Because this thread was started by one of LPSG's most famous trolls, I wasn't going to feed it. But some intelligent folks have posted some well-considered opinions and suggestions regarding "illegal" aliens who cross the southern border into the USA to find work. So, I'm adding my observations and humble opinion for them.
One thing I wish everyone was forced to do when visiting San Diego is be put on the down town San Diego trolley to San Ysidro and made to walk across the International Border into Mexico as a "field trip." And not just into the new-ish pink stucco restaurant/bar business district the city fathers of Tijuana built between the border and old International Bridge that leads to the entrance of Avenida Revolución, but to the historical tourist trap center of Tijuana where teenagers from California go to drink themselves into comas and seniors go to buy prescription drugs at a third or even less the cost as they would pay in the USA. Everyone in the USA should be marched over the International Border to where a sign arched over the street used to shout, "Welcome to the most visited city in the world!" Sadly, the old sign is gone. Since 9/11 Tijuana is no longer the most visited city in the world. But that walk from the US side squeaky revolving gate into TJ is still quite an eye-opener.
Even though the city has recently (last two or three years) turned Avenida Revolución into a pink cement walking mall with lots of benches for sitting and just about as many police as tourists, the shopping galleries and streets immediately east and west of Revolución are the same. Still, every night both the Mexico and USA border patrols are out in full force trying to catch people who are mostly from Central America (Mexico is part of North America) trying to squeeze, jump over, crawl under the razor fences right next to the USA's Border Immigration Control Center. In fact the fences are doubled and tripled in many places --- and well lighted at night. If they don't make it and get caught, they are usually released back in Tijuana with enough time to try a second attempt later in the morning before the sun comes up. It's a tragic situation. However, eventually those illegal immigrants will make it across --- eventually.
With the possible exception of those posters to this thread who have lived in San Diego or even closer to the border, 99% of you would probably be surprised to discover that along the southern estuary where the Tiijuana River empties into the Pacific Ocean are some of the most beautiful horse ranches one could wish for -- on the USA side. No fence. I'm also certain that the rest of the posters would go up in flames to discover that the language spoken by the majority of US citizens -- real, legal, 'Mericuhn born US citizens -- is Spanish; or at least a "Frontera" dialect of the language. These same US citizens also speak perfect English. If you walk into a VONs supermarket the white, middle-aged. blonde cashier with the dark roots and tired feet will ring up the purchases and make change speaking perfect Spanish with the suspicious-looking "Mexican" family in front of you and when it's your turn -- if you're white -- she'll ring up your purchases and speak to you in English with a typical flat southern California accent. Just imagine! The border cities along the USA (both sides) are bi-lingual! Someone call the cops. Everyone isn't speaking the imaginary "official" language of the United States of 'Mericuh 100% of the time!
Granted, something needed to be done a long time ago regarding illegal immigrants flooding the southern border of the USA. But despite all of the jingoistic ranting and raving, nothing done (especially by Republican administrations) has ever been enforced. During the "golden" Reagan years, Congress and Senate passed a short-lived bill that threatened anyone caught hiring illegals with major prosecution in the courts and heavy fines. Suddenly there was a boom business in the black market providing illegals with real, authentic-looking and feeling counterfeit Social Security Cards and US Passports. Those US businesses and farmers who were caught hiring illegals simply had to show the photocopies of the fake SS ID cards and Passports. They had a legitimate gripe: how where those businessmen and farmers able to verify authentic-looking and feeling counterfeit ID? Almost no one was prosecuted by the State Department because those holy government documents were simply too cheap and easy to duplicate. Even now, the "new" passport issued by the USA isn't much to write home about. I had to renew mine last year and despite all the wonderful colored water-marked pages, it could be (and is being) counterfeited. I was told my new passport contains "a traceable chip." I doubt it. It does have a bar code, but that's easily counterfeited. Currently, if you have access to someone's social security number you can look up and copy their ID bar code from the Internet. Even better if the social security number is purloined from someone recently making their first appearance in the obituary column of a local paper, their bar code is even more valuable -- and easy to replicate.
Still, the better solution to the problem that seems to have everyone's panties in such a twist is to go after the employers. For example, immigration should regularly check with the date farmers around Twenty Nine Palms -- and recheck -- that their date pickers have guest worker permits that are authentic. For those who are unaware, guest worker permits are actually available. Unfortunately, there are enough flaws in the current guest worker system that those who apply and get the permits are often exploited by lower wages and longer work days than their "illegal" counterparts. Yet another problem that needs to be fixed on "our" side of the border. I don't see any farmers or business owners yelling and screaming for better accountability of "their" responsibility to ensure they only hire legal immigrants or guest workers with "real" work permits. Which leads me to another good idea for a "forced" field trip: visit the offices and watch the officials who issue USA guest worker permits.
Just stopping people in the event they create "a reasonable cause for police a police encounter" isn't going to put a dent in the current situation. There are thousands of people from former Soviet countries, Europe, Scandinavia, Africa, ALL Middle Eastern Countries, Indonesia, (and Canada) who have overstayed their legitimate student or tourist visas by more than one or two years that the migration folks haven't bothered to ferret out. It's doubtful those "illegals" from other countries will be discovered by driving in Scottsdale with a broken tail light any time soon.
Summary: 1. We need to clean up our own act by creating and enforcing laws that put the pressure on those businesses (and farmers) in the USA NOT to hire illegal immigrants or people without guest worker permits; 2. the current guest worker program needs a major redesign that includes clauses for enforcing humanity and justice for the workers. Fences are so Cold War.
Oh, and be sure to have a nice day. :smile: Tenga un día agradable. :sombrero:
