Posted on 01/31/2004 5:56:03 AM PST by SheLion
Their boss insists that they're not trying to act like jerks. It's just that the border patrol agents who descended on Portland last weekend are new to Maine and, this being the dead of winter and all, they apparently can't help themselves.
"A lot of our agents are just off the southern (U.S.) border and there's a different atmosphere down there," said Monte J. Bennett, assistant chief patrol agent for the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection in Houlton. "There are a lot more numbers down there. Things are more aggressive."
In other words, if you're an immigrant in Maine these days, you'd best double-check your papers before you go anywhere and learn to say "Yes, sir" and "No, sir" to anyone in a black uniform and boots. And oh yes, try not to look suspicious.
"My business is down 80 percent since Saturday," lamented Juan Gonzalez, owner of La Bodega Latina Grocery Store on Congress Street. "Customers call me on the phone saying, 'Is it clear? Can we come down?' People are really afraid."
According to bureau spokesman Bennett, what happened Saturday in Portland was a typical "transportation sweep" in which federal agents - many recently transferred here as part of a south-to-north shift in homeland security forces - visited Portland's airport, train and bus stations in search of illegal aliens.
They netted 10 people whose papers failed to pass muster. At the same time, they left Portland's hard-won reputation as an immigrant-friendly city in tatters.
Nasir Ahmed was behind the counter at Amei Halaal Market on St. John Street when agents walked in and told everyone, employees and customers alike, to get out their passports and green cards. Ahmed said some patrons eating lunch in the Somali market bolted out the back door - not because they were undocumented, but because they were scared to death.
"How would you feel if you went to McDonald's and got asked for ID while you were eating your food? That's what happened here," Ahmed asked. "Now, less people come in. We lost a lot of customers."
Mohammed Barre, who was in the store at the time, said much of the anxiety could have been avoided if the agents had clearly identified themselves (several eyewitnesses said they didn't) and, before coming through the door, had taken the chips off their shoulders.
"Unfriendly," Barre replied when asked to describe the agents' demeanor. "Very unfriendly."
Bennett insisted that the operation targeted only Portland's "transportation hubs," not its immigrant enclaves. He added, however, that the agents will investigate anything "that needs investigating."
Would two stores with foreign names, frequented by people with dark skin, each a block or two from the Vermont Transit bus station "need investigating"?
"Based solely on that, no," Bennett replied. "They go more by people's mannerisms."
Thus, we are asked to believe, it was a citywide outbreak of "mannerisms" that attracted agents to Amei Halaal Market, La Bodega Latina and even the Preble Street Resource Center, where director Mark Swann has vowed that the next time agents show up, they'll be asked for a search warrant.
(Lest we all think the agents' attitudes began and ended with immigrants, consider my daughter's welcome Saturday upon arriving in Portland by bus from Boston: After she gave a border agent her license, he demanded her passport. She correctly told him that U.S. citizens don't need passports for interstate travel. "Let me give you a word of advice," he replied tersely. "You need to learn to watch your mouth.")
Where all this tension goes from here is anyone's guess.
Meetings are already being held among Portland's immigrant elders and leaders. And the Latino Health and Community Service has called off its Feb. 14 health fair because, director John Connors explained, "I'm not going to put up posters telling these guys we're going to have a bunch of minorities and immigrants showing up at a particular time and place."
Bennett calls such fears unfounded. If confronted by a federal agent, he said, all anyone has to do is "be friendly, be straightforward and answer their questions."
And above all, watch your mannerisms.
Columnist Bill Nemitz can be contacted at 791-6323 or at: bnemitz@pressherald.com
I agree people who are here illegally should not be sent to gas chambers or concentration camps --- just quickly send them back home --- I think they need to be sent back until the learn to make the choice to obey immigration and travel laws of this country. I don't believe in open borders and that anyone in the world has a right to just come here and stay here --- often at taxpayer expense.
I don't know about that. Used to be the government had the power to force every child to go to a either a government school or a private school meeting set curricular requirements. Now, in many states, home schooling means that it is up to each indivual parent.
Another example: In the time of our founding fathers, the government had the power to know how you voted. Now it is a big secret.
What's wrong? I don't think there IS anything wrong! America needs to get back to where it used to be......although I doubt if that will ever happen.
Plus: Governor Baldacci, who is a DemocRAT brought them in and took them right to registration..........to register as MORE DemocRATS. heh!
While I would love to believe that, in today's world of professional offendees backed by judicial activists, I fear it will just be the foundation for yet another officially outraged group that will be afforded "protected: status.
I'm sorry if they think this is racial profiling. But guess who got us on 9-11? It wasn't no blond hair babes, that's for sure.
Most people who are from overseas do not LOOK like Americans. Their mannerisms give them away.
I'm not for the Feds to be tearing down my door to search me, but I have nothing to hide. I do not fear them. And I have no reason to think they would ever come knocking on MY door.
Absolutely right.
It's like when I am freshwater fishing.
Game wardens have approached me to ask to see my fishing license, which I simply show them.
No problem.
You ever hear about there being two Maine's? Well, there is southern Maine, down around Bangor, and then there is northern Maine. I-95 ends at Houlton, an hour away from me), and it's a winding, two lane ROAD the rest of the way up here.
And it is peaceful. A very nice place to live. I know the younger people aren't real thrilled with the lack of amusement, but it sure beats the hustle and bustle of the big cities. I couldn't even DRIVE on the interstates anymore. 4-5 lanes, everyone going 80mph. I would be like a deer in bright lights.
I'm very happy up here. And when I go shopping, everyone knows my name! :) Have you ever been to Baxter State Park? It's gorgeous. And snowmobiling is excellent up here!
Nah.
They brought them in to shovel all the snow--a job Mainers don't want to do.
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