Militarizing the border

(May 18, 2006) When it was first proposed by the conservatives, they were saying it is because the federal government was not doing its job of protecting our borders, thus the influx of border crossers coming from Mexico.

It wasn’t because the Border Patrol failed, the staff in this agency is actually overworked as far as trying to look for people crossing the deserts that oftentimes results in a number of deaths. But President Bush, who’s popularity has been sagging because of the immigration issue among other things, has chosen a wilder path to prevent the entry of people from south of the border.  Stationing National Guard in the states of Texas, California and Arizona was an idea far-fetched in the minds of those who think that Mexico is an ally.  Those who cross the border are not even armed, to say the least, or have come to invade and occupy the states mentioned.

Members of the National Guard have been at the headlines for the past several months due to two main reasons – Katrina and the war in Iraq. These are highly-trained soldiers, who if not conducting rescue operations, they are at war – killing the enemies of the state.

Now the question is: Are Mexicans our enemies? Majority would agree, if not the entire nation, that the Mexicans were and have always been our friends, even if there are criminals plying their trade crisscrossing the border. But these are bandits and not invaders.

Thursday’s news seems to be going in this direction, though, after the Senate approved amendments to build fences in critical areas. Most likely, we’ll see the National Guard when we go visit Shamu, or even the elephants at the San Diego Zoo. The last time I read about a militarized border was about two nations of different political ideologies – a communist state and a democratically-elected government.  We all know the reason why Bush chose to deploy the National Guard – 6,000 of them at the border.  He wants to woo back his conservative base which has lost its faith on their conservative president.  They want undocumented workers deemed as criminals as approved in a bill by the House of Representatives sent back to where they had come from, and fenced the border.

I will echo here some concerns by those at the border, who have private ranches and, despite bearing the brunt of seeing people destroying their fences, are wary of militarizing these zones. In their subtle comments, they say that soldiers are trained to fight, not to conduct police work where more humanitarian treatment is incorporated, and whose minds and hearts have been molded to engage an enemy. To say it bluntly, as I would, these soldiers are trained to kill. I’m not saying that this is their only job, as we saw them rescue and help several flood victims in New Orleans, but they first went to boot camp to harden their resolve, including their toughness, the military way. They may be the National Guard, but they are still soldiers, clad in military uniform, armed to the teeth, ready to do battle anytime when called.

Battle. That’s another strong word. The battle must only be in the halls of Congress – how to address illegal immigration, how to deal with undocumented workers, how to make legal immigration easier and faster, while considering the economic contributions of the undocumented who are here to work and just want to have a better life.

Well, I guess, now they are not only going to make ends meet, they should now get ready for the actual battle of their life and the future of their children.  We’ve heard the president say that in his immigration speech, which includes his wish of implementing a guest worker program.

The Church has already stated its position, although we would like to hear more on the proposed militarization at the border. We’ve also seen many rallies from immigrants and undocumented alike, and may continue to make their presence felt come election time.

The President said the National Guard will only assist the Border Patrol in manning our side to apprehend those who crosses the border, and will use their high-tech equipment in performing this task.  We’re praying that these equipment will not include bullets and other ammo, since we know that some coyotes use vehicles in smuggling illegal aliens, which might be construed as “deadly weapons” when pursued if they lose control of their vehicle while fleeing.

It could turn very ugly. The less weapons we see at the border, the better. These folks – men and women, some very young – are no criminals, they are not our enemies. They only come here to work.(RFL)

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