A return to "Operation Wetback"?

[I'm Gone 60]

Bring it back

http://tinyurl.com/gad8x

Still driving the bus

By Mike Gallagher

Friday, September 29, 2006

Do you remember the illegal immigrant from Mexico who was driving a bus that burst into flames and killed 23 nursing home patients who were evacuating Hurricane Rita last year in Houston?

His name is Juan Robles Gutierrez and he is a Mexican national, one of the millions who have sneaked across our border and taken a job so that he can send his income back to Monterey, where his wife and daughter live. In his case, he waded across the Rio Grande and began working for Global Limo, the company that owned the bus that burst into flames on September 23, 2005, burning 23 passengers alive.

Robles was arrested after the Dallas County Sheriff said that the evidence collected indicated that the bus driver’s actions contributed to the 23 deaths.

Fast forward to today. I’d like to give you a pop quiz about Mr. Robles. If you answer correctly, you will get an A.

Since Robles was arrested, where is he today? Is he:

A. Sitting in jail;

B. Deported to Mexico;

C. Living freely as a resident of the United States and still driving a bus.

After 23 horrific deaths, there surely couldn’t be any way that “C” would be the correct answer, right? Well, welcome to 2006 America, where in the world of illegal immigration, right means wrong, up means down, and illegal means hero.

It turns out that the evidence collected by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department must not have been enough to hold Juan Robles Gutierrez responsible for the nursing home patients deaths. In fact, it is believed that a mechanical failure of the brakes led to the fire which ignited the bus.

But that wouldn’t exonerate Robles from his illegal actions that brought him to the United States and placed him behind the wheel of that bus, would it?

You bet your sweet green card it would. And did.

After he was cleared of the charges, he was ordered to stay in the Houston area in order to testify in the trial of the bus company owner. He didn’t really like that too much. He preferred to live in Laredo, Texas, where he could be closer to his wife and daughter who live in Monterey, Mexico. So he went to an immigration official and was allowed to move to Laredo.

Then, our brilliant “system” granted him a work visa. After all, his wife and daughter have bills to pay in Monterey!

After Robles got his wish to live in the American city he wanted, he began itching to drive a bus again. No problemo, amigo. A Texas-based bus company hired him and he now cheerfully makes the 8 hour drive between Laredo and Dallas on a daily basis behind the wheel of yet another bus.

Perhaps his passengers these days should be advised to carry a fire extinguisher with them.

What’s perhaps the most shocking aspect of this story is how little the news media has paid attention to it. This guy goes from being the illegal immigrant from Mexico who was arrested for the deaths of 23 elderly patients on his bus to just another working-class stiff, holding down a steady paying job, a job that many Americans would undoubtedly love to have.

There are so many outrages in this story, I don’t even know where to begin. Maybe we can start with his “request” to move to Laredo to be closer to his family in Mexico. If I were the immigration judge, I’d have the perfect solution. You want to be close to your family, Mr. Robles? Heck, how about your home in Monterey, Mexico? Close enough?

But while the American news media might not be paying attention to this story, I’ll bet the illegals are observing. After all, if a Mexican illegal can still keep residency in America and even have the same job he was doing when his bus burned up 23 people, how serious could the United States really be about stopping illegal immigration?

I hope you passed the quiz and received an “A.” When it comes to combating illegal immigration, the United States continues to get a well-deserved “F.”

Edited September 30, 2006 by mdyoung

[*Robert* 2]

How about going with "operation incanada"...

[peejay 327]

I hope you passed the quiz and received an “A.” When it comes to combating illegal immigration, the United States continues to get a well-deserved “F.”

Shooting raises issue of policing immigrants

Chief defends HPD immigrant policy

By ANNE MARIE KILDAY and ARMANDO VILLAFRANCA

After a capital-murder charge was filed against an illegal immigrant in

connection with the death of Officer Rodney Johnson, Chief Harold Hurtt

firmly defended the Houston Police Department's policy of not enforcing

immigration laws.

"If the government would fulfill their responsibility of protecting the

border," he told reporters Friday afternoon, "we probably would not be

standing here today."

The urgency of the immediate loss highlighted a breakdown prompted by

several factors ? the loose nets of an immigration system that allowed

a deported man to slip back into the country illegally, a hidden gun

that Johnson overlooked inside the suspect's waistband and a means of

restraint that somehow allowed the handcuffed man to reach that weapon

and pull the trigger.

Early Friday morning, the suspect, Juan Leonardo Quintero, a

32-year-old Mexican national, appeared briefly in the 248th state

District Court, where he was informed of the charge against him.

Homicide Sgt. Mark Newcomb said officers "got a full confession" from

Quintero.

Meanwhile today, a schedule of services for Johnson was released.

Visitation for family and friends will be at Grace Community Church,

14505 Gulf Freeway, 5-9 p.m. Tuesday.

Funeral services are scheduled at Grace Community Church at 10 a.m.

Wednesday. Burial will follow at Houston National Cemetery at 10410

Veterans Memorial Drive.

As the investigation of Thursday's shooting near Hobby Airport

continued, homicide Capt. Dale Brown said Johnson was shot after a

pat-down search of Quintero, while the suspect was handcuffed in the

back seat of his patrol car.

"The officer apparently just missed the weapon during the pat-down

search," Brown said.

Johnson had stopped Quintero for driving a white Ford pickup at 50 mph

in a 30 mph zone, Brown said. The officer decided to arrest Quintero

for driving without a license or any other form of identification, then

handcuffed Quintero, conducted the pat down and placed him in the back

of his patrol car.

Johnson then called for a wrecker driver to tow the truck Quintero had

been driving.

Quintero had been working for a landscaping company in the Deer Park

area and was driving a company Ford double-cab pickup, Brown said.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/specia...on/4208808.html

[pedroh 21]

Laurie Roberts - Arizona Republic

Rep. Russell Pearce has had a few decent ideas about illegal immigraion. He was right, for example, to push for employer sanctions and he almost got the bill passed, until his own GOP colleagues (with a little help from chamber lobbyists) ran him over. He's long been for a fence, another thing that many Arizonans will support.

This week, however, Pearce has gone flat out over the edge into looneyland. He's calling for a return to the 1950s and Eisenhower's "Operation Wetback".

"We know what we need to do," he said this week on KJZZ radio. "In 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower put together a task force called 'Operation Wetback.' He removed, in less than a year, 1.3 million illegal aliens. They must be deported."

For those who are no longer living in the 50s and thus may not know much about Operation Wetback, it was a national backlash that began as a result of a great migration of people illegally crossing the border to work in the fields. Headed by a general Eisenhower had appointed to run the INS, the crackdown involved sending the Border Patrol, the military and local police sweeping through agricultural fields and Mexican-American neighborhoods, randomly stopping anyone who looked like they might be Mexican and asking for ID. Those who couldn't prove they belonged, along with their American citizen children, were put on buses and ships and taken deep into Mexico to discourage them from returning.

Pearce wants to bring this back? What are we going to do, stop people on the street and ask them for their papers? Kick in the doors where darker skinned people live and demand birth certificates?

How do you do such a thing, Rep. Pearce, and still be America?

It is extreme and this ain't 1950. There are better ways that are technologically feasable. Better to make it mandatory by law for businesses to use SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) Program and the Basic Pilot Program to verify employment eligibility for all workers in the USA. At present, Basic Pilot is voluntary. It should be mandatory along with tamperproof Social Security Cards. If someone is not legally in the USA they will not be eligible to work. It will end the practice of 150 people using 1 Social Security number to work illegally. Employers that refuse to use the system should be prosecuted heavily.

Making sure that individuals sending money out of the country are citizens or legal residents / visitors. This will ratchet up the heat even more. Pass laws to ensure banks no longer aid illegal aliens to easily make bank transactions unless they are legal residents.

American citizens and legal residents are already in the government data bases, so it is not so difficult to use this data to crack down on illegals.

You get what you tolerate. If there is no tolerance for illegals they will leave for greener pastures. They will self deport when the game is over. Why waste money rounding them up when you can get them to leave voluntarily. Most of them paid money to come here and they will leave when the $$$ dry up.

I think by now most know what it will take to take a huge bite out of illegal immigration. It isn't rocket science nor will it involve any more inconvenience than most legal residents and citizens already go through to work legally in the USA.

but u know that systems arent flawless peejay, and you know some stupid joe will get someone that looks mexican and will say let's deport him, etc etc etc like its happening now in the airplanes, anyone that looks muslim (dark skin, big beard, talks funny) is considered a terrorist.. so, is it going to be worth the lawsuits and errors?

So I guess we should just let in 12 - 20 illegal aliens just in case we might make a couple of mistakes trying to stop them?

You know...there is a .000000000000001% chance that you could get killed by a meteor on the way to work. Maybe you should spend the rest of your life hiding under the covers in bed and just stay home the rest of your life? There is a .0000000000000000000000000001% chance of getting hit by a meteor there.

Making sure that individuals sending money out of the country are citizens or legal residents / visitors. This will ratchet up the heat even more. Pass laws to ensure banks no longer aid illegal aliens to easily make bank transactions unless they are legal residents.

Major issuse is lockin up banks to visitors too with that route. How do you verify they just visitor v illegal alien? Have them flash passport at all bank transactions??

I guess when all they can come up with that is half way legit is a Matricular Consular card...that might be a dead giveaway?

After all the ####### I had to go through to get my wife and stepdaughter legit ID...there really isn't any excuse. They did quite well when all they had were valid visas.

Hell...I gotta show my driver's license just to cash a check at the Piggley Wiggley. Give me a break!

lol, but you know the chance that ICE or the cops detain someone just because he/she looks mexican (therefore illegal) is way much bigger than the strike of a meteor.. so, waddaya propose for those according to you not probable cases? 'oh, sorry, my bad, i thought u were illegal'... 'oh, it's your fault for looking mexican'.. or are you gonna respond as a caucasian that will never live that.. 'oh well, having 1 or 2 mistakes is worth a sacrifice for a greater good'?

Why not, we have people claiming that it is ok when the people are "suspected" terrorist, it IS "their" fault for being Muslim or middle eastern looking, so why not have a few accidents where illegal immigration is concerned?

We are all for giving up our privacy to unreasonable wiretaps, let's toss that one in there also...

I'm not saying that we SHOULD do this but why not, we do those other things...

I'd like to know how YOU feel illegal "immigration" should be handled...since:

and I DONT SUPPORT illegal actions

edit:darn typos

again, it's not my intention to throw the race card again.. but how funny, is that people who support these racial profilings or say 'these sacrifices are necessary' don't have a minority background. yea yea someone will say 'but what about the rapists, they usually target a crazy white guy'.. yes, but you don't see the cops pulling every white guy, as they'd do pulling a black guy in a nice car because he looks 'suspicious' or asking for legal proof to a bunch of hispanics because they look illegal.

now, I do think it's a good idea to have a database of who is legal, etc etc. (which i think they already do, maybe they don't use it), and again, I think the solution should be focused on the root, which is the employers, if they don't have jobs available, there's no reason to jump across the border. But the fact that only whites, which will never be object of discrimination, racila profiling or such, say 'yes, i don't care they imprison innocent people, it's their fault for looking like a terrorist or illegal' doesn't show much empathy for these minorities, nor a reason to support that cause, which I think it's very valid and legal, to protect the sovereignity of USA against illegal immigration or terrorist threads..

my point is, why aren't you a little bit simpathetic(sp?).. what would you feel if your SO is pulled over just because 'he/she looks like a =whatever word=.. which again, will never happen, because fortunately your SO's are not from the backgrounds that are 'causing' problems in USA. I would agree on a good method to locate and deport illegal immigrations, but as long as people have prejudices, or we use a chip in all the legal immigrants, problems will always arise..

what would you tell to that bearded spaniard that got kicked out of hte plane because he looked muslim? 'oh, sorry sir, but it's your damn fault'.. now, what if they did that to you? would you say 'ah! its for a greater good', or would you be sueing everbody's ####### around?

[I'm Gone 60]

again, it's not my intention to throw the race card again.. but how funny, is that people who support these racial profilings or say 'these sacrifices are necessary' don't have a minority background. yea yea someone will say 'but what about the rapists, they usually target a crazy white guy'.. yes, but you don't see the cops pulling every white guy, as they'd do pulling a black guy in a nice car because he looks 'suspicious' or asking for legal proof to a bunch of hispanics because they look illegal.

what would you tell to that bearded spaniard that got kicked out of hte plane because he looked muslim? 'oh, sorry sir, but it's your damn fault'.. now, what if they did that to you? would you say 'ah! its for a greater good', or would you be sueing everbody's ####### around?

If there were 12 million crazy white guy rapist running around then that's what should be done.

OK so some guy gets accidently hassled, but if it keeps another plane from being hijacked so be it.

What bothered me more was the guy that wrote the TSA director is an idiot on a plastic bag when getting checked at the airport and was told he didn't have a 1st admendment right to say that.

Edited September 30, 2006 by mdyoung

[Mirorgate 0]

again, it's not my intention to throw the race card again.. but how funny, is that people who support these racial profilings or say 'these sacrifices are necessary' don't have a minority background. yea yea someone will say 'but what about the rapists, they usually target a crazy white guy'.. yes, but you don't see the cops pulling every white guy, as they'd do pulling a black guy in a nice car because he looks 'suspicious' or asking for legal proof to a bunch of hispanics because they look illegal.

now, I do think it's a good idea to have a database of who is legal, etc etc. (which i think they already do, maybe they don't use it), and again, I think the solution should be focused on the root, which is the employers, if they don't have jobs available, there's no reason to jump across the border. But the fact that only whites, which will never be object of discrimination, racila profiling or such, say 'yes, i don't care they imprison innocent people, it's their fault for looking like a terrorist or illegal' doesn't show much empathy for these minorities, nor a reason to support that cause, which I think it's very valid and legal, to protect the sovereignity of USA against illegal immigration or terrorist threads..

my point is, why aren't you a little bit simpathetic(sp?).. what would you feel if your SO is pulled over just because 'he/she looks like a =whatever word=.. which again, will never happen, because fortunately your SO's are not from the backgrounds that are 'causing' problems in USA. I would agree on a good method to locate and deport illegal immigrations, but as long as people have prejudices, or we use a chip in all the legal immigrants, problems will always arise..

what would you tell to that bearded spaniard that got kicked out of hte plane because he looked muslim? 'oh, sorry sir, but it's your damn fault'.. now, what if they did that to you? would you say 'ah! its for a greater good', or would you be sueing everbody's ####### around?

yeah.. them damn Irish n italians never got racially/ethnically descriminated in the old days.. nor profiled for anything (bolding mine)

I do not support Illegal Amnesty in any way, nor illegal immigration either. neither does my wife as Ecuador is experiencing problems with the columbians crossing over to avoid the conflicts there. there are legal ways to do things. the system we have needs to be revamped... definately. I'm all about hittin the employers hard by gov men to make it unsavory for them to hire illegals... but sometimes, as the posted articles above, illustrate the futility of the current system, and how many know that all they have to do is brave the rio grande and they're literaly home free.

As to the spaniard guy, I agree... those 3 ppl that wanted to search his bags were WAY outof line. paranoid a$$hats through and through.

[Marc and Olga 0]

I have heard that to get benefits from the Arizona DES one must now show a passport! I like the idea the only problem is someone in need of DES' support will most likely 1) not have a passport and 2) not have the $100 to spend on a passport!

Heck, until I planned my trip to Russia I did not have a passport, though effective Jan. 2008, you will NEED a passport to return from Mexico:

January 8, 2007 – Passports, Merchant Mariner Documents (MMDs) or NEXUS Air cards would be required for all air travel, and most commercial sea travel, from within the Western Hemisphere for citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda. This is a change from the previously scheduled date of January 1, in order to accommodate holiday travel.

January 1, 2008 – The statutory deadline for all Western Hemisphere travel, including land border travel. The specific requirements for the land border crossing will be addressed in a separate rulemaking in advance of this date.

source

I always thought that a passport was specifically for international travel and was quite surprised to learn at this time one is not needed to travel to Mexico!

Edited September 30, 2006 by Marc and Olga

[mawilson 2,133]

You know...there is a .000000000000001% chance that you could get killed by a meteor on the way to work. Maybe you should spend the rest of your life hiding under the covers in bed and just stay home the rest of your life? There is a .0000000000000000000000000001% chance of getting hit by a meteor there.

You have no idea what those numbers mean, do you?

The chances of you being hit by a meteor are much better than 10^(-17) or 10^(-31).

• A meteorite hits once every two days, approximately
  
• Each square mile of earth gets hit with one about every 1,000 years
  
• The chances of *someone* being hit are 3/10 over the next 100 years
  
• The chances of *you* being hit are 0.0000000045% over the next 100 years
  

[peejay 327]

You know...there is a .000000000000001% chance that you could get killed by a meteor on the way to work. Maybe you should spend the rest of your life hiding under the covers in bed and just stay home the rest of your life? There is a .0000000000000000000000000001% chance of getting hit by a meteor there.

You have no idea what those numbers mean, do you?

The chances of you being hit by a meteor are much better than 10^(-17) or 10^(-31).

• A meteorite hits once every two days, approximately
  
• Each square mile of earth gets hit with one about every 1,000 years
  
• The chances of *someone* being hit are 3/10 over the next 100 years
  
• The chances of *you* being hit are 0.0000000045% over the next 100 years
  

OK Einstein. Now calculate Pedroh's chances of being deported with a Green Card in his hand.

[peejay 327]

again, it's not my intention to throw the race card again.. but how funny, is that people who support these racial profilings or say 'these sacrifices are necessary' don't have a minority background. yea yea someone will say 'but what about the rapists, they usually target a crazy white guy'.. yes, but you don't see the cops pulling every white guy, as they'd do pulling a black guy in a nice car because he looks 'suspicious' or asking for legal proof to a bunch of hispanics because they look illegal.

But funny Pedroh, how (according to this link) 81% of the illegal aliens are Hispanic with your country being the leader of the pack at 57%. And a vast majority of "other than Mexicans" (OTM's in ICE lingo) come from Mexico too. Gabachos are a paltry 6%. I don't know how accurate it is, but it was what Googled up.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/artic...-2005Mar21.html

As I said previously...you either flame the sh!t out of me or throw out the race card of "poor downtrodden minority" when the going gets tough. Maybe it plays well with some of the "rebels without a clue" on VJ, but it doesn't deter me one bit.

There are plenty solutions to illegal immigration that target everyone and do not target only Hispanics. I do not advocate mass roundups according to skin color. But that has never been an issue with some folks. Some people can't handle the truth. As I have said repeatedly...nobody condones illegal immigration except when it benefits their own racial / ethnic / religious / national group or personal agenda.

The fact is that foreign nationals do not have the right to enter or remain in USA illegally. Entry and legal residency in the USA is not up to the individual foreign national to decide. It is the sole perogative of the USA as a sovereign country to grant this priviledge.

[kirk and Jenny 0]

Illegal as all hell. Can't seize a person based on racial profiling.

[pedroh 21]

so peejay, what u are saying if that according your improbable chances that i get wrongfully detained (or any other legal or hispanic citizen), if I do get detained, should i live with it? suck it up? because the majority of illegals are hispanic and its my own fault for looking like a mexican? it looks like you've never been discriminated for being from a certain background, i was, and believe me, is not something u can live with it or suck it up.. it kinda changed my point of view, that people ain't the same lvl of people in America..

I hope too they do implement a system in which racial profiling isnt necessary, or people have to pay the errors of the authorities, but, that doesn't mean that it's silly for me to 'bohoo' and cry because of the unfairness of the system.. my problem is not with the deportation of illegals ( I do have a problem though when in Mexico they just say 'immigrant deportations' instead of 'illegal immigrants deportation'), but that most people say 'hell yea lets deport them all, if they ain't guilty, well they can come back' very comfortably, mainly because they will live an scenario where their skin color, background or accent will be a problem to the authorities..

[almaty 19]

How about going with "operation incanada"...

[mawilson 2,133]

OK Einstein. Now calculate Pedroh's chances of being deported with a Green Card in his hand.

LOL - I wasn't trying to contradict your point.

I just find it annoying when people play fast and loose with maths.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The fact is that foreign nationals do not have the right to enter or remain in USA illegally. Entry and legal residency in the USA is not up to the individual foreign national to decide. It is the sole perogative of the USA as a sovereign country to grant this priviledge.

AMEN!