One of the Good Guys
He looked different than so many of the migrants. He was tall, well nourished, and was looking for a pair of jeans that fit and some clean sox. He did not have the small stature of the indigenous indios from Central America. And he spoke perfect English—barely an accent. I’d guess his age to be late 20’s. It turns out he is married, has several children, and has lived in Oxnard since he was 2 years old. He was picked up in California by Border Patrol, deported to Nogales, and now is determined to get back to his family.
He has no police record of offenses—until now. If he attempts to cross the US/Mexico border again, it is a felony. It means jail time. Our group tries to dissuade him from crossing. He doesn’t know our desert, and he intends to cross alone. Desperate to get home and back to work in Oxnard, he is emotional and tearful talking to our group.
So what gives here?? I keep reading about Homeland Security and its attempt to remedy situations like this. We should be pursuing the dangerous criminals, the drug smugglers, the “terrorists”, right? Why aren’t we going after the bad guys? This man is not guilty of any serious crime in the US. He is a working man, has a family and home, and now finds himself in a country and culture he finds foreign. He is one of the good guys that should not be swept up by our Border Patrol agents. And he is afraid to pursue citizenship in the US because—you guessed it—he’ll be deported. Again. Talk about a Catch-22.
Welcome to Nogales
He carries “court papers” in a white envelope—documentation about his deportation and “guilt”, as he stands here in Nogales, Sonora, a country that is foreign to him. We tell him, if you cross and are picked up by Homeland Security, call this attorney. She can help you. You are not a criminal. You came here when you were a baby. The law is wrong. A few Samaritans give him phone numbers to call if he runs into trouble.
I light a candle tonight for this man. Part of me does not want him to try and cross our desert tonight—so dangerous. Part of me wants him to make it home to Oxnard. I envision him sleeping in the bushes by the Santa Cruz River. I say a prayer for his safety.
He is one of the good guys.
Peg. Your blog is wonderful! I do so hope lots of people are reading it. How does one send it to other friends?
See you TUes.
Hola,
Enjoying you description of many of the Immigrants. I have been with the Sams for about 4 yrs. now and take great pleasure in helping many as you at the Comedor in Nogales, Mexico. Working and assisting the Kino Project is most rewarding. The stories of the many Immigrants are touching and frustating in many ways. Many times you feel helpless in trying to make the lives of the many you treat and assist better, if even for a short time. I have many life long friends on both sides of the Border and am committed to continue working for a fair and compassionate Immigration Policy in the United States. Jamas Sera Vencido,Paz y esperanzos.
Hi Bette,
To spread the word about the blog, just have your friends type in: arroya.org “Arroya” is the name of our “rescue” dog, by the way. She was found in an arroyo near Amado, AZ. 7 years ago along with her 8 siblings. She is the only dog that survived. She is our “migrant” dog. I’m new at this blog business, but I think there is a way now to register so you will be notified of new postings. I’m writing down reflections and experiences every few days. Thanks for your kind words. –Peg