Guatemalans are such sweet honorable people, you never hear of them committing crimes. I wish we could do something for them."

Do a Google search on "guatemala violence" and tell me what you see.

[CaptainK]

From the US State Department website

SAFETY AND SECURITY: Violent criminal activity has been a problem in all parts of Guatemala for years, including murder, rape, and armed assault against foreigners. The police force is inexperienced and under-funded, and the judicial system is weak, overworked, and inefficient. Well-armed criminals know that there is little chance they will be caught and punished. Traditionally, Guatemala experiences increases in crime before and during the Christmas and Easter holiday seasons.

Large demonstrations occur throughout Guatemala, often with little or no notice, and they can cause serious traffic disruptions.

Although most demonstrations are peaceful, they can turn violent, and travelers should avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place. The use of roadblocks and/or blocking of public facilities, including the international airport, has increased and demonstrators may prevent tourists caught behind the blockades from leaving.

Due to uncontrolled drug and alien smuggling, the Guatemalan border with Mexico is a relatively high-risk area, in particular in the northern most Peten Department. The most dangerous area in that region is on the northwestern border of the Peten, in the area including the Sierra de Lacandon and Laguna del Tigre National Parks. Extra precautions are required when travel by U.S. Government personnel to the region is required.

The following recommendations will help residents and visitors alike to increase their safety: Avoid gatherings of agitated people. Guatemalan citizen frustration with crime and a lack of appropriate judicial remedies has led to violent incidents of vigilantism, including lynching, especially in more isolated, rural areas. Attempting to intervene may put you at risk of attacks from mobs.

Avoid close contact with children, including taking photographs, especially in rural areas. Such contact can be viewed with deep alarm and may provoke panic and violence. Rumors of foreigners stealing children surface periodically and can provoke a violent response towards strangers. Foreign tourists have been attacked by mobs and some years ago one was killed while photographing children. Keep informed of possible demonstrations by following the local news and consulting hotel personnel and tour guides. Avoid areas where demonstrations are occurring.

[RodgerD]

We need a time out from immigration from the third world.

Illegal and "legal".

[F.J. Mitchell]

And the US risks all by allowing and worse yet encouraging and enabling this invasion to happen.

[norton]

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

You have nothing better to do with (our) money?
On the other hand, you are half right, there's be no global struggle because we'd be neck deep in it HERE!

(Sheesh)

[norton]

PS: I didn't read it, I don't need to read it, I know quite enough Guatemalans, mexicans, etc. in real time:
but form the posts I have read, it was a pretty effective propaganda piece even here on the RWC side.