| Pages:
1
2 |
Gypsy Jan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4275
Registered: 1-27-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
|
|
10News anchor Steve Atkinson reveals eye-opening pictures of desperate people living in sand bunkers
From ABC News
SAN DIEGO - "No matter where you stand on immigration reform, our long-standing debate and lack of resolve has become a major problem for our
neighbors to the south.
Deportations of Mexicans and South Americans who entered the United States illegally have caused the homeless population in Tijuana to explode.
10News anchor Steve Atkinson and a production crew recently paid a visit to Tijuana to see the problem in person. Below is his firsthand experience.
It's difficult to comprehend. In a way, it's something you actually have to see to believe and a little stunning when you do. There are people --
hundreds of homeless -- living in the riverbed of the Tijuana canal.
Our 10News crew was given a personal escort by Tijuana Police to see the large number of tents, shanties and underground bunkers built into the sand
dunes that line the concrete canal. The conditions are rough even by homeless standards, but a place these desperate people call home.
On 10News At 5:00, watch as Steve Atkinson investigates this humanitarian problem further and why Tijuana officials consider it a bigger threat than
the drug cartels.
The encampments don't end there. Others choose to live inside the dark maze of canal tunnels built to funnel flood waters off Tijuana streets and into
the river. Our crew was only 50 yards inside the tunnel before we found a collection of discarded materials and several small shanties built by the
homeless who live in the dark, cavernous place.
Escorted by a dozen Tijuana Police, we arrived at a shanty inside a tunnel where we found a woman sleeping. She told us her name is Michelle and that
she has lived in the tunnel for the last two months after her deportation from Arizona. She worked at a small grocery store while living in the United
States. Michelle tells us through a Spanish interpreter, "I'm willing to get out of this life, but I just need some help. I'm tired of living like
this."
Our 10News crew was here in 2006 when only a handful of drug addicts were hiding inside the canal tunnels just to get high. Back then, Tijuana Police
hauled them off to jail. But we have returned to find the police no longer make arrests. The homeless population is just too overwhelming.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), more than 400,000 individuals were deported out of the United States last year alone.
Most are from Mexico or South America and every day hundreds are dropped into Tijuana.
They have no transportation, no job, no money and no home. And many end up in the canal of the Tijuana River.
"We think there are at least 4,000 living there today," says Tijuana Chief of Police Alberto Capella, describing the number of homeless living in or
around the Tijuana canal. "Right now, this is our biggest problem."
It is a bold statement coming from the man whose biggest problem just four years ago were the violent drug cartels that fought for territory in
Northern Baja California.
"A lot of these people have the idea to go back to the United States," says Capella. "They want to stay in the canal and wait to (sic) the opportunity
to go back."
Rather than return to their native cities, most of the deported immigrants stay near the border for a chance to return to America. Many have families
back in the United States.
Some are like Ismael, who we met living in an underground bunker built into the sand dunes within the canal.
"Yes, I want to go back to the United States," says Ismael, who worked construction in Riverside before being deported. "My family is there."
Ismael and three other men live in a rectangular bunker the size of a small car. He was pulled over by police for speeding a few months ago and
immediately deported for living in the United States illegally. His wife and two children were left behind. Ismail lives in these conditions for the
opportunity to one day return to his family.
The homeless problem is everywhere along the canal. They build tree houses and small shacks under bridges near the border. But most are not afraid to
make their homes right out in the open in the canal.
Some like Arturo, who we found inside a bunker, make money by recycling. His goal is to raise enough money to hire a "Coyote" and get back across the
border to his family in Santa Ana. We asked if it was worth the danger of crossing the border illegally.
"Yes, I don't have a choice," says Arturo, who was a dishwasher for a Santa Ana restaurant. "It's the choice I have to make with my family over there.
It's what I'm willing to do to try and go back."
On 10News At 5:00, more footage from under the Tijuana canal riverbed and interviews with the people who live there."
Follow 10NewsAtkinson
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
|
|
|
drzura
Nomad
Posts: 320
Registered: 7-1-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
ahhhh... poor illegals. With the high unemployment rate in the US and especially California, we need the jobs for U.S. CITIZENS. They can go back
home.
|
|
|
sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
He was pulled over by police for speeding a few months ago and immediately deported for living in the United States illegally.
|
I'm in the category of being humane to everyone including
illegals entering the US. I do agree they are breaking the law,
and should not be rewarded. I was unaware that a traffic violation would get one deported. A CHP friend of mine said US Immigration would
not bother to come and apprehend illegals he would stop,
unless there were something like 8 or more. Seems the Baja Govt in TJ could fund some sort of temp shelter for
these migrants
|
|
|
MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
|
|
The Poor in Mexico ............
Are the Responsibility of the Mexican Government.
And nobody else.
|
|
|
akshadow
Nomad
Posts: 287
Registered: 2-1-2007
Member Is Offline
|
|
deported illegals
If the Mexican government tried to discourage the illegal crossing of the border there would not be many Mexicans crossing the border. May be the US
should agree to pay to return the families to Mexico also, then there would be less incentive to return to US.
Mexico is a tough place to be poor, but it is not the responsibility of the US of A population to solve the problem.
As I understand part of the problem is the inland cities and towns do not want the illegals returned to their home towns so the border drop offs are
part of the process now
|
|
|
chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
|
|
Yes... We had a very nice hardworking Mexican, who worked on our ranch in NW Kansas from time to time. His daughter, an honor student in the local
high school. In an ICE sweep,he was picked up and deported after having been given some time to settle his affairs. He is an honorable man, and while
feeling badly, made it clear that it was HIS problem,no one elses. I am sure he will be back, legally this time, and be welcomed back into the
community. His wife and daugher are still in the US..
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by MrBillM
The Poor in Mexico ............Are the Responsibility of the Mexican Government.
And nobody else. |
That's a death sentence. Maybe we can be a bit more creative.
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by akshadow
If the Mexican government tried to discourage the illegal crossing of the border |
That would be to discourage their third source of national income, remittances. I doubt we'll be seeing that any time soon.
|
|
|
monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by chuckie
Yes... We had a very nice hardworking Mexican, who worked on our ranch in NW Kansas from time to time. His daughter, an honor student in the local
high school. In an ICE sweep,he was picked up and deported after having been given some time to settle his affairs. He is an honorable man, and while
feeling badly, made it clear that it was HIS problem,no one elses. I am sure he will be back, legally this time, and be welcomed back into the
community. His wife and daugher are still in the US.. |
If he was deported for being in the US illegally, it
is not likely they will let him back in anytime soon.
|
|
|
chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
|
|
Not true...he has been vouched for and sponsored, Job etc..My guess is in a few more months....Dennis ???WTF are you talking about???? It aint a death
sentence, they had lives before they entered the US ILLEGALLY...Not our problem....
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by chuckie
....Dennis ???WTF are you talking about???? It aint a death sentence, they had lives before they entered the US ILLEGALLY...Not our problem....
|
I'm not an immigration activist. I am a supporter of the fence.
That said.....to rely on the government to un*** the mess they've made of things and take active responsibility for their disenfranchised is to bury
them alive.
Mercy is our responsibility and failure to assume that responsibility is inhumane.
Are we not better than that?
If they had decent lives before crossing the border, they wouldn't have left home.
.
[Edited on 5-9-2013 by DENNIS]
|
|
|
chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
|
|
Maybe if you had a decent life in the US you wouldnt be in Mexico? Sword cuts both ways....Are you here legally? Why cant they do the same thing? I
did....
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by chuckie
Maybe if you had a decent life in the US you wouldnt be in Mexico? Sword cuts both ways....Are you here legally? Why cant they do the same thing? I
did.... |
Yes. I am, but according to this, you aren't here at all;
| Quote: | Originally posted by chuckie
Thank goodness I wont have to make that transit anymore after next September...Full time Mulegeno.... |
|
|
|
chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
|
|
Dennis, concentrate! Try, one and 1/2 weeks to pick up a new truck, does not make me a Nonresident, of MEXICO..
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by chuckie
Dennis, concentrate! Try, one and 1/2 weeks to pick up a new truck, does not make me a Nonresident, of MEXICO.. |
Whatever you say.
Since we've become so close, you won't mind a personal question, will ya?
I knew you wouldn't.
Are you drunk?
|
|
|
Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
Member Is Offline
|
|
We should legalize it and tax it.....too much demand from the US for the Mexicans to ignore......isn't that the normal argument....
oh wait, what are we referring to again....
|
|
|
slimshady
Nomad
Posts: 291
Registered: 9-3-2008
Member Is Offline
|
|
Get to the border and declare Asylum. Mexico issues tourist visas to anyone in the world. Well I have seen Somalians, Syrians, Ethiopians, Haitians,
and Chinese get dropped off at the border by smugglers and walk to the Border Patrol Agent and ask for Asylum. They are then held in ICE detention
until their matter is heard. Most will stay.
Mexico doesn't want them. They have laws and a strict immigration policy.
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by slimshady
They have laws and a strict immigration policy. |
They seem to concentrate their "strict" attention on their southern border. For Americans in Mexico, they tend to be very permissive......only active
at ports of entry, so to speak.
|
|
|
sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
They seem to concentrate their "strict" attention on their southern border. For Americans in Mexico, they tend to be very permissive
|
I was on a bus coming no. in Mex from the Guatamala
border, at a Mex Imm Stop, had my passport/tourist
card ready, Mex Officer didn't bother with me, the
typical Gringo, but quizzed anyone else
|
|
|
chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
|
|
Nice of you to ask, Dennis..No I'm not drunk, are you buying?
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
