2 illegal workers just want jobs

Tucson Arizona Star ^ | 12/16/03 | Ernesto Portillo

[Holly_P]

Ramiro Cruz doesn't know who Homeland Secretary Tom Ridge is. But he appreciated what Ridge said last week about legalizing undocumented immigrants.

"The man is right. I hope he can do something for us," said Cruz while he waited for a drive-by job offer on South Ninth Avenue Monday morning.

Gonzalo Mendoza, who was waiting on the street which serves as an unofficial day laborer hiring site, agreed with Cruz who was about a block away.

"I can't believe that someone in the United States government would say something like that. It seems that the politicians in Mexico and the United States have given up on us," Mendoza said.

Mendoza and Cruz may not know the important role that Ridge plays in the United States government, but the two illegal immigrants certainly understand the unexpected importance of what Ridge said last week.

"The bottom line is, as a country, we have to come to grips with the presence of 8 to 12 million illegals, afford them some kind of legal status some way," Ridge said in response to a question during a Miami town hall meeting Dec. 9.

Ridge stopped short of advocating citizenship for undocumented entrants, but he went much further than any Bush administration official has dared to go in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001.

While Ridge's comments gave Cruz and Mendoza some hope, they are not expecting any change in immigration policy soon. They intuitively know the political process is fraught with problems and obstacles.

"The American government has talked about this for a long time but nothing has changed," said Cruz who has worked in Tucson for a couple of years.

Like many undocumented immigrants, Cruz understands why the same policy remains. Undocumented immigrants can identify the paradox of our immigration policy.

"Americans want us to work here, but they do not want us to live here," said Mendoza, a native of Guerrero, in southern Mexico.

"Americans need us and we need the jobs," Mendoza said.

While most Southern Arizonans do not pay attention to what Mendoza and Cruz say about immigration reform, there are other voices.

Sen. John McCain and Reps. Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake, all Arizona Republicans, want to change immigration policy to allow undocumented entrants to work in this country. Legal residency is part of their bill.

The bill has its supporters and opponents, its promises and pitfalls.

It's hard to know what, if anything of importance, Ridge's statement holds. Some analysts believe Ridge simply sent up a balloon to test the political waters. His comments predictably generated words of support and derision.

President Bush, somewhat, backed up Ridge during Monday's presidential news conference in response to a reporter's question.

Bush said he favors an immigration policy that helps match any willing employer with any willing employee. He said a proposal will be sent to Congress.

But he added, "Let me also clarify something. This administration is firmly against blanket amnesty."

If Cruz and Mendoza, however, are any indication, their priority is not citizenship. They are interested in getting legal work.

"I would like to work, send money to my family in Mexico and be able to cross the border to visit them," Cruz said.

When Ridge was in Arizona recently, he did not meet Cruz or Mendoza or people like them. Had he though, Ridge would have heard words of encouragement.

Mendoza said, "I hope to God that he can do what he said."

* Ernesto Portillo Jr.'s column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Reach him at 573-4242 or at netopjr@azstarnet.com. He appears on "Arizona Illustrated," KUAT-TV Channel 6, at 6:30 p.m.

[DumpsterDiver]

Sob story number 3,563,984 has been duly noted. Media-provided box of kleenex available upon written request.

[The Mayor]

2 illegal workers just want jobs

That's all I want is a job...

[tkathy]

Anecdotes can be found to prove or disprove virtually any argument, including killing.

[MissouriForBush]

My sympathy is solely with LEGAL immigrants who want jobs and have undergone the required criminal and medical background checks, plus endured the long waits overseas. They deserve to be at the front of the line.

[DustyMoment]

Ridge is proving himself an idiot everytime he opens his mouth on this topic. If he continues unchecked, he could well be the first and last Director of Homeland Security who last his job because he refused to perform the basic function of Homeland Security - SECURE THE FREAKIN' BORDERS!!!!!

When South America, Islamic and Middle Eastern immigrants have bribed or sneaked their way into this nation and either turned it into a mini-version of the country they left or taken it over and destroyed the beacon that America represents, dim bulb Ridge may finally get the messaqge that he should have been more proactive about protecting America from her enemies (ie, illiegal immigrants).

Where did Bush find this idiot? It seems he perennially leaves his brain in his other pants.

[ikka]

2 illegals just want jobs ... 20 MILLION Americans just want illegals deported.

[txdoda]

Where did Bush find this idiot? >>>>>>>>>


Bush is only appointing 'open border idiots' to head our immigration dept.

Bush appointed Ziegler ("too impractical to deport illegals") only to replace him with Ridge ("deporting illegals, not workable").

Laws are enforced against citizens, why not against illegals ????

[DustyMoment]

*Laws are enforced against citizens, why not against illegals ????*

Excellent question. Can we say Vicente Fox?

[Arpege92]

"Americans want us to work here, but they don't want us to live here."

Wrong....we don't want illegal aliens working here and we don't want illegal aliens living here. Your illegal presence creates problems for legal residents of this country.

"Americans need us and we need the jobs."

How much Mexican weed has this guy been smoking? Americans don't need illegal aliens coming to this country to run up huge hospital bills, recieve a free education, or recieve a deduction in college expenses which is denied of legal residents. These illegal aliens do not stimulate the economy as some claim....they send the money they earned home. Time to wake up and smell the coffee folks.

[bam]

Laws are enforced against citizens, why not against illegals ????>>>>>>>>>>>


One reason is that the attitude of a gullible naive public is swayed by these media propaganda pieces. I know now (after reading the piece), that this whole debate is about nothing more than a couple of kind hardworking Mexicans who only want to earn a few dollars to send back to Mexico so that mama can buy some corn meal. How could you or any politician be so heartless that you would actually starve an old woman? -- I'm appalled. Besides that, they are just "undocumented" -- not illegal. They probably lost their documentation or forgot to pick it up when they crossed the border or maybe even had it stolen by some mean-spirited racist xenophobic red-necked bigot living in trailer down by the river.

Actually, I wonder if the writer went through the effort of going out and finding these two guys or just fabricated them -- an Al Gore "it could have happened that way" type of thing.

[gubamyster]

ping

[texastoo]

And if he doesn't get a job, he can just apply for food stamps and housing. Heaven forbid that we should send him back. This is one of Bush's votes.

[skeeter]

How much Mexican weed has this guy been smoking?

Illegals are clearly beginning to buy the bovine scat being peddled by the moneyed interests & politicians. They really believe Americans depend upon them and are growing a great big chip on their collective shoulder.

I hope these illegals continue to shoot their mouths off - nothing will p*ss off America quicker.

[DLfromthedesert]

"They don't even know who Ridge is"

Folks, THAT is a HUGE part of the problem. Even if these people are here just for jobs, is it prudent to have all these people living here who have no ties to our country, who have no desire to know anything about our government?

AND our districts are redrawn with the presence of these people in mind. SO representation is taken away from AMERICAN citizens to accommodate ILLEGALS!!!!

[TLI]

bttt

[hellinahandcart]

"Americans want us to work here, but they do not want us to live here," said Mendoza, a native of Guerrero, in southern Mexico.

You're only half right, Gonzalo.

[FITZ]

That's just it --- First they really do just want jobs --- nothing more --- they will work for a few dollars to send back home. Next thing though they decide the wife and kids should come over too --- but the few bucks they can make won't support them so then they want free education, free health care, food stamps, government housing assistance too. Next they want the grandparents and all other elderly or ill relatives to come over to be supported by SSDI, food stamps, Medicaid etc. Then siblings, cousins, and all other relatives.

[Pa' fuera]

"Americans want us to work here, but they do not want us to live here," said Mendoza, a native of Guerrero, in southern Mexico.

guess what, baboso? Your president doesn't want you to live in Mexico, either. If he doesn't want you, why should we?

[Arpege92]

"I hope these illegals continue to shoot their mouths off - nothing will p*ss off America quicker."

I'm already there.