Many anti-immigrants will freely admit that it will be impossible to deport 12 million unauthorized immigrants. Rather, they'll talk about making conditions so miserable for them that they'll simply go home on their own. Just a little tough love, that's all.
But there are consequences and for those that have a conscience, stories like this one should be a wake up call as to what these policies really do.
"how does that relate to the fate of a poor U.S. citizen baby that died because of stupid US laws?"
How is this a problem with US law? The incident in this case happened before the law took effect and even then the new law has an emergency exception.
"These people can return to Mexico at any time, but they are not willing"
Good to see that you can see the problem.
"so are you suggesting allowing Mexican military to round up people inside the US?"
No. I am saying the Mexican authorities should make free or subsidized transportation available to anyone who wishes to return to Mexico. Their citizens are obviously living in hostile territory as evidenced by this report, so their safety is at risk. A sudden loss of 12 million workers might even teach the natives a thing or two.
" Remember, they will have to round up and take to Mexico US citizen children, too."
Gasp! Are you suggesting that children should be separated from their parents? Shame on you.
Posted by: Evac | January 28, 2008 at 04:00 PM
"You can take it any way you want, but the Mexican government is failing its citizens by not evacuating them when there are obvious safety incidents being reported in the press."
I am sorry, but how does that relate to the fate of a poor U.S. citizen baby that died because of stupid US laws?
I also wonder how this "evacuation" is supposed to be done? These people can return to Mexico at any time, but they are not willing, so are you suggesting allowing Mexican military to round up people inside the US? Remember, they will have to round up and take to Mexico US citizen children, too. How brilliant!
Posted by: Legal and no longer waiting | January 28, 2008 at 10:51 AM
"If these people are really needed, what better way to demonstrate it than to remove them from the workforce all at the same time?"
You ar obviousl way out of touch with reality and the reality of the issue of immigration.
"You can take it any way you want, but the Mexican government is failing its citizens by not evacuating them when there are obvious safety incidents being reported in the press."
Your atrying to make a point by posing another question which means that you have no point at all. Safety incidents that you refer to, if they are the ones reported at the border are due to the drug trade, which by the way is worldwide and the US is a major player in it. This has nothing to do with these immigrants and their work in the US. Get informed man before you blast these un-informed and plain ideotic opinions.
Posted by: Another voice | January 28, 2008 at 09:49 AM
"Yeahh and I guess you would clone yourself 12 million times and perform all the jobs vacated by these immigrants."
If these people are really needed, what better way to demonstrate it than to remove them from the workforce all at the same time?
You can take it any way you want, but the Mexican government is failing its citizens by not evacuating them when there are obvious safety incidents being reported in the press.
Posted by: | January 28, 2008 at 09:06 AM
The dead of this kid is un-defendable and it should never happened. These parents should have paid or done what ever they had to do to prevent it. How ever in this age of politics of fear this segment of the population lives in such caos and mental state of prosecution that they don't even know if going to the doctor is going to get them deported, its terrible that things have gotten this far.
Posted by: Another voice | January 28, 2008 at 07:50 AM
"It is clear that the Mexican government is not taking any responsibility for the plight of their citizens.
What is stopping Mexico from protecting its citizens by evacuating them via chartered trains, buses or ships? Since the two countries share a land border, 12 million people can be evacuated in substantially under a year."
Yeahh and I guess you would clone yourself 12 million times and perform all the jobs vacated by these immigrants. You sound really smart man, thanks for your contribution to humanity we really needed it.
Posted by: Another voice | January 28, 2008 at 07:47 AM
"I never understood this talk about those poor (US citizen) children and their unautorized parents that need to be separated when the parents are deported. This is nonsense."
The fact of the matter is that illegal immigrants are kept in ICE custody till they are deported. Also any person will first exhaust all his possibilities to not get deported and that can lead someone (for as long as possible) to not get healthcare for themselves or their loved ones. We might all find this nonsensical since we donot have to go through this dilemma. And what kind of friends will an illegal immigrant have in most cases, other than a fellow illegal immigrant?
However this kind of tragedy is the "effect" whereas the "cause" is the unnecessarily tough immigration legislation and the fear and myth they create. They either do very little in terms of serving the purpose for which they are enacted or have reverse effects. The cause needs to be addressed to avoid its effects.
Posted by: Pete | January 27, 2008 at 03:21 PM
It is clear that the Mexican government is not taking any responsibility for the plight of their citizens.
What is stopping Mexico from protecting its citizens by evacuating them via chartered trains, buses or ships? Since the two countries share a land border, 12 million people can be evacuated in substantially under a year.
Posted by: Evac | January 27, 2008 at 02:04 PM
"They fear being seperated from their kids incase they get deported, since they would want their kids to lose the priviledge of being an American citizen."
I guess there supposed to be "not" before "to lose", but anyway, if a kid is born here, the kid is a citizen and can come to US anytime, say when he becomes an adult. How can he "lose the priviledge of being an American citizen"?
I never understood this talk about those poor (US citizen) children
and their unautorized parents that need to be separated when the parents are deported. This is nonsense. Should I be deported, I surely take my (US citizen) children with me wherever I go. I mean, no country, no matter how great it is, owns my children. They do have some obligations to the US, by being citizens, but those obligations go in effect when the children grow up. Until then they are to share my fate. Well, if I were in mortal danger I would try sending my kids elsewhere but come on, in the absolute majority of cases this is not happening.
There is of course real danger when the parents are placed in jail and then deported separately from their children. If this happened to me, I would make every effort to convince ICE that I am to leave the country with my children. The thought that they shall be placed in foster care and shall never see me again is horrifying. At the very least I would arranged with my friends so that they could help them travel to me.
Posted by: hmm | January 27, 2008 at 10:27 AM
The bill brought forth by state Rep Randy Terrill sounds xenophobic and reminds of the punishments meted out by the Nazis to the sympathizers of jews in 1930's and 40's. Also the reason given by supporters as this would deter crime is ridiculous.
People like Rajeev should understand that parents donot put their immigration status before their child's health.They fear being seperated from their kids incase they get deported, since they would want their kids to lose the priviledge of being an American citizen. I wonder what people like rajeev would think about the tragedy of Anne Frank and countless people like her, who had to hide from authorities during the WWII.
Posted by: Pete | January 27, 2008 at 09:13 AM
The same story could have happened with US citizens without insurance. With little kids it is not easy to decide when it is a true emergency, and many people without insurance try to treat them home.
An interesting quote from the same article about unauthorized mom with 3 kids who cannot find a job because her "Past employers now ask for papers". Meaning that before the new law went in effect her employers did not asked for papers. So much for poor innocent employers confused by the complexity of the immigration law.
Posted by: hmm | January 27, 2008 at 06:55 AM
This isn't a story about attrition policies but rather about criminal negligence by the parents of the child who died. They should really be in prison for not taking the kid to the hospital. Even if they were afraid that they would be deported, it boggles the mind that they thought their immigration status was more important than their child's health.
Posted by: rajeev | January 27, 2008 at 02:12 AM