The human cost of immigration enforcement

Philly.com ^ | Sep. 4, 2012 | Michael Matza

[moonshinner_09]

In the two decades since they slipped out of Mexico and into the shadow world of illegal immigrants, Concepcion Mendoza and his wife, Ibed, have made a passable life in America.

They've labored at farms, packing houses, and fast-food joints on both coasts, settling eventually in a rented house in South Jersey. They produced three sons, all U.S. citizens born on U.S. soil.

One day last March, with the boys at school, Ibed was at work, cooking and cleaning at a Vineland, N.J., church, when her phone showed a missed call from an unfamiliar number, and three from Concepcion. Apprehensive, she dialed him, but got no answer. She then called the stranger.

Her heart sank when an immigration officer in Cherry Hill picked up and put her husband on the line. Concepcion's voice quavered.

"Mi corazon" - "my sweetheart," he began. "They arrested me."

Two weeks later, he was deported to Mexico. Ibed Mendoza, 37, and her sons suddenly found themselves in an increasingly common quandary, one that is turning the complex immigration debate even knottier: When a parent is deported, then what?

[moonshinner_09]

He had once been caught, formally expelled, and banned from coming back. He came back anyway. That gave him a "record of illegal reentry," making him a more significant quarry.How does this become the human cost, This is a criminal matter and he broke the law and got caught. In the United States, he could make $300 a week in landscaping, three times that much running a backhoe. In Mexico, the factory jobs he applies for pay $80 a week..So much for all they make is $ 1.00 a day there.

[EGPWS]

Somebody missed the "barf alert". ; )

I just get all teary eyed when criminals plans fall apart.

[skeeter]

How about the "human cost" as calculated in the number of working hours WE have to endure to pay for these freeloaders?

Time spent away from our families, money we can't spend on our own kids.

When are the politicians going to decide we taxpaying citizens are worth representing?

[freedumb2003]

>>Two weeks later, he was deported to Mexico. Ibed Mendoza, 37, and her sons suddenly found themselves in an increasingly common quandary, one that is turning the complex immigration debate even knottier: When a parent is deported, then what?<<

Parents who care about their kids keep the family together, even (and especially) south of the border.

Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras have welfare safety nets. They ain’t great but they are effective. Go back to your homeland Juan y Maria.

[Theoria]

We have the most 'generous' immigration system in the would. We are very good at importing families; workers not so much. You can't 'design' a better way to destroy a country than the method that our elected servants are doing.

[Heavyrunner]

At least the comments at the end of the article are overwhelmingly anti-illegal immigration. This is one issue the vast majority of citizens are united on - They just like to blame the other side for it.

[muawiyah]

Illegal imported labor is supposed to give me really cheap tomatos.

Still, tomatos are losing their flavor, and according to the research team that's because they are being bred so they ripen at the same time so they can be machine harvested.

Look, at $2.86 a pound for lousy tasting tomatos, I'd say the illegals are lying down on the job!

[Nifster]

I don’t give a rat’s behind what is done to foreign nationals residing in my country ILLEGALLY. Screw em they don’t belong here

[Carriage Hill]

Excellent charts/graphs, T!

[Gay State Conservative]

I DON'T GIVE A RAT'S HINDQUARTERS ABOUT THEIR SAGAS.GET THEM OUT!!!

[SunkenCiv]

It’s much lower than the human cost of NOT enforcing — as if the “human cost” lets law enforcement off the hook on the enforcement of any law.

Thanks moonshinner_09.

[count-your-change]

Enforcement of most laws carries a “human cost”, that's the nature of things but so does rolling the dice in Vegas. If you can't afford to lose don't bet and a roll of the dice is what illegal immigration is.....no matter the length of the winning streak it can all end up craps.

Just like any lost gamble more people than the gambler can be hurt, again the nature of things.
No one crossing the border illegally is ignorant of the possible outcome but they are willing to take the chance. So be it. Even the very nicest of people make really bad choices and others suffer on their account.

[Artie]

“When are the politicians going to decide we taxpaying citizens are worth representing?”

I have been searching for the answer to this question for over 40 years ( my voting life). Ask a politician this and you will get a vacant stare.

[eccentric]

Like a squatter, moving onto your property.

So take the whole family home. The boys have a good educational start and should do fine. How about making your own country a decent place to live? Are the boys interested in the U.S. Military? That's a ticket to American citizenship.

[metalurgist]

When are the politicians going to decide we taxpaying citizens are worth representing?

When a mob that is fed up with the insolence of these public self servers puts a rope around their necks and starts to hoist them up.

[JohnD9207]

Ibed and her kids need to beat feet back home and make their family whole again.

[JohnD9207]

Oh and hopefully soon we will have a supreme court that can enforce the 14th admendment correctly. No more anchor babies.

[Sherman Logan]

Are the boys interested in the U.S. Military? That's a ticket to American citizenship.

The boys are US citizens. They can go back to Mexico with their parents and return to the US whenever they like.