Border fence is a dividing line in immigration debate

CNN - Border fence is a dividing line in immigration debate

Border fence is a dividing line in immigration debate

The Yuma desert is below: San Luis, Arizona, to one side and San Luis, Mexico, to the other. On this clear day, the Colorado River is glistening, birds playfully circling over what any map defines as the U.S.-Mexico border in this area.

But from a helicopter above, the border is a steel barrier that stands out along the riverbank and against the desert sands, and is the dividing line that gets the most attention from those crying to cross illegally and those who believe recent efforts to bolster U.S. border security have been riddled with wrong choices.

Just this past week, eight Democrats in Congress wrote President Obama urging him to halt any further construction of the fence, one of the many border- and immigration-related political debates that have carried over from the Bush administration.

To the Border Patrol agents stationed in Yuma Sector, there is no debate. To them, the fence is a success story. From a Vietnam War-vintage Huey helicopter, pilot Chad Smith points across the border to Mexico's Highway 2 and then to the barriers that help stop illegal immigrants from making a sprint into southern Arizona.

"You can see the triple-layer fencing," Smith tells us as he lowers the helicopter and hovers over what was once a major crossing point for illegal immigrants and drug smugglers. "Steel fence right on the border, the pedestrian fence about 90 feet north of that, and then the chain-link fence with the barbed wire."

The fence has three layers in areas where there is an urban neighborhood on the Mexican side. Smith is among those who say their flights are less hectic now because while you can still clearly see the trails in the sand and in some hilly areas below, there is considerably less traffic.

"I've flown before and come back and had 70-plus [illegal immigrants logged in a tracking book]," Smith said. " I know guys who have gone on a flight and come back with 100-plus illegals in their logbook. Now it is in single digits, typically."

It is a fascinating view from above: Old trails in some places, and the remnants of newly placed white sandbags in others.

"It forms a pretty good bridge for them to drive across." Smith says of the sandbags. When they are spotted from above, Border Patrol agents on the ground are called in to destroy the makeshift crossings.

Congress in 2006 -- with then-Sen. Barack Obama's support -- authorized nearly $3 billion for 670 miles of fencing stretching from California to Texas. There are more lights, sensors and cameras, and there are also more agents like Mike Lowrie driving patrols and chasing tips called in from colleagues monitoring the camera feeds at the Yuma Sector headquarters.

Standing alongside the steel barrier at a point in which there is just one layer of fencing, Lowrie shakes his head when told that some in Washington want to stop additional construction in other areas.

"This used to be a very high-trafficked area, and now it is not," Lowrie told us.

Asked to define "high traffic," Lowrie says, "In the Yuma Sector, we would get about 800 a day. Now, 25 maybe, or 10."

Nodding toward the barrier, he continued: "Numbers don't lie. We didn't have it three years ago, and we were getting massive numbers of illegal entries. We have it now, and we don't."

But there are voices on both extremes of the immigration debate that say the role of the fence is exaggerated, or that say the barrier's benefit in slowing illegal traffic is offset by other costs.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose tough stance against illegal immigrants has earned him global media coverage, says the fence is fine, but: "We just arrested 150 in the past 14 days. They're still coming."

And Father John Herman, a Roman Catholic priest whose Spanish language Masses are packed with illegal immigrants, blames the fence for more risky crossings in less-populated desert areas.

"We know that the way enforcement has gone has driven many people into the desert and caused more deaths. Needless deaths. If we could only get together and work for comprehensive immigration reform."

Please note that this is a reprint from the CNN.COM political news section, is a hot topic of dissent among many, in my opinion this fence is a needless expense to the economy and not only that, it is racial profiling an ethnic minority and only one, the Mexican people, the brown skinned people that live in this country and of course next door. They are not the only ones here that are deemed 'illegal' there are tens of thousands of other nationals from other countries that have entered illegaly and/or over-stayed their visas, it is human nature to want to obtain a better way of life for not only yourself but your family, the typical "american Dream" everyone has it, even the natural born citizens of this country we call home, the United States.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

(PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A REPRINT IN PART IT IS A Copyright © 2008, ARAnet, Inc

I found this article interesting as I am seriously thinking of returning to 'college' since my college age child is now graduating and going onto graduate school, and my dream has always been to return to being a 'nerd' and accomplishing what I wanted & could only dream of all those years ago, first it was my family holding me back, not willing to help me financially, or even with emotional support to continue my education...yeah I always dreamed of becoming a lawyer of some type, but now my dream is get into college and work at learning more about social justice..we shall see ...then came the baby & baby was a child in no time, so her private school education became more important, and well, like all parents, LIFE just sort of took control and I never finished what I started, there was never enough time or money...but now maybe,just maybe I can accomplish MY DREAM.

Financial Aid Available for Adults Returning to School

(ARA) - The financial crisis has brought about new kinds of challenges for many Americans. High gas prices, foreclosures and low wages are some well-known symptoms. One of the biggest obstacles, however, has been the feeling of uncertainty we encounter on a daily basis, whether it be our job stability, our family budgets, or even our ability to save for retirement. With layoffs expected across a multitude of industries, many adults are taking action against this cloud of uncertainty by going back to school.

............"Wow, that was devastating," she says. "Twenty-two years with a company, my accumulated years of knowledge, my excellent rapport with the reporting staff, my willingness to do the job, to be told 'you're not qualified' -- ouch!"

Many people mistakenly believe that in this tough economy, it may be difficult to find financial aid programs; this is simply not the case. Online Student Financial Aid is an example of an extremely helpful site that guides potential students to schools that offer financial assistance. With resources like this, people are still highly equipped to acquire a new degree, and data shows that it pays off.


Visit www.onlinestudentfinancialaid.com today and find the financial assistance you need to advance your career with a new online degree.

Copyright © 2008, ARAnet, Inc.

LETTER TO OBAMA FROM ELVIRA

MEXICO CITY -- A deported Mexican immigrant who holed up in a Chicago church to fight for immigrants' rights is asking President Barack Obama to stop raids and deportations of illegal immigrants in the United States.

Elvira Arellano says she is hopeful that Obama will help pass immigration reform that stops dividing families.

Arellano told reporters Wednesday outside the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City that she gave American officials a letter asking Obama to sign an executive order to stop the deportation of illegal immigrants.

Arellano sought sanctuary for a year before she was deported to Mexico in 2007. She lives in a small town in western Mexico with her U.S. citizen son and writes columns for U.S. newspapers.

AND A NEW ERA OF POWER BEGINS

Mr. Obama took the oath of office of the President of the United State on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.....so a new era of power in the White House commences.

He ran on the premise of hope and change....but is there really going to be change? The change I see for the moment is that there are many new faces on the news, new appointments to the cabinet, just normal everyday changes I would presume. I am sure everyone out there at some point in time watched the ceremonies either during the day or @ night. Yes, everyone kept saying hope ... change ... I for one am all for change specifically on immigration.

This is of course a hot topic with many folks out there...there are thousands upon thousands of people living in this country that are deemed 'illegal', and for the most part this involves racial profiling on the part of our government, yes, I have seen it with my own eyes. On a recent trip I encountered our government hard @ work, that is the I.C.E. side of the government.

I was taking a trip to visit friends and new allies in New York, I am sitting on the train reading, it was @ a scheduled stop: all of a suddent I look up & over and see a bunch of men dressed in battle fatigues, with guns strapped to their sides, radios, the whole bit, I should know, my ex spouse was in the military, so I know the outfits..anyway, they ask the passengers that look 'different' are you a citizen of the United States? if you answer yes, they go on, if you answer no, the passenger then had to show proof...now of course this was in middle America that it took place. I never in my life thought that big brother would be in middle America boarding a train and selecting certain people by the way they look to ask this question.

So yes Immigration Reform is a hot topic...I always thought this country was created with freedom and justice for all...not with big brother looking down & checking on all the inhabitants of this land. We should be able to come and go as we please without the probablity of being stopped and asked if we belong or not, merely by how we look...the color of our skin.

So yes, I have a dream, that I hope for change to come soon...and that the immigration issues which plague our government be resolved for the better of all people involved...so that families can remain together, that childrens rights are not trampled on by the government, and most importantly that we exercise our right to voice our opinion without fear of retribution.

Victorious Republic Windows Workers Speak at UIC

Victorious Republic Windows Workers Speak at UIC

Jane Addams Hull House
800 S. Halsted
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009
Time: 6-8pm (Reception to follow.)

Chicago Jobs with Justice is proud to join the UIC Graduate Employees Organization in sponsoring this forum, telling the story of the successful occupation at Republic Windows and Doors, and the coalition support that helped win a settlement and led to a plan to reopen the plant. Other coalition sponsors include: UE, SEIU local 73, UIC Center for Urban Economic Development, UIUC Chicago Labor Education Program, Jane Addams Hull House Museum.

****************************************

Also,

Save the Dates:
****************************************

WAR'S REAL IMPACT: OUR VOICES
Testimony from veterans, workers, military families, and students
1:00 p.m. Saturday Jan 31
Teamster City Auditorium, 300 S. Ashland (at Van Buren) The Workers' Rights Board is a project of Jobs with Justice and the Chicago Federation of Labor, and is made up of community leaders, clergy & educators. For more info, 312-738-6161
****************************************

Rally for Employee Free Choice

February 17

To sign the petition, go to: http://www.freechoiceact.org/page/s/jwj?source=w


****************************************


National Week of Action: March 27 - April 4

Mobilize to fix our economy.
* Pass Employee Free Choice Act
* Create good, green, union jobs
* Health Care for All
* Put Main Street Before Wall Street

2009 A NEW YEAR SAME STRUGGLES

An so it goes, a new year is here, but the issues remain the same, Immigration Reform is at the forefront of many struggles, which goes hand-in-hand with the struggles of the CIW/SFA, the right to a living wage, no more slavery in the fields and to be treated with dignity and respect not only in the fields but in any and all jobs that we perform.

Is it really true that it's time for change? With the new President soon to be in office time can only tell, one thing I do see as in the change, is when you turn on the television to any station, you are seeing more African-American (am I politically correct?) people / faces relating the news...clearly some of these young people that have been thrust into the spotlight for 'xyz' that you may happen to view are there only (as far as I can see) due to the fact that we now have the first African-American (Black) President ever in our history soon to be seated at the highest level of office in this country. I had always thought that it was based on your knowledge of a field ie job specification, plain English, are you qualified for the job and most importantly can you do the job? But lately it seems to me many are thrust into the spotlight only because of the color of their skin so that noone says that this particular station is behind the times. I know predominantly it has been a 'white' world wherever we look, so it is with this that I say, if there is to be change, it should involve not only the Black populace, but the entire color of the rainbow population, black, brown, yellow, etc....change means just that, that everyone that lives in this country needs to be involved in this change!

I know there are many brown skinned (Latin) people very well qualified for many jobs, but we do not see them out in the forefront of this change, and the rare few are hidden somewhere that I fail to see...yes I know they are on Spanish Speaking stations, but what about other mainstream stations or other types of jobs, offices, you dont see them in high levels of government to help implement the change that this President's office is touting...let's wait and see what happens in the next several months, after all he just got elected, not even sworn into office yet and you see some major changes...but where are the other changes, ie, color of people, we are here too...brown, yellow, etc....we want our voices heard too.