In anticipation of Immigration Reform

Hundreds of people from deep in the heart of Mexico and from El Salvador, Guatemala and other Latin American countries are in Acuna, Piedras and probably most border cities with the intent of returning to the United States. They hope that they can piece together enough evidence to obtain legal status in the USA. Some told me that they hope to get lost in the huge flow of paper work because they know they do not qualify under the proposed bill.

The Mexican border-cities and towns are also flooded with deported Mexicans. Acuna experienced more than its share of repatriated Mexicans. Under a U.S. program to deter re-entry, our government flied many people that are deported from Arizona, to Del Rio, Texas - where they are dumped into Acuna. The idea is that they probably do not know anyone to help them cross in Acuna and will simply go home. The people that I interviewed said that because they do not know Acuna, they are desperate to return to the United States and will try to cross.

Meanwhile, Acuna has more than its share of strangers wandering its streets. The one migrant shelter in Acuna was built to help as many as 35 people for a few days. Often the numbers are between 50 and 100 people at this lone shelter.

A little discussed fact in all of the immigration reform proposals relates directly to the intent of these Bills. The intent is to resolve the issue of 11.5 million people on U.S. soil without authorization and to prevent more of the same. Nobody proposes what to do with the millions that are on U.S. soil without authorization and who will not qualify for legal status under the proposed legislation. All of the rhetoric about eliminating she shadow society did not result in any proposal that addresses this central issue.

Fences, more Border Patrol Agents and hammering employers may have an impact in the future, but for less taxpayer money the companies doing business with or owning factories in Mexico could be required by U.S. law to pay a living wage. A real living wage would do much more than any fence. It would also discourage companies from outsourcing our jobs. Hmmmm.