Fire Survivors, Immigrants arrested in Evacuation Center

Sure it's not a "bowl of cherries or peaches" as you say. But just because it's been around forever doesn't mean you can justify it. U.S. immigration has constantly been in flux and always at the expense of the immigrant. Immigration policy is amongst the worst in the world, even for legal visitors.

My grandfather was brought here legally as part of the Bracero Program during WWII. But the government decided that despite his establishment and contributions to America during a war, they would send him back without properly paying him, hell even a "Thank You" note. But no one brings that up. The government got what they wanted out of him, who cares about the man and his family, or his monetary payment.

Legality isn't all it's cracked up to be. In his case and many others, those sworn to uphold the law of the land blatantly DID NOT. I agree with the Vietnam backlash, my neighbor told stories about his re-adjustment upon returning. Where he also faced racism within the armed forces himself by being of Mexican descent. I can add to your accounts where two days after 9/11 I saw a Muslim woman and her two kids villified.

As far as Latinos being targeted, I speak from my experience, living in Los Angeles and more so than that, living in California. My home of East Los Angeles is 98% Latino. However, my problem is deeper than the arrests and lies more in immigration policy. America is 20 years (possible less) from going through the same cycle that EU citizens are going through right now, where an aging population makes them rely on immigrants as a source for a stable economic infrastructure. Check out my other post on the anti-immigrant sentiment Spain as an example that it's not limited to the U.S.

My old college professor William Clark spoke extensively on the parallels between U.S. and European immigration policy and how the U.S. is failing to adjust accordingly. Immigrants will come regardless of a "impenetrable" wall or extensive border patrol, it's been proven time and again. Check Rudy Giuliani's latest comments on his plan to keep immigrants out--it's the same one others have touted for decades.

While we may disagree on the value and injustices done to immigrants, I think we agree the matter isn't as black or white as the pundits would like the American people to believe.

The debate will continue as it always has.

http://www.geog.ucla.edu/people/faculty.php?lid=595&display_one=1&modify...

Wow, pfafface - are you not too ignorant about the immigration issues to be actually browsing this site?? Or simply watching way too much Lou Dobbs? Well, if the latter is the case, it confirms the former. The economy of California, and therefore the United States (not to mention NY, DC, Chicago, even down to Charleston) is extremely dependent on the blood, sweat and tears of those that live in limbo here.

Just imagine the farm subsidy situation if the "earnest" farmers were not exploiting these folks for their work on our farms. Not only is the US economy dependent on them, so are our governments.

"Taxes paid by undocumented immigrants go into the SSA’s “suspense file,” when the Social Security number does not match SSA’s records. In 2002, the suspense file grew by $56 billion in reported earnings, with about $7 billion in Social Security tax and $1.5 billion in Medicare tax paid. This tax contribution represents about 10% of the current Social Security surplus—the difference between what is being collected in Social Security taxes and what is being paid out in benefits."

http://www.immigrationforum.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=724

The problem with your argument is that there is an inherent racial profiling angle to appreciate here. Having been held up based on my race (I'm Mexican-American) I know first-hand the humiliation that comes from such practices. Furthermore, I'm positive they aren't asking white folk for proof of their legal status, frankly because I've seen it first hand.

Saying "You break the law, you pay the price" only adds to the insensitivity of kicking someone when they're down--regardless of their "legal status".

They are here illegally which says to me that they have violated the law. The border patrol should arrest them and send them back to where ever they came from. Why? Because they have a sworn duty to uphold the laws of this land and are doing just that. It really isn't any different if you did something illegal and got arrested for it. Whoever arrested you did his or her job because you did something illegal. Down the road, illegal immigration is going to be the ruin of this nation if we don't start enforcing the laws that are already on the books. We certainly do not need any more laws as it is. You break the law, you pay the price.

San Diego County hasn't seen rain for three years so we might have guessed that a fire of significant size was going to happen with all the timber so dry. I wouldn't be surprised to learn in the near future that many residents will move out of this hell hole.

This is SOOO like our government. Let's take advantage of every situation and use it to our own agenda. These people have lost their homes and everything they've WORKED to build, and we use the simple fact that they're out in the open to truck them up and deport them. What the hell? Other countries send aid to use for the fires and we deport people from other countries during the fire. Seems to me like these border guards need to put down the handcuffs and grab a freakin hose!