Patrolling South Texas for Illegal Immigrants

I am elated that Mr. Diaz was able to achieve his goal of becoming a Border Patrol Agent. However, the continual hiring of agents with a Hispanic background is highly suspicious. It seems that the plan for continuing the assimilation of anything remotely non-American into "Sir, yes sir" is working, as is the plan to continue hatred and racism within our own communities. Humans being referred to as "aliens" or even "terrorists" is a clear indication of the amount of fear that has been injected into the American pie. Do your jobs sirs, and beware of the alien. They just might be cutting your grass.

I, too, share my happiness that Mr. Diaz achieved his goal; he is truly an example of a legal immigrant’s success story, something that occurs all too seldom. However, the previous commenter’s own words underscore his or her ignorance. Hiring agents with a Hispanic background makes great logistical sense. They require little or no training in Spanish or other facts pertinent to assignment along the Mexican border, saving taxpayers untold amounts of money. To the next point, assimilating “anything remotely non-American,” I should think, would be a worthy goal for anyone actually living in America. Fortunately, America allows its citizens and other legal (emphasis added) residents to retain parts of their culture that do not contradict the laws or beliefs of the majority of this country. Therefore, anything else that is un-American that does not fit the above criteria should, indeed, be changed, and as rapidly as possible, if you wish to continue living here. As far as the fact that humans are referred to as “aliens” is concerned, from a legal standpoint, what better word would describe border crossers? It’s my understanding that the word “alien” is, in one of its definitions, synonymous with “foreigner” (i.e. someone not from the country in which you live). This is an apt description in my opinion. That the word has a more pejorative connotation to it than originally intended is not relevant. I do, however, agree with the previous poster when he says that referring to humans as “terrorists” is an indicator of fear “that has been injected into the American pie.” It most certainly has been, and deservedly so. It is an undisputed fact that terrorists do cross at the U.S.-Mexican border quite regularly, so, again, this description is quite appropriate. And, if I may reiterate the previous poster, do beware of the alien. He may be mowing your lawn, and it is your duty as a law-abiding citizen to report him if he is illegal, so that others may have the chance to enter this country in a way that is respectful to the laws of this nation, as Mr. Diaz's family did.

well said David.

Well spoken David! The system and laws we have in place are a large part of why this country is great! If we start neglecting them, or bending them we will turn into Mexico. Where will we all flee then... to Canada? lol. It shocks me how many people speak so highly of Mexico and defend it so adimantly, yet live here! If it is so great why do you live in the U.S.? Go back! When my great grandfather came to the states from Germany (legally) it was simply a given that they would have to adopt to American culture... they were moving to AMERICA!!!! They didn't even leave Germany until they had learned English. My great grandfather was a blacksmith and when he opened shop in the states, no one could say our last name correctly... so he changed the spelling to be easier for Americans to pronounce! He didn't scream and cry and whine, he simply adhered to the American way... which was why he left Germany in the first place! I don't understand why these illegals come here and expect everything to be the same as it is in Mexico. It's like they think of coming here as a promotion instead of moving to a foreign country!

Very well written. Truly a sad issue with many different views. If everyone read this article or another like it, they would not be so quick to express their opinions wither it is for deportation or citizenship. There really is no clear way to handle a citation like this. As Troy the handyman said to go through all that, the life they left behind must have been bad. I cannot imagine such a life a feel close to tears thinking that there are people with these situations and worse out there. Yet, I feel guilty because my tears mean nothing and it's just another circumstance of life. I just pray that in their next lives, the creator will be more favorable in their lives.

The fact is that 12 to 15 million undocumented workers are already in this country and they're here to stay. The current influx of Latino immigrants, like any of the countless waves of immigration on which our great nation was built, will ultimately enrich and advance our national spirit. Sure, like any spate of immigration, the current wave brings with it a host of cultural and legal clashes and new problems to be resolved. And resolved they will be, through time and dedication on the behalf of all facets of our pluralistic American community. However, the extreme nativist sentiment which decries all undocumented workers as "illegals" without rights or humanity is not only dehumanizing and xenophobic, it's also clearly on the wrong side of history. America's greatest strength has always been its tremendous sense of pluralism; this unique feature of our identity comes not from but from the fact that we are and always have been a nation of immigrants. Did the Pilgrims have legal papers when they landed here? Did the Irish and Italian and German mass migrations of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries consist only of "legal," documented immigrants? I think not!

Stastics clearly show that undocumented Latino workers are no more prone to criminal activity than any other native-born demographic in a similar economic class. They have greatly enhanced the United States economy. The characterization of this largely peaceful wave of immigration as an "invasion" of "illegals" reeks of nativism and xenophobia. I'm not saying we should just throw our doors open; but a much more sensible and sane policy needs to be pursued towards what is becoming one of the largest and most important minorities in America. 12-15 million are already here, and they're not going anywhere. We can either accept this with maturity and optimism, or sink back into nativistic myopia. The absurd likening of undocumented workers to "terrorists" only reinforces the crazed sense of panic and irrationality which characterizes the anti-immigrant backlash in its current malevolent incarnation.

There's an incredible documentary being made right now which covers these issues as they're being played out in Virginia. You can check out their youtube page here: http://www.youtube.com/user/9500liberty