What The? wrote on Dec 2, 2006 11:57 PM:What the heck is this guy trying to say? His editorial is disjointed and confusing. It's almost as though he has a hidden message and he's too afraid to come right and say it. Is he talking in cirlces or is he expecting us to read between the lines? Oh wait a second....he's the press secretary for the Republican Party! That explains everything.

Democrat Robert wrote on Dec 3, 2006 4:47 AM:Thank you Mr. Barajas for this thoughtful comment that gives us all a clear order and basis for the "get in line legally or get out" position.

Gary wrote on Dec 3, 2006 8:28 AM:There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society, with a large segment of people in that society, who feel that they have no stake in it; who feel that they have nothing to lose. People who have a stake in their society, protect that society, but when they don't 'own' it, they want to destroy it. While the rich may think it's safe to live in gated communities in places like San marcos, Bear Creek, La Jolla, and San Clemente how acceptable would it be to live an upper middle class life once millions of illegal aliens recreate their squalid surroundings of the Third World imported into America?

El Guero wrote on Dec 3, 2006 11:55 AM:Very well written, but a little vague about 'what to do with the 12 million people already in the country illegally.' While he discusses the problems of mass migration to the U.S. and its consequences for U.S. citizens and legal immigrants, Mr. Barajas drops the 'c' word ('comprehensive') in the seventh paragraph, which suggests to me he favors amnesty without coming right out and saying it. Since his parents (and some siblings) came here illegally 30 years ago, I guess he can't quite bring himself to say that those who followed (and weren't lucky enough to catch the last amnesty bus) should be sent home according to the law. A lost opportunity.

Don wrote on Dec 3, 2006 11:56 AM:When I here fellow latinos say "Vive La Mexico", I wonder why? Their Government has abandoned them (Much like the US gov has abandoned US citizens). Their government encourages them to leave. Why is there any allegiance to Mexico? If we don't stem the tide of illegal immigration, the same philosophies of corruption will be brought to the US and prevail like it does in Mexico. I think immigration is an important aspect of American culture. However there is a world that wants to come here. Why should we give preferential treatment to Mexicans? Why should we send our American troops to fight and get maimed or killed for a country (US) who is selling them out for political gain and for the coffers of the Mexican government? President Bush should be ashamed of his service. He has sold out all Americans (White, Black, Brown) regardless of race and has given it away to people who could care less about the United States.

Democrat Ana wrote on Dec 3, 2006 12:43 PM:There is much more to this immigration debate than just simple amnesty and/or a guest worker program. When do we hear these politicians talk about crime, the drug cartels, the forced labor and prostitution? And when do we hear about what these Latin American countries are doing to help themselves out? All these needs to come in to the discussion.

loservillelabor wrote on Dec 3, 2006 2:29 PM:Good article. No shortage of guts in Hector!

Sylvia wrote on Dec 3, 2006 2:31 PM:Meanwhile, the myth that all illegal aliens comprise "nice, hard-working people" continues unchecked as we move toward lower and lower incomes, and erosion of the tax-base required for infrastructure upkeep.

U.S. Latino wrote on Dec 3, 2006 4:57 PM:"Why should we send our American troops to fight and get maimed or killed for a country (US) who is selling them out for political gain and for the coffers of the Mexican government? " --Funny thing is that U.S. Latinos comprise 25% of the Armed Forces of this country, yet they are only 13.3% of the total population. Latinos, and especially Mexicans have a long standing historical tradition of serving this country in battle regardless of citizenship status. Mexicans have fought in every American military conflict since the Civil War and we hold more Medal of Honor appointments than any other group. Furthermore, there are many hundreds of "illegal aliens" fighting and dying currently in Iraq and being awarded their citizenship posthumously. Also, the two main areas of military recruitment are San Antonio and Los Angeles, which have predominantly Latino populations. Latinos have greatly contribued to the betterment of our society, especially in the Southwest and continue to do so.

Sue wrote on Dec 3, 2006 5:19 PM:Illegal is illegal is illegal is illegal If we cannot work for the wages illegals do without being a burden on social services how can they? Why are we importing welfare cases???? We have enough welfare people who can go pick tomatoes in exchange for services. How about non violent offender in prisons? Who did these jobs before illegals arrived....oh that's right citizens and legal immigrants who received decent wages and benefits. We have cars being built in Mexico..did the prices come down because the wages are so much lower than Detroit demanded? Think about it. Did we have e coli in meat before illegals took all the meat packing jobs? How about the school taxes on a home owner because an illegal rents a one bedroom apartment and have two or three familys with kids living in it. They cost us too much. I struggle to pay my health insurance and what insurance doesn't pay and now have to pay for their free health care? SEND THEM HOME AS THEY CAME ONE AT A TIME

Hidalgo Treaty wrote on Dec 3, 2006 5:38 PM:The illegal alien invaders NEVER had homes in the American desert. Very few Mexicans elected to migrate south and retain Mexican citizenship in accordance with Article VIII of the Tready of Hidalgo. The current wave of Mexican illegal aliens are from the South of Mexico, 2000 miles from our deserts. The indians inhabited the deserts and the Mexicans turned the 'savage' indian issued over to the Americans in the Treaty of Hidalgo, Article XI. The Ameicans were tasked with keeping the indians out of Mexico. All of the indians eventually became Americans. Mexico has NO displaced or removed Californianos who are now trying to migrate back. Instead, we are being afflicted by invaders from the poor regions of southern Mexico, in violation of the Treaty!

Kurt - USMEX-UNOPACT wrote on Dec 3, 2006 5:53 PM:Hector, your editorial calls for an immigration pact with Mexico, not simply a plan. Americans are willing to support a USMEX pact to allow guest workers in the United States. The gangs are from those who are marginalized from both countries. Giving someone the opportunity to work prevents them from making poor choices to join deadend associations, like gangs.

juN wrote on Dec 3, 2006 9:31 PM:Americans are NOT willing to support a USMEX pact to allow guest workers in the US! Uninformed guess work on your part. The fact of the matter is that Americans only want Americans in this country. All others are to get in LINE and wait for thier names to be called. Juan

Juan wrote on Dec 3, 2006 9:32 PM:Oh, forgot to mention: the line starts on the OTHER side of the border. Juan

Reardon wrote on Dec 3, 2006 9:42 PM:As one who was "The Mexican Connection" in North Poway for decades, and personally sponsored two through the Reagan Amnesty, I agree that we have a problem. We must find a way to differentiate between the criminal and social service misuser element (deport them!), The hard worker and otherwise lawful element (give them green cards, and those who have actually benefited our society beyond their costs (give them the path to amnesty). Yes, it is a bureaucratic nightmare, but so is trying to deport 12 million, or give 12 million citizenship after charting their English lessons, their citizenship lessons, and collecting their unknown back taxes. The path can be made easier by increasing employer sanctions, driver stops, rental bans, etc. and raising the price of remaining here while decreasing the magnet that brings still more. We need a finite number of guest workers, but we do not need the worker's families because it is those families who clog the schools and emergency rooms, and who join gangs -- it is not the workers. There is a rational middle ground. Let's find it!

Lew Warden wrote on Dec 3, 2006 10:02 PM:Regarding your story by Hector Baraja: Hector has an interesting, if somewhat uncertain point of view. But nothing really different, except for the suggestion that his illegal entried mother and father managed to become legal voters, Mom a Democrat and Pop a Republican? How did this happen? Could they become naturalized citizens when they entered illegally? Or maybe neither of our esteemed political parties really cared, just so long as they voted the party ticket and voted often. I'm all ears on these questions. RSVP lewwarden@pronet.net

Face it wrote on Dec 4, 2006 6:20 AM:The reality of the situation is that your "undocumented relatives" were law breakers. It is call illegal alien. They shall carry that legacy with them the rest of their lives.

evol wrote on Dec 4, 2006 8:51 AM:well everybody that dosent have an illegal parent or relative shouldnt talk because yall dont know what really goes on in ourlives. yall just look at one persons point and if you like what he says yall go with that. now yall are calling us bad people cause we come over illegaly, and we dont put an effort at tryin to get papers(as mexicans say it) when we really are. every year fo 13 years my grand mother went and came to the immigration station in dallas applying. she barely got her papers this year(2006). its a very log process. while yall are acusing us for not getting papers when we really are, yall are gettin more people to come against us. yall say things like if were monsters. were only here to work and get a better life. yall cant say nothin because like my dad says yall were born into a stroller made of gold. and then theres the issue that we take jobs away from other people. well when theres signs sayin now hiring, you dont see anybody go in there besides immigrants. why? because the people that arent immigrants and are livin good with mommy and daddy are to lazy to go apply. we havent hurt anybody. instead we helped. we work our butts off just so that the people that are citizens can have good things. we want people to like us for what we do and all the good things we give to yall. for all those drugs out there, yall cant just blame that on immigrants, cause theres people from the US buying them and selling them. for those that do sell drugs, i know thats wrong but its not only our fault. so quit blaming stuff on us. i bet you wouldnt think the same if you came from our background of life.

David wrote on Dec 4, 2006 11:59 AM:Basically, he's saying: "Now that me and my family are here and legal, let's tighten up the border."

U.S. Latino wrote on Dec 4, 2006 12:33 PM:"Who did these jobs before illegals arrived" --This question is usually one used to promote the idea of a labor "invasion." It often illustrates the absence of proper information and the answer is found in the contruction and history of the American West. The American West as we know it entered into existence in the late 19th century. What spurned the economic growth in the agricultural sector was the introduction of the rail road. The rail road essentially and successfully opened the eastern markets to the produce of the west. Previously, the American Southwest was based on a historically spanish model of large ranch systems. With the introduction of the rail roads and the moderate weather that provided a long planting and harvesting season, the large ranch system dissolved. Many of these large ranches were held by the old Mexican elite families and were subsequently stolen away from those families by corrupt judges and business deals. Going further back, the majority of the menial workers in areas like California were asian migrants, predominantly Chinese. However, racism and nativism came into play and the United States underwent an period of "Yellow Scare" culminating in the Chinese Exclusionary Act. This act successfully ended asian immigration and deported those in the country. However, the rail road still needed workers and given the Latino majority in states such as California, Mexicans began to fill the rank and file of Rail Road jobs. After the construction of the rail roads and the implementation of an agri-business economy, the southwest needed laborers. Again, being the majority in various areas in the Southwest the Mexican population filled these jobs. Never in American history have these jobs been filled by "americans," which in essence means "anglos." The construction of the American West and its importance in our society coincide with Mexican migration. Also, it is important to note that the "border" as we know it is a 20th century construct. The level of militarization that it has reached is a contemporary phenomenon. While this is incredibly brief and does not encompass the entirety of the issue, I hope it helps. If you'd like to read about this issue, look at books written by these academics: George Sanchez, William Deverell, David Gutierrez, David Montejano, Carey McWilliams.

2evol wrote on Dec 4, 2006 1:05 PM:People from the Philippines wait 13 years to immigrate legally. With thousands of miles of ocean between this country and theirs, they don't have a choice. When they finally arrive, they find all the entry level jobs filled by Mexican illegals. You can't say the Mexican illegal worker has not hurt anybody. We invite legal immigrants here to contribute to our country. When Mexican illegals steal jobs from legal immigrants, depress their wages and consume public services, legal immigrants' lives become harder. Americans don't want harder lives for those we have invited here. We want the uninvited out. We respect those who respect our laws. As an illegal, your "contributions" come at another person's expense. We cannot respect you for that.

Shucks wrote on Dec 4, 2006 4:01 PM:all I got was a viva la taco bell for thanksgiving!

You guys better get off your duffs wrote on Dec 5, 2006 11:57 AM:and start writing letters and emails to your Senators and other states Senators and your representatives. Benny baby from AL wants to give 'em all amnesty. We need to make it very clear to ALL elected officials that if AMNESTY or a GUEST worker program is part of dealing with ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION their days are numbered!!!!

el flaco wrote on Dec 5, 2006 9:17 PM:Yeah, yeah, legal immigrants have to wait. But if the Phillipines had a thousand-mile land border with the US, you think Filipinos would wait politely in the line? If Moldova was the country next door, they would sneak over the border just as quick. Most legal immigrants complaining sounds like jealousy to me. You can't blame the poor for seeking opportunity.

Juan wrote on Dec 5, 2006 10:17 PM:Just to remind/inform you: it is illegal to even apply for a Visa to the US for the purpose of gaining residency. That said, if you are here and undocumented, you are "supra" illegal. Juan

Juan wrote on Dec 5, 2006 10:22 PM:Also want to point out the reality of Zevol's post. You do things legally and correct, you come here on the up-and-up and you find a bunch of illegal, non-respectable and non-citizens cramming the entry level positions and roadblocking your entry into American society as a good citizen. That's got to change. Points out that this Mexican crap is NOT a victimless crime. Juan

Kurt - USMEX-UNOPACT wrote on Dec 6, 2006 7:11 AM:juN, are you serious about the guest worker program? Do you plan on signing up for it? Or this doesn’t apply to you because you were born into America? Was your name called to enter the United States? Did you know that immigration had a backlog a couple million applicants? Had you applied, would you wait years without a word despite your interviews? How’s your faith in the U.S. immigration system when they place your application into a file – waiting day after day, year after year. Do you even know the horror stories of applying (or standing in line) for a visa? …So we have come to America because we are a nation of hard workers following the American Dream, generation after generation. We are leaders of the free world. Millions of illegal workers are on the street corners at 7 am in the morning looking for work. Some want to work toward their dreams more than others. Would you believe the people in the northern part of Mexico considers the south, lazy because they are poor and backward, yet many of these same people from the south have traveled to the United States and are working day after day, providing a better life for their family. And, meanwhile, they are providing a service to the United States. They wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t any work. Of course, no one deserves a free ride. Do you think these illegal immigrants are getting a free ride? A USMEX immigration pact is necessary to restrict illegal immigration. More than fifty percent of illegal immigrants are coming from Mexico. More than half have been here longer than five years. More than half haven’t even illegally entered the United States. They entered legally and overstayed their visas. Get a feasible work visa program in place and the United States will quickly reduce illegal immigration. You imply non-Americans should stay out, and I say visas should be issued in a timely manner. Ever study abroad? Have you been outside the United States? Less than a third of Americans have passports, yet Americans will need a passport to return to the United States. It’s a perfect time for a legal USMEX work visa program from immigrants that want to work in the United States.

Kurt - USMEX-UNOPACT wrote on Dec 6, 2006 7:30 AM:It's no wonder why Mexican President Fox (2000-2006) spent all six years of his Presidency on securing an immigration pact with the United States. The time is now for a USMEX immigration pact. NEWS FLASH (Dec. 6): 1 in 7 Mexican workers employed in the U.S.: report "There were more than 7 million workers from Mexico in the U.S. labor force this year, 2 million more than six years ago, said the report's author, Jeanne Batalova of the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington think tank."

unalienable wrote on Dec 7, 2006 9:16 AM: No human being is illegal. We're all endowed bu our creator with certain unalienable rights. Among these are Life, liberty and the PUSUIT OF HAPPIENESS. It dind't say get in line to pursue happiness. Native Americans didn't tell Colonists to go back to England and get in line. Get a clue people! You can't stop migration of the Mexica People any more than the tribes that once inhabited Massacusetts could have stopped the great forefathers from moving in. And, by the way, if we were really a land of freedom, we wouldn't have had slaves and segregation up until just this last century. Our history in this nation is one of occupation and tyrrany. I love my country but I'm not going to sit here at my computer and pretend that all our problems stem from "illegal immigration". Stop scapegoating your neighbor!

Mike the Marine wrote on Dec 7, 2006 10:04 AM:U. S. Latino wrote that there are "Illegal Aliens" fighting in the armed forces. Absolutely not true. Any inductee has to be legal before they can join the armed forces. They don't have to be a citizen, but they have to be in a legal status, and for many it is a shorter and much more honorable way to reach the goal of citizenship. Again, when there is no legitimate argument to support illegal aliens, the writers never stick to the truth.

Correction Mike! wrote on Dec 7, 2006 2:32 PM:The only way that resident aliens in the military become citizens is when they come home in a coffin. Hello? What shorter way? You mean deadly way! Also, there are illegal aliensin the military who enlisted with fake ID and serve and die bravely alongside American soldiers. You don't know the truth either, MIKE.

Kurt look around. wrote on Dec 9, 2006 9:12 AM:We have ENOUGH ILLEGAL immigrants. NO ONE with a brain supports USMEX pact. SEND them home, and start enforcing our immigration laws. Let these people make the same sacrifices our ancestors did and work as hard as they did if they want to come to the US. Oh and NO ONE gets to be a citizen until they can speak and write ENGLISH. I think we need to stop printing government forms in ANY language other than ENGLISH.