Reply #56: Well, here's my .02, FWIW. [View All]

[a la izquierda]

A caveat: I live and work part time in Mexico. I am extremely, extremely sensitive about the subject. The word "illegal" really irritates me and I don't think is appropriate on a forum like DU, particularly when used the way it has been used by some people. This will get me flamed in this thread...but wouldn't on others. That just shows the spectrum of ideas here. I really don't belong on this thread, but alas, I'm here.

This case probably shouldn't be in court. That said, we do NOT have all the facts. Many a day all of you would lambaste a source from the Washington Times about anything else. Not this. Why?
Undocumented workers cross peoples' land daily. Should they be neat and clean about it? Yes. Should they damage peoples' stuff? No way. But it happens, of course. This man calling BP is fine, I guess. I mean, it's the law. So enforce it. But threatening people with bodily harm if they leave crosses the line. Of course, these folks have no rights in the US...correct? If someone were to detain your child or your partner on their property, at gunpoint...would you be pissed? Would you sue? If this were legal Mexican residents...would it enrage you? It angers me that this man violated a basic human right, the right I think to NOT have an f-ing gun pointed in my face and fear for my life, to prove a point.

However-I doubt that many of you lambasting "the illegals" have ever been anywhere in Mexico besides Cancun or some other tourist resort. The people that serve you there? They're lucky, because they have cushy jobs, more or less. If my assumption is correct, then you have absolutely no idea what the poverty is like down there and why that might motivate people to come. Watch old women carry their grandchildren through the streets begging for change; the poverty is so bad that it crushes the soul. There are entire towns depopulated of able-bodied men because there are zero jobs.
It is worse now, because families in the US that send money south...well the peso is tanking and it doesn't go as far.
Both countries need to get the border problem under control. Can a landowner kill a Mexican crossing his land? I surely hope none of you will cheer that.

If my assumption about you and your travels in Mexico is incorrect, well, sorry for my preachy rant.