go home already

but where is home?

i heard this story on NPR this morning about illegal immigrants getting dumped in Mexico just over the border in places like Nogales and Tiajuana. more and more are getting dumped there as the Bush admin tries to kick as many out as possible at the same time that it is stepping up border defenses.

Mexican authorities are reporting a huge increase in those deportees who are taking advantage of their services to find cheap bus tickets back to their home towns. the declining American economy has made it harder for these folks to find work. an interesting turn considering that just a year ago they helped 689 people get tickets and this year, its been more than 6,000. a lot less people are trying to get back in.

while i think kicking many of these folks out is wrong, they could do something to help their lot. the NPR story highlighted a couple of guys who were deported leaving behind families. these are precisely the guys i think you have to take a second look at to see if perhaps they are helping us out rather than hurting, before flinging them into Mexico. (especially since one was from Honduras - WTF, ICE!?)

one of the guys recounted how he has two sons serving in the US army. all i have to say to him, is seriously dude? you lived here long enough to raise two kids to that age of at least 18 and you couldnt find the time to get your citizenship? and to the govt drones deporting these guys, cant we take a look at folks like this, maybe tell them, pass the test and become and American by X date, you youre outa here. that seems reasonable.

because throwing folks who have lived here for 10, 15, 20 years over the fence into Mexico really isnt doing anyone any good. telling these guys to go home and tossing them in Mexico is like doing the same to me. my home isnt in Mexico, its with my family, here, in the US.