Option 1:
Posted on 05/18/2008 4:34:20 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Sister Phylis L. Peters is going to stay with her people even if it means putting her own life on the line.
Recent news that U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents will check the immigration status of individuals fleeing a hurricane has sent a chill through the poor, unincorporated colonia of Cameron Park, where Peters founded Proyecto Juan Diego, a community center.
If a hurricane strikes South Texas this year, the colonia's undocumented residents might have to choose between deportation and evacuation.
"If they are staying, I'm not leaving," Peters said.
Because many Cameron Park residents have family members residing in the U.S. illegally, there are concerns that families could be divided once they hit the Border Patrol checkpoints.
On Friday, a group of undocumented women discussed the issue over lunch. For some, it was the first they had heard of the Border Patrol's plans.
"Instead of offering us help when we need it most, they're threatening us with deportation," Patricia said. "It's like they're taking advantage of a disaster to go fishing for undocumented immigrants."
"I live an old house that would never make it through the storm," Maria said. "But this leaves me with no option but to stay there."
"It's like they're asking us to commit suicide," Patty said.
Residents opting not to evacuate is a concern of County Judge Carlos H. Cascos whose main concern is for the safety of the county's 387,000 plus residents.
"Once this word gets out people are just not going to do it. I think they would rather face the wrath of a hurricane than the wrath of being deported," Cascos said.
"Our role is to get people out safely, quickly and as efficiently as we can and get them to a safe haven...we should not be doing anything that is going to discourage people from evacuating. I think this is going to discourage people and frighten people," Cascos said.
Although Cascos has the power to issue a mandatory evacuation should a hurricane threaten the area, the county cannot force people to leave. If the residents choose to stay and the area gets flooded, the county is responsible for evacuating them to a safe place.
"We wish they would not do it. We think it is counterproductive to our evacuation process," Cascos said. "What they are trying to do, I don't think is in the best interest of the citizenry."
It's a difficult situation for the Border Patrol agents who are following the rules handed down within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said Dan Doty, spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol's Rio Grande Valley Sector.
"We value human life. You can never give somebody a life back. We don't want to see any loss of life, but at the same time we are mandated in our immigration duties and our Homeland Security duties," Doty said.
Doty reiterated the government's stance that the checkpoints will remain open during an evacuation and that if an individual is found to have entered the United States illegally, they will be deported back to their country once the area has been deemed safe.
Those in custody will be temporarily transported to either the Laredo or San Antonio sectors.
Undocumented immigrants whose children are U.S. citizens will be given the option to keep their children with them if they are minors or send them up to San Antonio if they have relatives who are able to care for the children.
"Family unity is very important to us. We do not want to separate families, but we have to do what we are mandated to do," Doty said.
We Yanquis are just so cruel and ruthless...
Better off not coming here in the first place.
What do illegal aliens have to do with "citizenry"?
I don’t see a problem, they can leave and then come right back, who is going to stop them.
Something we never heard in the news is what happened in an East Texas County. A number of Texans were very upset about illegals coming into their county and driving down wages. So a number of them killed a bunch of illegals and laid their bodies on the steps of the court house. There are NO more illegals in that county.
I can already see the headline, “Hurricane Hits Texas Coast, illegal immigrants hit the hardest.”
Do you ever notice how it seem that every country in the world hates the U.S. but yet their People are doing everything they can to get here in droves.
“On Friday, a group of undocumented women discussed the issue over lunch. For some, it was the first they had heard of the Border Patrol’s plans. “Instead of offering us help when we need it most, they’re threatening us with deportation,” Patricia said. “It’s like they’re taking advantage of a disaster to go fishing for undocumented immigrants.”
Well “Patricia” (probably not her real name), since you know hurricane season is coming, you have plenty of time to take your family and leave NOW!
They count illegals in the US census and use them for political power.
“Yanquis”???
HAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
Gosh, maybe the should just go home now then.
What? We are supposed to make the life of a criminal easier?
I find that hard to believe. Do you have any more sprecifics? Where, when?
I'm sure that given the chance the Border Patrol will be happy to "document" them.
Most likely they'll be sent for deportation, but they will be documented.
I’d like to know too. Bump for later.
You are exactly right. This is just a pandering journalist story from a stupid journalist who thinks we are as stupid as they are! I’m tired of their whining. I’m tired of their whining. I’m tired of their whining!
Of course families should be kept together! That was why Elian Gonzales was sent back to Cuba, remember? As soon as his foot touched U.S. soil, he had citizenship, but the Democrats insisted on sending him back with his father.
Something we never heard in the news is what happened in an East Texas County.
You left one item out of the tale....... Please name the county or courthouse either one would be sufficient?
Option 1:
“Undocumented immigrants must choose between facing a hurricane or being deported”
Seems fair to me.
I live in E TX and I have never heard this before-—where did it happen?
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