Activists to cross U.S.-Mexican borders
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By KEITH WALKER, Potomac News & Manassas Journal Messenger
Published: April 16, 2008
By KEITH WALKER
A group of four Virginia activists will travel to Mexico this week and cross back into the United States on Saturday without carrying government identification.
The action by The People United is designed to draw attention to what its organizers see as the base cause for illegal immigration.
"We want people to realize the larger structural reasons for people immigrating to the United States," said Virginia Leavell, an organizer for the People United and member of Mexicans Without Borders. "Immigration to the United States is the direct result of trade policies that the U.S. passes like the North American Free Trade Agreement."
The People United statements say that NAFTA created "vast disparities of wealth and power" between Mexico and the United States.
The group's decision to make the crossing just west of Nogales, Mexico, along immigrant trails, in an unpopulated area of the desert was influenced by the Prince William County illegal immigration resolution, said Leavell, who grew up on a farm outside of Charlottesville.
Organization members attended the 12-hour Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting in October when the resolution was passed. About 200 people spoke at the meeting. The split between those who spoke in favor of the resolution and those who opposed it was about even.
"That was really a spark for us that there needed to be more dramatic action," Leavell said of the vote to pass the resolution.
Leavell said the The People United is worried that other jurisdictions will enact similar ordinances.
"We don't want hate politics and racist legislation to get passed in other parts of the state," she said.
Staff writer Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( mrbill ) on April 16, 2008 at 8:15 am
mr walker ,it is not mexicans without borders ,it’s mexicanos sin fronteras. go back to being lane ranger, amigo.
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Posted by ( sjem ) on April 16, 2008 at 7:58 am
Hopefully they will have someone with them that knows what they are doing and can protect them on that trail. And getting across the border to the US without their documents of who they are, I say good luck. I myself would NOT want to spend anytime in their jails. Mexico is a totally different environment than other countries. I will be down there next week and believe me I will definitely have my US Identification on me to come back across. The Border Patrol mean business. If you can’t identify yourself legally, you are in their hands and that’s not the same as they being in our hands without legal documents. I say, Think about it people. Be Smart. And Godspeed.
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Posted by ( Vic ) on April 16, 2008 at 7:06 am
Marxism comes to PWC—with this convoluted discussion of the “vast disparities of wealth and power.” What a load of crock!
If they feel so ashamed of PWC, perhaps they should just cross the border and stay there. Once Mexican authorities get hold of them—with or without their documentation—I wonder how welcome they’ll feel to stay there.
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Posted by ( Calisto ) on April 16, 2008 at 6:55 am
Well, I hope they keep ‘em right in Mexico. Activist my foot. It’s illegal and I hope they throw the book at them.
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Posted by ( dcg ) on April 16, 2008 at 6:09 am
All good liberal pro illegal people use the quotes from this woman as a guide: When discussing the oposition make sure you use the words “hate” and “racist” at least once, especially when you cannot come up with a logical arguement.
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Posted by ( dotherightthing ) on April 16, 2008 at 5:50 am
These people just don’t get it. How about a reality check and not allow them back into this country? It is the corrupt (and racist) governments south of our border that have fueled this condition more than anything else. While they are at it try walking across the border south of Mexico and see if they can get back into Mexico. Maybe these four should stay in Mexico and help them come up with a solution to stop corruption and train its citizens for work their. That would be the dramatic action you talk about.
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Posted by ( raywilliams ) on April 16, 2008 at 5:36 am
Duh, I believe the USA has the right to pass any trade restrictions we choose that are in the best interest of our country. That is about the lameist excuse for supporting illegal immigration I’ve heard. And I’m a supporter!
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