Bienvenido todos!

by David Grand
September 23, 2004

The translation of which is: Welcome one and all! Considering as how, according to a recent Time's article the number of illegal aliens (mostly Mexicans) flooding into the U.S. this year will top 3 million, we might as well put up welcome signs along the 1,933 mile long southern boundary.

And here I thought that "Montezuma's revenge" (diarrhea contracted in Mexico by traveler's) was sufficient retribution for robbing 'em blind at the end of the Mexican War in 1848, in which we acquired half of its national territory that became the states of California, Nevada, and Utah, plus parts of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming. (It even has me running to the bathroom.)

With an estimated 15 million illegal Latinos living in the country, in addition to those who came here by legal means, helps to explain why the Latino population has become the largest minority. No wonder Bush speaks semi-fluent Spanish before Latino audiences, while Kerry only knows how to say, hola (hello), el presidente esta un mentiroso (the president is a liar), and voto para mi (vote for me).

And here's some more eye-popping news in that Time's article: there's an estimated 190,000 illegals here from countries other than Mexico, including a growing number from countries hostile to the U.S. that have melted into the population, offering a perfect hideaway for terrorists. (And while they may have had to dress warmer, heaven knows how many of 'em have crossed over the mostly wide-open 3,987 miles long U.S.-Canadian border.

So whose responsible for our southern border, in particular, resembling a sieve? Well, as that article says, "the problem is one of this country's own making, by the government not wanting to fix it, by politicians dodging the issue, and with big companies that have a clear stake in cheap labor aggressively fending off enforcement of laws that would shut down their supply of illegal workers."

It goes on to say, that contrary to popular belief that illegals are crossing the border in search of work, the fact is many have jobs waiting for them because of companies (e.g., meat packers, poultry processors, landscape firms, construction outfits, office-cleaning firms and corner convenience stores) placing orders with smugglers for a specific number of able-bodied workers.

Now, I've often wondered why is it that illegals are eligible to receive government-sponsored health care, education benefits and subsidized housing, especially when there's 44 million Americans without health insurance and several million homeless people? If that not a paradox, I don't know its meaning.

And there's no sense in expecting Mexico to help in closing the floodgate, what with President Vincent Fox encouraging the migration, and calling for "a fully open border within 10 years, with people moving freely between the two countries." Plus, I understand he's asking U.S. bankers to make it easier for Mexicans-mostly illegals-to ship U.S. dollars back home, which is Mexico's third largest source of revenue- $13 billion last year.

Call me stupido (dumb), but I was under the impression that the president's proposed temporary-worker program for matching willing foreign workers with willing American employers would finally get a handle on the millions of illegals already employed here, by granting them amnesty and issuing 'em three-year, renewable visas. Apparently, however, its led to Mexicans stampeding to the border by misinterpreting his proposal  to mean that once they crossed illegally into the U.S. they'd be able to stay and eventually gain permanent residence. Canido! (yelp).