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February 24, 2005

Cry me a river ... those poor illegal aliens!

The Lost Angeles Times runs an story on illegal aliens living on the island of Catalina in a sobsister style of "reporting" redolent with the strained images of oppressed innocents cowering in fear of the Federales.

For generations, the Spanish-speaking locals have called the mainland "el otro lado," the other side, borrowing a phrase more commonly used to refer to the U.S.-Mexico border. But for some, the 22 miles of sea that separate Avalon from mainland Los Angeles really has become a border, one that many are wondering whether they'll ever risk crossing again.

"I haven't left since I heard they were out there," said restaurant worker Juan Moreno, 43, sitting on a bench at Island Plaza during a lunch break, calmly finishing a cigarette. "Well, what else can I do?"
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"For a long time, one of us would go back home [to Mexico] during wintertime, telling people 'It's going good, there are jobs,' and then come back with two or three others," said Jose Luis Cervantes, 44, a naturalized citizen who seems to greet everyone he meets on Avalon's brick sidewalks with a familiar wave.

Cervantes said he's lived in Avalon since he was 14. "I know everyone here. We're all like one family."

That closeness, some said, is what made news of the document checks spread so quickly.
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Reports of Coast Guard officials springing from hiding after the boats leave harbor have been circulating in the community and produce resentment.
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The situation on Catalina Island "really plays into the schizophrenic nature of our immigration laws and our immigration situation," said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. "Now you have a population that can no longer come to the mainland. They're literally trapped on Catalina Island."
[emphasis added]

And just incase, you hardhearted Norte Americanos don't get it, writer Daniel Hernandez entitles his piece.

For Some, Avalon Is Alcatraz

crossposted at Redstate.org

UPDATE I think it apropos to point out this recent study -- "In 2002, the net loss to U.S. natives from immigration was $68 billion."

Posted by Darleen at February 24, 2005 06:35 PM

Comments

For those you have to explain it to...they just won't ever get it...But someday they will know what we as Mexifornians are already living and paying for now...THanks for saving me some typing on this one.. I heard it on John and Ken and wanted to blog about it... you saved me the effort and did far better than I would ever have done!

Posted by: Crystal Clear at February 24, 2005 11:20 PM

- This rise and fall, on and off immigration fiasco is almost an annual event. The costant tug of war between business interests, that depend heavily on the low cost labor, versus the tax payers that have to pick up the tab for all the "hidden" expense's, has been going on out here forever. One of the interesting aspects you seldom hear about, aside from the fact that no State or Federal politician will touch this hot potato and risk losing some of His/Her voter base, comes from a surprising quarter. I have close long time resident Mexican heritage friends who are becoming more and more concerned about the increased influx of unchecked illegal immigration and see it as a possible threat to the gains thev've made through many years of hard work. As one guy put it recently; "Things like you see going on in Arizona with the citizens patrolling the border could be a sign of a growing public backlash. I wish our government could at least moderate the border to lower the American publics fears". When even resident Mexican Nationals themselves can see the potential problems maybe its time for some of our politicians to pay attention. Incidently the figure of "10 million illegal aliens" that all the politicians are so found of bantying about is total unmitigated HS. Between the Korean/Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese/Fillopino/Hispanic sections of LA I would guess theres easily 10 million there alone. The government is never going to site the true numbers nationwide for fear of really alarming the public. What a joke if it wasn't such a horrendous problem....

Posted by: Big Bang Hunter at February 26, 2005 11:02 AM