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.