"If they've already gone ahead and made that decision to cross illegally . . . then anything that helps protect lives is worth it," said Andy Adame, spokesman for the Border Patrol's Tucson sector.
What the heck are we bothering to pay this guy...he works for the other side....
Or as Opus once said...."We met the enemey...and he is us.
imo
Today | This Week
Mexico publishes guide to assist border
crossers
Chris Hawley
Republic Mexico City Bureau
Jan. 1, 2005 12:00 AM
MEXICO CITY - The Mexican government is giving out a colorful new comic book
with advice for migrants, but immigration-control advocates worry that some of the
tips may encourage illegal border crossers.
The 32-page book, The Guide for the Mexican Migrant, was published in
December by Mexico's Foreign Ministry. Using simple language, the book offers
safety information for border crossers, a primer on their legal rights and advice on
living unobtrusively in the United States.
Dramatic drawings show undocumented immigrants wading into a river, running
from the U.S. Border Patrol and crouching near a hole in a border fence. On other
pages, they hike through a desert with rock formations reminiscent of Arizona and
are caught by a stern-faced Border Patrol agent.
"This guide is intended to give you some practical advice that could be of use if you
have made the difficult decision to seek new work opportunities outside your
country," the book says.
But immigration-control groups questioned some of the guide's advice.
"This is more than just a wink and a nod," said Rick Oltman, Western field director
for the Federation for American Immigration Reform. "This is so transparent, this is
the Mexican government trying to protect its most valuable export, which is illegal
migrants."
Book distribution
The book is being distributed as a free supplement to El Libro Vaquero, a popular
cowboy comic book, in five Mexican states that send many migrants to the United
States: Zacatecas, Michoacýn, Puebla, Oaxaca and Jalisco. The government plans
to print 1.5 million copies.
The book comes with a yellow disclaimer saying it does not promote
undocumented immigration, and it repeatedly warns against crossing illegally. But
it gives no information about the steps for seeking a U.S. visa.
Instead, it offers frank safety tips. In the section on crossing rivers, it notes, "Thick
clothing increases your weight when wet, and this makes it difficult to swim or
float."
On crossing the desert, it says, "Try to walk during times when the heat is not as
intense" and says migrants should follow power lines or train tracks if they get lost.
The book warns migrants that they may have to walk for days to reach towns or
roads in the desert and that they will not be able to carry enough water or food.
But it also shows a woman adding salt to a water bottle and advises, "Salt water
helps you retain your body's liquids. Although you'll feel thirstier, if you drink water
with salt the risk of dehydration is much lower."
Mexican authorities say they're just trying to keep migrants safe.
"We are not inviting them to cross, but we're doing everything we can to save lives,"
said Elizabeth Garc’a Mej’a, chief coordinator for the Nogales, Sonora, section of
Mexico's Grupo Beta migrant protection service.
Carlos Flores Vizcarra, Mexican consul general of Phoenix, said he had not seen
the guide until a reporter showed it to him.
He said the guide appeared to be only the latest attempt by the Mexican
government to warn migrants about the dangers of crossing the border without
proper documentation.
The reality, however, is that many migrants will try to do so anyway, he said.
"This is nothing new. It's a way to put it in very simple terms so people will
understand the risks," Flores Vizcarra said. "The intention is out of concern for
human rights. People are doing it anyway. We cannot ignore that there is a very big
migration between our two countries, and people who are coming to work need to
understand the risks."
Mixed messages
Some migrants from Mexico who have crossed the border illegally in the past said
the guide seems to send a mixed message.
"On the one hand they seem to be saying, 'Don't cross,' but on the other hand they
are saying, 'Cross,' " Humberto Morales, 22, an undocumented immigrant from
Oaxaca working as a day laborer in Phoenix, said after looking at a copy.
He doubts the guide will keep many people in Mexico from crossing illegally, but
he said it could help save lives.
"We have lots of programs like this in Mexico, but people keep crossing," Morales
said.
No official at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Mexico City would agree to an
interview about the comic book, despite repeated requests through the ministry's
media relations office.
The book's pictures are drawn to match the style of El Libro Vaquero. They portray
the migrants as strong and healthy men and women, wading into a river or walking
through the desert.
One section of the book urges caution when dealing with immigrant smugglers,
known as coyotes or polleros. It shows migrants climbing into the back of a
tractor-trailer, a possible reference to the 19 migrants who died in Texas after
being sealed in a tractor-trailer in May 2003.
On getting caught
Another section warns migrants not to lie to U.S. authorities or use false
identification, and it gives instructions on what to do if caught by the Border Patrol.
"Don't throw stones or objects at the officer or patrol vehicles because this is
considered a provocation," it says. "Raise your hands slowly so they see you are
unarmed."
A picture shows a group of migrants running from a Border Patrol sport utility
vehicle, though the text urges them not to flee.
"It's better to be detained a few hours and repatriated to Mexico than to get lost in
the desert," it says.
Seven pages are devoted to migrants' legal rights after they are detained and
another four to living peacefully in the United States.
"Avoid attracting attention, at least while you are arranging your stay or documents
to live in the United States," it says. "The best formula is to not alter your routine of
going from work to home."
The Arizona Republic faxed copies of the guide to the U.S. Border Patrol, FAIR
and two groups that support stronger controls on immigration.
A Border Patrol spokesman said he does not think the book encourages illegal
crossers.
"If they've already gone ahead and made that decision to cross illegally . . . then
anything that helps protect lives is worth it," said Andy Adame, spokesman for the
Border Patrol's Tucson sector.
Beyond protection
But the immigration-control groups said some of the advice goes beyond
protecting migrants and, instead, encourages them.
"A lot of it is disclaimers, but then there's this part about if you're going to cross the
desert, do it when the sun isn't so hot," said Mark Krikorian, executive director of
the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies. "It's a mixed message."
Said John Vincent, editor of a newsletter published by Virginia-based Americans
for Immigration Control: "It really looks like the Mexican government is encouraging
illegal immigration. It shows the contempt that the Mexican government has for our
laws."
The Mexican government produces a similar book aimed at Central American
immigrants who try to enter Mexico illegally. The book covers much of the same
information about legal rights and repeats many of the warnings. It even shows a
group of migrants struggling to breathe inside a truck.
But that book doesn't give the same kind of safety tips on crossing the border or
advise immigrants on how to live peacefully in Mexico.
Reporter Daniel Gonzalez contributed to this article.
Reach the reporter at chris.hawley@arizonarepublic.com
Un-freakin-believable BUM
BTTT
Got to protect their second largest contribution to Mexico's GDP.
1 Oil
2 Invaders using Western Union.
He gets foreign aid, and receives receipts from his citizenry who send 1/2 of their earnings home to help family members left behind.
We need to stop this insanity. Mr. Fox, take your people home.
Yeah right...like there is a snowball's chance Bush would seal our southern border.
Is it me or is there something really strange about Mexico telling its citizens to leave?
What made me nervous was how chummy Bush/Fox were just before the towers got hit. I think Fox was ready for
a joint-Presidency. I wouldn't have been surprised to see
a moving van unloading his office furniture into the White House. All of his eggs were in one basket. Just about EVERYTHING he was going to do rested on his relationship with the Bush Admin. It isn't over between Bush/Fox. Fox is Mexico's President until 2006.
For the record, I like Bush and voted for him twice. I think he has been wonderful for this country but I don't understand why he doesn't see the long term effects of his guest worker (amnesty) plan. He doesn't see the hurt Americans, the closed hospitals, the added taxes, the problems in public schools and colleges (how can it be okay for illegal immigrants to pay in state tuition when Americans from another state pays out of state tuitions), the insanity of the anchor baby law, the increase in gangs etc.etc.etc.
Tancredo has 4 years now to get name-recognition. I do hope he runs in 2008.
How to be an illegal: Mexico government publishes guide to assist border crossers
mexican government - doing the jobs president bush doesn’t want to get caught doing.......