Aztlan Times

In the 1800’s my Great Grandfather & Great Grandmother met in Xucshon, Aztlan (Tucson,AZ). He was from Ures, Sonora and she was from Hermosillo, Sonora. My Grandmother was born on what is now known as the San Xavier Reservation on March 3rd, 1912. This was about 2 weeks after Arizona became a state. My Grandmother, or Nana Carmen as we called her, was the youngest of her siblings. Nana Carmen’s family left the reservation and settled in what is now called the City of South Tucson. This is where my Mother and her sisters were born. They all lived in a house along with their cousins.
I was, also, born in Xucshon and as a kid I remember Tohono O’Odam Pow Wow’s, Yaqui Easter Fariseos, and Mexican Dia de La Virgen Celebrations. I remember jabbing at the fruit on the tops of the Sahuaro cactus to make jam, and I remember turning the corn grinder when it was time to make tamales. I have memories of all the bad things that happen in the barrios, but there are others that write volumes on that side of life.
My children were born here and my grandchild will be born here. My niece had a baby boy 2 years ago here in Xucshon. So I guess my point is…

We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us!

“Amnesty rewards them for breaking the law”! This is the default rhetoric of opponents to sane immigration policy, but it does not explain how amnesty would be detrimental to the U.S. So what are they afraid of?

U.S. president, Bill Clinton (D), pardoned the law breaking governor, Fife Symington (R), after he was convicted of defrauding investors. George W. Bush could, simply, pardon the millions of undocumented workers already in the U.S? The only crime they committed was their method of entry. Again I ask, what are you afraid of?

The vast majority of undocumented workers that have descended upon the U.S. have done so to experience “The American Dream” not to attack it. Most are employed and with legal status would have credit scores higher than many U.S. born citizens. The housing market could experience a second boom build on a solid fixed mortgage foundation and not the shady ARM schemes that caused the recent collapse of First Magnus and other financial “powerhouses”. It is a lie that we can’t absorb the influx of worker because, one, they are already here and, two, there are vacant houses and half build subdivisions all over the country. As a matter of fact, many of these workers are involved in the new construction that has ground to a halt. Think of the pride and quality that would be injected into the houses when the workers know that the next house they build might be the one they buy. We must, also, remember that there are many workers that do not want to stay in the U.S. and would return home once their work was done. So, what are you afraid of?

With an orderly free flow of people across the border we could mark an end to the deaths in the desert. Violence would decrease since workers would not be intermixed with those smuggling contraband around checkpoints. Law enforcement could then scrutinize all attempts to skirt the ports of entry, instead of, apprehending workers for “breaking the law”. There would, also, be less impact on the environment with decreased travel through wildlife sanctuaries and national forests. What are we afraid of?

It appears to me that the changing demographics of the country and the fear of the southwest reverting back to Mexican control are the only factors motivating those against a sane immigration policy.