What Part of Illegal Don’t You Understand?

The law is meant to serve the people and people are not created to serve the law. This is the belief in Mexico and other Latin American countries. However, we live in the United States. People entering our country need to understand our simple immigration system, laws and policies. Here, we serve the law.

Although you may want to come to the United States because you cannot earn enough to feed your family or because of our boundless opportunities, you must follow the rules. Rule one is that you apply for a visa. You must either have a sponsor (that will support you if necessary) and/or proof of a waiting job. Second, if you have a sponsor and/or proof of a waiting job, you will wait for 10 years for your visa. Although you may have a child in the United States, you will still wait 10 years for a visa.

People may or may not be aware of the hopelessness of waiting for a visa, but they are aware of other facts.

·       There are at least 11.9 million people living in the USA without authorization. They are often referred to as illegals.

·       Many have lived in the USA for a decade or more. Their children attend school. Some have purchased homes.

·       Millions of these people file Federal income tax returns using a special identification number provided by the federal government.

·       The federal government will not use your income tax information to locate and deport illegals.

·       Many of those filing federal income tax returns receive refunds or ‘earned income’ checks from the federal government.

·       Many purchase cars and trucks that are registered with local state governments

·       Authorities will not question citizenship when these people file police reports, register their children for school or seek hospital care.

·       When sneaking into the United States there are ‘safe places’ where bottled water is left to help you on your journey and the U.S. Border Patrol is prohibited from arresting you at these ‘safe’ stops.

·       Many people that are illegally on U.S. soil are arrested for crimes but not deported.

·       Millions of people that are illegally on U.S. soil are not targeted for deportation because they have children in the United States.

·       Thousands of people illegally in the USA participate in protests to change immigration policies and are not arrested and deported.

·       Thousands attend colleges and do not need to pay non-resident costs that American citizens must pay if they do not legally reside in the state where the college is located.

·       Schools do not require people living in the USA illegally to provide the documents needed for U.S. citizens to register their children for school.

·       Some people are arrested and deported during random sweeps conducted by the Federal Government

·       Some people are sentenced to jail for being on U.S. soil without authorization and then deported.

·       Thousands of people from Latin America are arrested and released when entering the U.S. illegally and given citations ordering them to appear in court. They are allowed to remain in the USA until their case is resolved in court. If they fail to appear, an order for their removal may be issued.

·       Many people are arrested while trying to cross the international bridges to return to Mexico. These arrests bolster the statistics that show the number of arrests by the Border Patrol and our taxes pay for the overnight stay in jail.

A common belief among immigrants is that if you enter the United States and get passed the Border Patrol, you chances of remaining in the U.S. are very good.

I wonder why there might be confusion about the law. Is there any part of our immigration rules that might not make sense? Is there anything in our policies that seem inconsistent with the law? Are we doing anything that could lead people to believe that being on U.S. soil without authorization violates a very important law? Why would any poor person wait for 10-years on a list so that they could enter the USA when we obviously allow people to remain on U.S. soil in violation of our law?

What part of illegal do you not understand?

Angry Questions

Last week a 16 month old child was abandoned at the public hospital. The child was unconscious and suffered severe brain trauma. Bruises and other injuries strongly suggested child abuse. The child was also malnourished.

No hospital in Acuna, a city of 180,000 people, has the medical equipment required to even assess the injuries to this baby, let alone provide treatment.

Paper Houses paid to have the infant transported to a hospital in Piedras Negras, 55 miles away. The child was brain dead. A few days later the child was pronounced physically dead.

Both parents were found and arrested. The mother was released. The father confessed and was charged.

Anger exists on several levels. How can a father, or anyone, beat a 16-month old baby? How can a mother remain while her baby is undernourished? Can anyone believe that this was not a case of on-going abuse?

How can a city of this size not have a fully equipped public hospital? The public hospital does not even have the equipment needed for a routine CAT Scan. There are only two ambulances in the city and they only transport patients to a hospital. Transports from hospital to hospital most often happen in a pick-up truck.

Yet, we must set aside the anger. Many things are not within our control. We must look at the immediate need of the child. Although the chances are slim, the child might survive with proper diagnosis and treatment. We paid for the transportation of the child.

It is far to easy to become angry about the situations in these border cities. The cartels, the silent media, the politicians, rumors, corruption, extortion and the lack of good jobs are all frustrating. Too often anger and frustration become excuses to justify not trying to help the poor. We must redirect our anger into positive action that helps the weakest and the poorest.

One other thought about the abused baby . . . Did the neighbors know? If the neighbors knew, what was their obligation? The people in the Mexican border cities are our neighbors. What do we know about their needs and situations? What is our obligation?

Latin American Children Run to Us

Put aside concerns about immigration and our fear about the changing nation in which we live. On the most basic level, the children from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are running in panic and fear. Imagine a child being chased by a rapist. The child runs down the street and wraps her arms around your legs saying, "Please help me. He is after me!" Would we ever push the child away? Would we force the child to return to the rapist?

Some might say this is over dramatic or an over simplification. I believe it distills the situation down to its basic components.

I worked and supervised investigators in the Juvenile Sex Crimes Unit of one of our nation's largest cities. Mandatory training and working with my counterparts in the Adult Sex Crimes Unit taught many truths about victims of sexual assaults. Studies agree that almost half of sexual assault victims do not report their rape. Think about that: almost 50% of sexual assault victims cannot bring themselves to file a report. Now, let's think about a child that may have even been raped by the police or army. Think about the child that their little sister will be raped and killed if they every make a police report. Think about this child being in an interview room with a uniformed Border Patrol Agent who asks why they fled to America.

The cartels and the gangs that serve the cartels use children. Let me be specific. We will call him Juan Pedro and cannot use his real name. Neither can he. At the age of 11 he was told that he was now a member of the Z. He knew of the zetas and knew that he could not say no. A few weeks later he was at the bridge and told to watch for a particular truck. He watched the license plates and saw the truck. He called the phone number that he had been given and reported that the truck arrived in Mexico and was not searched. He had other duties and he did what he was told. Eventually he was picked up by adult members of the cartel and told that today he would prove his loyalty. Failure to prove his loyalty would result in the death of his baby sister. He was given a pistol and ordered to kill his best friend, who was 10 years old. Juan Pedro is now hooding from the Zeta in a shelter, under an assumed name.

We will call the little girl Maria. She was raped at the age of 10 and forded into a house of prostitution. She escaped eight months later and now lives in a shelter under an assumed name.

Neither of these children are our responsibility. The hundreds or thousands of children in similar circumstances are not our responsibility. But if Juan Pedro or Maria ran across our border and into our arms would we really return them to the cartels? Really?

I don't pretend to know the solutions to the complex issues surrounding illegal and legal immigration. But I can't pretend that I don't have any moral responsibilities to many of these children and their families.  I know that I remain accountable to God for whatever and I say, whatever I do, whatever I don't say or don't do.

Shots are occasionally heard and most agree that the shots were a dispute between thugs. However, most days are quiet. The mayoral election is Acuna was quiet and surprising. The PRI lost. Many people say that they accepted the 200 pesos offered by the PRI for their vote, but that they voted their conscience and ousted the PRI.

I know the new first lady (her husband takes office on January 1) because of her generous work and support at the Divine Providence Nursing Home. She's donated substantial amounts of money and a lot of elbow grease to improve the shelter. She is not afraid to get her hands dirty as she helps the poor. She's personally rescued old people that were literally dying on the street.

We've opened  "Sam's Park" and Christine and her husband are pleased. When Sam passed away last year, Christine asked that money be donated to build a playground in the colonias to honor Sam. Donations came flooding in and we now have a new playground in an area where there was nothing for the children of the poor.

Immigrants from Latin America continue to arrive in hope that immigration reform will make it possible for them to qualify for work permits. Most claim to have lived in the USA for many years and hope that they will slip through the system. In the meantime, Acuna has a troubling number of immigrants with no jobs and no food. The immigrant shelter that was designed for 35 people sometimes houses a hundred, with many more sleeping on the streets.

School will open. We need to increase the number of children we feed at the schools. Parents get out of bed at 5 a.m. and go to the schools to prepare the meals. Each is a volunteer, certified and trained by the state to prepare the food. The state sells the ingredients at far below costs. We pick up that cost. There are still too many children going to school that are too hungry to concentrate. We will fix this because we can.

I am walking the dirt roads in tomorrow. Otherwise, I would be bored.

Flood!

Piedras Negras, a city that is less than a mole from Eagle Pass, Texas had torrential rains last weekend. A small AP story appeared in a few news papers.

The rain came during the night and entire houses were filled and covered with water. The city received more rain than they usually get in six months. Picture a card-board house with a tin roof that is completely under-water. Picture a small cinder-block house that is completely underwater.

The downtown area was particularly hard hit, but most of the damage was confined to the rooftops, ceiling, and some low shelves. Downtown has a good drainage system and alarms sound when there is an emergency. Police drive the streets and warn the people in the better parts of town that there is flooding.

In the poor sections of town there are no alarms and no police warnings. Fortunately, the thunder and lightening woke some people and they woke their neighbors. There was only one death. But the damage to the poor was terrible.

From San Antonio, it does not sound like much. They lost their appliances and furniture. However, when standing inside a poor person's home that was hit with this storm, things are different. The couple that worked their entire lives and build a small cinder-block home in this neighborhood should have been a news story. Juan is 78 and physically handicapped (his words - sorry if he offends you). He can not walk without his cane and even then it is a struggle. Juan and his wife worked hard, their entire lives. They set aside a few pesos each week and then purchased a few cinderblocks. Eventually, they purchased cement, doors and windows and they built their own house. As the years passed they purchased a refrigerator, washer and some meager furnishings. Their entire house was covered with water. Marks on the walls show that the interior was filled with water. Every possession is ruined. They are retired and live on $96 a month!

Other homes and families told similar stories. Everyone is thankful that they awoke and ran to higher ground. Everyone that works, is back on the job. However, when the children return from school they come to a house that reeks of the odor of wet cardboard. The smell is nasty.

The people cannot prepare meals. No stoves, no firewood, and many pots, pans and dishes floated away during the storm. Local people organized a partial solution. Volunteers cook meals in huge pots, load them on to pick-ups and deliver them to the poor that are in need. One operation alone, delivers 3000 meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner. The meals are a 'poor person's meal' but the food is nourishing and very much appreciated. Because local merchants discount the food and the cooks and drivers are all volunteers the meals only cost us 10 cents.
That is right, we pay. Paper Houses Across the Border is paying for as many meals as possible.

This weekend millions of us will pay $20 to enjoy a movie and snacks. I can at least send $20 to provide 200 meals to these people.

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.

Inevitable

It was common to see kids and young adults swimming in the Rio Grande. I recall the first time I saw kids swim within a few feet of the U.S. and then turn around and swim back. “Look” my translator said as he pointed to a camera on the U.S. side of the river. “The kids know that camera is there. Everyone can see it. They know the Border Patrol seems them. They are kids.”

I asked a Border Patrol Agent about people swimming in the river or boating in Lake Amistad, which also separates Mexico from the United States. He said, “Generally, until they touch U.S. soil, we don’t do much with the boats. I mean if it is obvious they are about to stop on our side of the lake, we stop them, but most of the time we wait. As for the river, people have the right to be in the river.”

Sometimes off the cuff remarks from law enforcement officers addresses the practical day to day situations on the ground and may not perfectly reflect the law and official policies. However, what actually happens on the ground is important.

I thought of those kids playing in the Rio Grande when I read in the San Antonio newspaper that a father of three was killed by Border Patrol Agents while the attempted to pick up a swimmer that was likely headed to the USA and not simply playing in the Rio Grande. The story said that a crowd gathered on the Mexican side of the river and were shouting at the officers, “You are drowning him. Stop.” The story also said the people were heckling the officers.

Gunfire erupted. A father of three died in the arms of his 9-year old daughter. The Border Patrol boat sped away. Later, the officers admitted shooting into the crowd and said people were throwing rocks at them. The story raised a few questions in this former law-enforcement officer’s mind.

·         First, would people throw rocks at the boat and risk hitting the Mexican in the water?

·         Second, since the agents felt so threatened that they fled the scene, why did they simply not do so without firing their weapons?

·         Third, if they thought the man was swimming to the USA, why not park their boat near the shoreline? It is likely that the man would have turned around and went back to the Mexican side of the shore.

When the Border Patrol was doubled in size, many people in the Border Patrol acknowledge that the rush to hire agents resulted in people being accepted in the Border Patrol that are not suited to the job. Also, pressure to increase arrests resulted in some over-zealousness on the part of some agents. For example, I’ve witnessed Mexicans being arrested as they tried to cross the International Bridge to return to Mexico. They could have easily been checked for warrants and then be sent on their way. However, they became part of the apprehension statistics. The arresting officers received the same ‘credit’ for these arrests as agents that chased down Mexicans in the desert. An arrest is an arrest.

I recall in 2002 that sailboats in Lake Amistad cruised the border. Thousands of Mexicans walked across the International Bridge, shopped in Del Rio and then returned to Mexico.

I also recall when the Border Patrol instituted the OTM policy. In response to political pressure, the Border Patrol arrested as many Mexicans as possible. The focus on Mexicans was so strong that agents were told not to waste time arresting people on U.S. soil without authorization, other than Mexicans. (OTM stood for other than Mexicans). Unless an illegal alien was from Mexico, Iran and a few other terrorist countries or unless the illegal alien was wanted, the agents were told to give them a citation and to release them.  South American radio, television and news outlets told their audiences, “If you travel to the United States without papers and are stopped by immigration, do not lie and say you are from Mexico. Tell the truth. They are only arresting Mexicans.”

Audiences thought these stories were an elaborate U.S. hoax. People from Latin American would often tell the Border Patrol that they were from Mexico, so they would be deported to a Mexican border city and not sent all the way back home. This way, they could quickly cross the border again.

The very idea that the United States would only issue a citation sounded ludicrous. However, as the policy was confirmed, more unbelievable information came to light. “When an immigration officer catches you, they check the computer to make sure you are not wanted for a crime or on a terrorist watch list. The process can take several hours. They give you a citation that orders you to appear in court, which everyone ignores. Keep that citation! If you are ever stopped by immigration again you can show them your citation. This tells the officers that you’ve already been run through the system and they do not keep you for hours to run you again. It is almost like a Green Card!”

Several Border Patrol Agents confirmed that all of this was true. They all expressed frustration. “We are the pawns. The politicians decide when to ignore Mexicans, when to focus on Mexicans and it makes us sick” said one agent.

Instead of risking the anger of voters by initiating and passing a comprehensive immigration law with a fair temporary work provision, politicians use enforcement as a way of avoiding existing laws and to avoid addressing the issue of illegal immigration. This is not new. It has been going on for more than 50-years.

As the investigation into this most recent death on the border is inevitable. What are not inevitable are changes to border patrol policies and making those policies public. What is not inevitable is a comprehensive immigration law that deals with all issues in a fair way.

After tomorrow there will be more deaths along the border.

More Security on Mexican Side

This week I saw that not only were Mexican military at every entrance and exit in Acuna, they were also on every bridge that runs from the tourist area to the area of the factories. As I drove down the main street I could see that every bridge had roadblocks and military check points.

I was waived through without incident and nobody knows why there is such a large military effort.

Everything else was normal. The children were playing, people were shopping and going to work.

Some of the factories were cutting hours and that is typical during August.

The migrant shelter had over 100 people and still only have beds for 30. Most of the migrants said that they returned because they could not find work.

Piedras Negras had a large military deployment and many soldiers on trucks could be seen after dark. The shelters report that the had very few American visitors and bible groups this summer. The poor are hurting because of the void left when America's church groups and charities deserted them because of the violence. It seems odd that when we are needed the most, our church leaders stop mission trips without suggesting other ways to help these people.

Is It Safe?

The question in Marathon Man was asked and the poor character portrayed by Dustin Hoffman did not have a clue about the question. Is what safe? Why are these people asking me? What are they talking about?

I know what people mean when they ask me, “Is it safe?” because they are talking about Acuña. I visit this city every month so it only follows that I should be able to answer the question.

The only fair way to respond is to pretend that I am deciding if I should take my grandchildren to Acuña.

Statistically, it is far safer than inviting the grandchildren to San Antonio. Statistically, my grandchildren would be in more danger on the drive to Acuña than in that city.

However, in the back of my mind I cannot forget the warning of my friend, Elias.

“The problem is not daily acts of violence. The problem is the unpredictable sudden acts of violence. You never know when and where they will occur. Competing cartels, the military and the police are all watching each-other. You never know.”

Elias and I recently returned to this issue and agree that if there are no violent acts between now and November, we will have a Christmas Mission to Acuña. I will invite the grandkids.

Downtown

I could not find more than one open shop in the tourist area of Acuna. Even Ma Cosby's was closed. Although a new plaza is complete at the entrance to the tourist area, there is no sign of activity.

The fault lies with the American media. There are dozens of soldiers inspecting vehicles at every entrance and exit. I truly believe that if the press had not exaggerated the border violence, tourism in this city could have been saved.

Crime in this city remains lower than similar cities in the USA. Most local people agree that if all cartel violence in every border-city ended that it will take years to rebuild tourism.

A few weeks ago I walked the tourist area and my mind was filled with memories of tourists from Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and even tourists from Hawaii! It was difficult to see how things have changed.

Election

I made a point to be in Mexico to witness voters. I saw no evidence of fraud, but that certainly does not mean that there was no fraud. That being said, Mexico has a new president. The people I spoke with do not expect many changes. Most agree that even if the cartels abandoned the border forever that it will take many, many years to recover the tourist industry along the border.

In Acuna, even Ma Cosby's is closed. Made famous in the song, "Blame it on Mexico", it was sad to see this place closed. When we first visited Acuna in 2000, this place was packed with tourists. I remember one group that drove from Dallas to celebrate a wedding anniversary. Almost every tourist checked out Ma Crosby's.

The military at the bridge and at every entrance and exit from this city (even roads leading to other Mexican cities) remain. Almost every car entering the country is inspected by the border guards and many are inspected a 2nd time by the military.

Unlike Mexico, on the U.S. side there is no inspection of vehicles leaving the country. We do not seem to care about cars and trucks taking guns into Mexico. This is not the fault of the brave men and women of the Border Patrol and other ICE entities. It is our unwritten policy not to inspect vehicles or question people as they leave the USA and cross the International Bridge.

So, if a person that is wanted for murder in the USA wants to escape to Mexico, they need not fear any problems on the U.S. side of the border. At least this is true at the three U.S. crossing points I made. Hopefully, it is a different story at other crossing points.

Piedras Negras

For those that met Father Pepe, this news will be a bit of a shocker. As you may know, he was moved from Acuña to nearby Piedras Negras several years ago. We’ve helped him and the people of Piedras, although our main focus has been in Acuña.

In May of 2011, one of his workers from a shelter was abducted. A bag was placed over his head and he was taken to an unknown location. His abductors told him that until the people in charge of the shelter began paying (for protection) employees would be taken. The abductor placed a revolver to the victim’s head and plaid Russian roulette. The hammer of the pistol fell on an empty chamber and the victim was released.

Since that time, more threats and other actions followed. Father Pepe received so many death threats that the bishop moved him to an undisclosed location.
The shelters continue to operate and we will increase our presence and support in Piedras Negras.

Violence Down . . . but

Major news outlets continue to report that the violence along the Mexican border is down. Even Juarez experienced a huge drop in the number of homicides last year. But, the media continues to convince us that the drug war is a failure. Every media report speculates that the violence is down because the cartels are now fighting in other areas. No media outlet even mentions the huge increase in military activity that we see in the border cities. The Mexican Marines, the Navy helicopters the inspection of vehicles entering and leaving major Mexican border cities are all unreported in the news! Can we 'speculate' that these efforts may be working?

The news media should be ashamed for giving comfort to the cartels and for empowering the cartels by these stories. The cartels are not omnipotent and the Mexican Government continues to win almost every single confrontation with the thugs and killers. Hundreds of cartel leaders have been jailed or killed.

Naysayers point out that the drug crimes continue so law enforcement is losing. Many suggest Mexico should stop this war on drugs. I suggest that if these people are right we must also stop arresting rapists, child molesters, bank robbers and car thieves because there will always be someone to take their place, too.

Shame on the media. There is no excuse for foreign journalists to ignore the truth. Mexican journalists have died for reporting the truth, but here is the USA our journalists remain safe. There is no excuse for not reporting the entire story.

Cartel Violence

Much of the violence attributed to the drug cartels may be simple street gangs. Although the gangs may have a link to specific cartels, each violent act is not orchestrated by the cartels.

The real problem is the steady flow of weapons from the USA into Mexico. The Mexican authorities, like their American counterparts, cannot search every vehicle entering the country. Recent arrests for arms trafficking in Acuna involved women driving ordinary looking vehciles. How do you know who to stop and search?

The Mexicans could benefit from the use of trained K-9 and technology. Mexico would also benefit with stiff prison sentences for any bribe related to illegal importation of guns.

America could simply eliminate the huge loophole that govern the sale of guns at 'gun shows' where an individual can purchase a trunk load of guns without any background check or real record. America could also reduce the guns going to Mexico with very serious penalties for non-compliance with laws related to the sale of guns. We probably do not need to fill our prisons with violators. A few hundred-thousand dollar fines and the seizure of property should be enough to curtail the illegal sale of weapons. (Oh, don't forget to revoke all state and federal licenses - including hunting - upon conviction).

It has been estimated that 2,000 guns cross Mexico's border every day. The silly rhetoric about 'guns don't kill people' needs to stop and so does the illegal sale of guns in America.

Which Border

Border security to protect us from terrorists is a frequently cited reason for a 100 percent completely secure border. Is it odd that the argument ignores the border we share with Canada?
Canadians (and those posing as Canadians) are not even required to have a U.S. Visa. The Great Lakes are hardly guarded and as boats arrive every day, security is lax. Of course, Mexico does not require a Visa when we enter Mexico. The United States, in the interest of protecting our border, requires a Visa from Mexicans. That Visa is very hard and expensive to obtain.

Somehow we are magically protected should a terrorist try to enter the United States from Canada. Even though the office of Homeland Security was temporarily confused when they said that the 9-11 and other terrorists entered through Canada, we should not be concerned.

The truth about the border is that if we fear terrorists entering our country from a land border, than we would be foolish to not secure our entire border as best as we can.

More on the Police Officer Killings

It took many visits, e-mails and phone calls, but many people report that the three officers were kidnapped in the very early morning hours of Monday by a cartel, handcuffed tortured and then killed. Rumors abound that they worked for a cartel and were killed by another cartel. HOWEVER, because nobody knows which cartel was paying them it seems likely that the people are assuming this to be the case. It does seem likely, but where is the proof?

What is more telling about the situation in Acuna are the many friends that refuse to even talk about these murders. Teachers, medical personnel and clergy continue working and my inquiries are met with shrugs. Families avoid discussing the murder of the officers and only tell me to leave Acuna and to be very careful.

Many of the teenagers talk about the cartels as being cool and effective. Many admire the cartels.

It is impossible to point to police officers, detectives or a courageous reporter as a role model. The worldwide scandals involving clergy in the Catholic Church makes it difficult to use priests as role-models. Much of the music and soap operas on TV praise the drug dealers and the cartels.

Everyone waits for more violent acts. Within a 30-day period we've seen a gun-battle between the military and a truckload of gangsters end in front of the Maria Braulia elementary school and three police officers kidnapped and murdered. Everyone waits to see what will happen next.

3 Police Officers Killed in Acuna

Gunmen kidnapped and murdered three Acuna Police Officers on Monday morning. The three officers were in the same vehicle when kidnapped. Their bodies were found in a colonia.

Information is scarce. Reporters in Acuna, like most of Mexico, are cautious about stories involving the cartels. Their fear is well founded. Reporters in other areas of Mexico have been killed. However, the lack of reliable information is well beyond the media intimidation. For the past three years the people in Acuna fear talking about the cartels. Even close friends will only speak in whispers about the drug cartels. Rumors abound and are exaggerated. A single gunshot quickly becomes a story about a large gun-battle. It is difficult to assess the situation in Acuna.

The Mexican Marines established check points at every entrance to Acuna. They inspected vehicles entering and leaving. Four Mexican Navy helicopters patrolled the city. The helicopters landed in various locations throughout the city and squads of Marines jumped out and patrolled neighborhoods. However, the military issued no statements or explanations. Now there were three police officers killed and we do not know if the Marines were sent to Acuna because there was advance information of the cartel war heating up in Acuna or if it is only coincidental.

I walk the streets of the colonies where a few weeks ago a gunfight involving the military and unknown gunmen ended a little after noon. There is still no explanation from the military and nobody knows the whole story - after weeks have passed. The secrecy leaves the people with nothing but fear and rumors.

As schools consider canceling Christmas celebrations and mission groups from America cancel visits and help to the poor in Acuna, the fear seems to cover the colonies like a rainstorm.

On the surface, things seem normal. People go to work and children go to school. However everyone has the same fear. Sudden and unpredictable violence can happen at any time and at any place. Many parents worry about the safety of their children. Maria expressed it this way: "I go to work and the children are at school. Will there be another gunfight near the school? Will there be a gun-battle on the street when the children return from school? Are they safe?"

In our world of cell-phones, we can always call or text our children or neighbors. They can call or text us. This is not the situation in the colonies. I have yet to see a child with a cell phone. Most parents do not have cell phones. What they have is fear.

Violence Arrived in Acuna

October 4, 2011

Four Injured - Gun Battle in Acuña near one of our School Cafeterias

Since 2006, the media hammered the border with stories that implied every border-city was filled with murders. The media destroyed the tourist industry in Acuna long before a state police commander, allegedly involved with a cartel, was murdered in May of 2010. Since that murder, we’ve not seen violence in Acuña until today.

At least four people, including two women, were injured Tuesday in a shootout between gunmen and Mexican authorities in Evaristo Perez colonia in Ciudad Acuña.

The confrontation began shortly before noon today when a convoy of troops and state police encountered a Dodge Durango with armed cartel gunmen. Authorities chased the Durango through the streets and a gunfight ensued. The chase ended near the Maria Braulia Garcia Primary School, one of the schools where we feed children at our cafeteria.

None of the students at the school were injured.

At least four people were injured, including two women that were struck in the legs by bullets.

The newspaper Zocalo identified the four victims as: Graciela Moreno Rosales, 30; Veronica Herrera, 32; Andres Orenelas Lozano, 41; and Carlos Ledesma Carrillo, 29.

Acuña residents, who didn't want to be identified, said that confrontations between the authorities and the Zeta cartel will probably continue. Mexican marines have been deployed in Acuña during the past three weeks.

This is the third week that the Mexican Marines have manned checkpoints and conducted vehicle inspections at the entrance and exit at the International Bridge and at every highway into and out of Acuña. Last week a gun-smuggler was apprehended entering Acuña and automatic weapons were confiscated.

Paper Houses continues to walk the streets, visit the schools and meet with the families of the poor in Acuña. Although we’ve curtailed mission trips, we’ve increased the number of times we will walk the streets of the poor.

The poor in the colonias need us, especially now. As the world continues in an economic slump and as the people in Acuña are living and working in midst of this violence, we know that this is the time when we must step up. Church-led mission groups and charities are likely to focus their resources to help other places. We are needed.

Acuna - Where is the Violence?

The violence is against the people of Acuña. There are rumors about businesses being forced to pay protection money to the cartel. There are rumors of kidnappings and ransoms. Businesses continue to close and relocate in Del Rio. (Many of the wealthy have dual citizenship).

Some mission groups continue to arrive and there has never been a report of violence against Americans on a mission trip. There are no gunfights in the streets.

The last (and only) shooting occurred over a year ago when a state police lieutenant that was allegedly in the pay of a cartel was shot dead. A cardboard sign was laid on his body that warned other police officials not to do business with the Zeta cartel. As disturbing as this is, it was one killing over a year ago. Nobody recalls any murder in Acuña prior to that single instance.

The real 'violence' is the damage caused by the over-reported news about violence in 'border cities' that include a 2,000 mile border. Almost every new story includes at least five references to other stories about violence in Mexico. These are often rehashes of old news and some of that old news is about violence near Mexico city or the Pacific Ocean! The end result of this form of reporting is that the entire tourist industry along a 2,000 mile border was destroyed. Even in a peaceful city like Acuña.

We Just Keep Doing

As violence continues to surge across Mexico I am certain that I have no solution. I am also certain that we will continue to help one child at a time and not become discouraged because we can't immediately solve the big picture.

When we began, we never envisioned a 'war on poverty' or providing medical help to every child in need. Instead, we walked down the dusty streets gave away sacks of groceries.

People from all walks of life continue to send money and we continue to pay for life changing medical treatments; we continue to support shelters for children and we continue to help in the best ways that we can. It seems that every week we see another miracle.

We can all become discouraged when we focus on what we cannot fix. However, when we focus on little Ambar and Juan Pedro receiving prosthetic limbs, or when we sit with the children as they eat the lunches we provide - there is great satisfaction.

I do not know how long the drug violence will last and we've had to curtail mission trips for the time being. But, I return to the border every few weeks to bring a few more children to the hospital, to help a few more families over a rough spot and to make sure that the people know we are still with them.

We fix the things we can fix and we do it right now!