U.S. plans to ship illegal immigrants deep into Mexico

Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | 2.21.04

[ambrose]

U.S. plans to ship illegal immigrants deep into Mexico

By SUSAN FERRISS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 02/20/04

MEXICO CITY -- U.S. and Mexican officials agreed Friday to tighten security along their border and devise a plan to repatriate illegal immigrants to their home states in the interior of Mexico rather than deporting them to cities along the border.

"Together we need to reinforce secure and orderly repatriation of migrants to their places of origin," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Friday after talks with Mexican Interior Secretary Santiago Creel.

Ridge said Mexico has offered extraordinary cooperation with the United States. The two sides agreed to beef up border patrols and cooperate more closely to identify potential terrorist threats. U.S. concerns about airport security led to the cancellation of two U.S.-bound flights from Mexico City in December.

U.S. agents deport thousands of illegal immigrants a month to Mexican cities just across the U.S. border. From there, migrants usually try to cross again. Repeat attempts are often part of the deal migrants cut with smugglers.

The proposal to return illegal immigrants to locations deep into Mexico could generate controversy since Mexico's constitution forbids restrictions on its citizens' travel inside the country.

Creel said that because of the constitutional provision, migrants would probably have to volunteer, not be forced, to accept a bus or plane ride back to their state of origin.

In Georgia, the change may have little effect because illegal immigrants face little chance of being deported.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said recently it has about 45 agents assigned to enforce immigration laws in Georgia, a state with an estimated 228,000 illegal immigrants.

Pedro Gomez, a Mexican native who owns a sporting goods store in Forest Park, said Friday he cannot remember the last time he heard of authorities deporting an illegal immigrant in metro Atlanta.

Until now, he said, immigrants who were deported promptly returned.

"It's what all the people do. It's natural," Gomez said. "If today in Georgia, immigration took 100 Mexican people and sent them back to Mexico, they would be back here next week."

The governments would like to start the new repatriation plan by this summer. Ridge said it's uncertain which country would pay for the flights or bus rides or how many migrants a day would be transported back into Mexico.

Creel said Mexico's government agreed to try the new repatriation plan because of "human rights" concerns. The Mexican government accepts the premise that if migrants are moved away from the border, fewer deaths might occur.

Ridge said he is confident the plan will be worked out.

Last September, U.S. immigration authorities detained more than 6,200 migrants along the Arizona border and deported them south of Texas.

The experiment, which was supposed to deter migrants from making the dangerous crossing through the Arizona desert, angered Texas authorities.

[ovrtaxt]

They're catapulting cows at their king! You cannot catapult cows at your king!"

[ODDITHER]

Its about time. Looks to me like 45 agents could work on fewer than 300,000 illegals

In order to fill out the paper work and jump through all of the legal hoops, it would take 45 agents years to export that many illegals and that is once they are caught.

Blame the advocacy groups and the ACLU for that.

[Little Bill]

It is time we honored our Mexican American war dead on the Mall.

[chicagolady]

WHOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

[TMSuchman]

May I suggest Terra del Fueago[sp] or a little further south [like the pole!]

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

You are right not to be fooled. This is nothing but public relations in an ELECTION YEAR. The Bush administration knows how furious we are and they are putting on a little skit that will end on election day.

[johnb838]

We can thank "The Groups" for giving us all the regulation that priced American labor out of the market in the first place.

[johnb838]

I suggest indefinite incarceration in concentration camps in the desert.

[swampfox98]

I'd say more than likely the Bush people looked at his poll numbers, called Ridge in and said, "Let's make a deal with Mexico." At least until the election is over.

The UN has a plan for America. Both Democrats, Republicans, and Mexico are active players.

[tracer]

Americn rocket technology at its best......

[.cnI redruM]

If Pedro doesn't pay US sales tax, he needs to take the long way home.

[HiJinx]

This is at least the third post on this topic. It started yesterday morning with an article in the Tucson Daily (Red) Star.

Looks like there's a sea-change in Washington...

[janetgreen]

Window dressing to soothe angry America. Nothing is mentioned, of course, about the 12? million illegals already here and sucking our social services dry. They'll be allowed to continue on their merry way while they're waiting for their relatives to stroll across the border again. They know the welfare checks are waiting.

[Wolfie]

Not deep enough. Drop them off at Mexico's southerm border. Let 'em start there.

[Grampa Dave]

The sad beginning of Really Mad Cow Disease!

[blackie]

Border romp ~ Bump!

[JustPiper]

We must keep paddling my friend ;)

[Pappy Smear]

I recall one of the Cheech and Chong movies where they showed a Mexican family that turned themselves into the INS. They needed to get a ride back to a wedding in Mexico, so they turned themselves in, and then waited around in tuxedos for the bus to show up. Classic.

[azhenfud]

"If Pedro doesn't pay US sales tax, he needs to take the long way home."

If Pedro filed any tax forms, he's filed them using forged federal documents and should be apprehended, tried, and incarcerated at the maximum lawful penalty for doing "repeat business".

If a US citizen did the same, about seven in a cell (w/parole potential) and a hefty fine would be his reward; yet an Illegalien isn't touched. Some fine justice we have in America....

[azhenfud]

"When they start arresting employers w/illegals, then I'll take them seriously-not until."

They can't/won't do that...those are their biggest campaign contributers.