Fence doesn't stop bittersweet reunions (immigration sob story - captions, please)

Houston Chronicle ^ | 5/12/08 | Ashley Surdin

[redstates4ever]

"Francelia Menchaca drove with her family from Phoenix to the Tijuana border to see her mother at the fence on Saturday.

"

You can walk to the U.S. border, Francelia Menchaca's immigration lawyer advised her, but don't put your fingers through its fence. It may hinder her immigration paperwork, the lawyer said.

But when, after a year apart, Menchaca's mother arrived in her flowered straw hat to the border in Tijuana on Saturday and put her small, wrinkled hands up to the cast-iron gate, Menchaca reached out and touched them.

"Were you anxious to touch my hand?" Menchaca asked in Spanish. Tears stood on her lashes.

"Yes," said her mother, Francisca Rodriguez, a resident of Tijuana, as her three grandchildren, including a 10-month-old girl she had never seen, strained to be near her.

[redstates4ever]

Typical Houston Chronicle. Can't you just hear the violins in the background?

[redstates4ever]

Caption this immigration sob story *ping*

[Ouderkirk]

Too bad it’s not a prison fence instead of a border fence.

[Nervous Tick]

This is asinine!

GO TO *MEXICO* AND VISIT HER, DRAMA QUEEN. STAY AS LONG AS YOU LIKE...

[CholeraJoe]

Oh for cryin’ out loud! Fry me a liver!

[Huck]

Bitchin’ shades, makeup, healthy complexion...that must be the American side of the fence.

[2banana]

Hey dumb@ss, the fence is NOT keeping you in AMERICA - drive over the border and visit your mother in Mexico.

[TADSLOS]

Last time I checked, American citizens can travel freely back and forth between the border. If that’s the case, then why the high tear jerk drama through the fence? Why not just cross the border and visit grandma? Could it be that the Menchaca’s are illegals? The article conveniently doesn’t specify.

[Kozak]

We need a bigger fence!

[WayneS]

The story is ridiculous, since the young lady COULD take the grandkids to Mexico for a visit.

But I’m curious as to why you think it’s: “Too bad it’s not a prison fence instead of a border fence.”

It appears this particular family is trying to have its members LEGALLY immigrate. What’s wrong with that?

[P8riot]

Why such a big hole in the fence? And why isn’t it electrified?

[Diogenesis]

[Pistolshot]

And why isn’t it electrified?

Because this isn't East Berlin?

[CAluvdubya]

Simple solution.....

GO HOME!!

[KarlInOhio]

Was there a reason why Francisca Rodriguez couldn't just get a tourist visa (is one even needed to cross for a couple days to visit), get picked up by her family and driven to Phoenix for a real visit instead of standing at the fence?

[WayneS]

HEY, one of those arrows is pointing STRAIGHT at Culpeper, Virginia.

[pnh102]

Why such a big hole in the fence? And why isn’t it electrified?

And why aren't we using landmines... they can easily fill in the gaps where building the wall would be initially very expensive.

[weegee]

Tell Mexico to let this daughter move to their country so she can be with her mother. Why is Mexico so MEAN?!!!

[VRWCmember]

It appears this particular family is trying to have its members LEGALLY immigrate. What’s wrong with that?

I don't know.

Francelia Menchaca's immigration lawyer advised her, but don't put your fingers through its fence. It may hinder her immigration paperwork, the lawyer said.

Why would putting her fingers through the fence hinder her immigration paperwork unless she is here illegally and trying to obtain legal status??

[JRios1968]