Thread: State's new immigration law worries Arizona soldier

State's new immigration law worries Arizona soldier

By Paul Vercammen and Thelma Gutierrez, CNNApril 26, 2010 -- Updated 2001 GMT (0401 HKT)

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/201 ... cnn?hpt=C2

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/04/25/ar ... ion.vigil/


http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/98642 ... mages-News

Phoenix, Arizona (CNN) -- At a vigil protesting the passage of Arizona's tough new illegal immigration law, a young man in Army fatigues and a beret lit a candle at a makeshift shrine.

Pfc. Jose Medina, an Army medic, came to the Arizona capitol while on leave, to express his sadness over the law, signed by Arizona's governor on Friday.

"I'm here because this is something that's close to my heart," said Medina. "I went off to protect this country, to protect my family. That's what hurts."

The new law, signed by the Arizona governor on Friday, requires police to determine whether a person is in the United States legally. It also requires immigrants to carry their registration documents at all times and requires police to question people if there is reason to suspect that they're in the country illegally. Some fear the law will result in racial profiling.

Medina, 20, is from El Mirage, a working class Latino community northwest of Phoenix.

"When I first joined the military, they would ask us where you from, and I would say 'I'm from the great state of Arizona,' " Medina reflected. "I was raised here, I grew up here. Now I don't know if I can say that so proudly. I don't know if I want to live here anymore."

Medina says he came to the United States from Mexico illegally when he was 2 years old.

When he was 11 years old he became a legal resident of the United States and now has a green card.

"I felt I had a huge debt to this country that's given me so much," Medina said. "When I heard the law that passed, I couldn't believe it. Because the America I know, freedom, liberties we enjoy, are for everyone and then this law passes and I'm like 'wow.' It's a shame; it's a state that doesn't even want you here? If I take this uniform off I'm just another person who came here illegally."

Just six hours before shipping off, Medina's family and friends gathered for a farewell feast. The Mexican barbecue could be smelled a block away.

Impassioned conversation about the controversial law could be heard over the scratching of forks and knives on plates of tangy barbecue.

"You may go to Afghanistan, you may go to Iraq," said Medina's close family friend Victor, who did not want his full name used. "After this night man, we may not see you again. You can give your life for this country. But your mom may be stopped by Joe Arpaio (the Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff known for aggressive policing.)

"That's true," Medina answered. "But it's my duty to go."

"You're Mexican," Victor said.

"I am of Mexican decent," said Medina. "But I have grown to be an American."

Ricky, 22, a friend who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is white and stops eating.

"We are all brothers over there," said Ricky, who did not want his full name used.

Before the sun rose over Arizona on Sunday morning, Medina left El Mirage for deployment to Germany.

Jose Medina wondered if some of his family members or friends, some of whom are undocumented, would still be in El Mirage when he returned.

"I worry will my family live in peace," he said. "What good is keeping us safe here ... if we lose a part of what makes America so great? If we drive fear into our own peoples' hearts?"

As a former member of the USAF, serving ten years, we were not allowed to be present at protests wearing our military uniforms or appearing on TV doing interviews while taking a political or policy position while in uniform. Has this rule changed?

Is PFC Jose Medina representing the views of the U.S. Army or is this him expressing his personal views while wrapped in the Army’s uniform for journalistic affect. It’s a shame that the Army is allowing its uniform to be used to promote an agenda outside the defense of this nation.

I have no objections to him expressing and exercising his First Amendment Rights but I take great exception to him doing so in the uniform of the U.S. military. Your first amendment rights are somewhat curtailed when in uniform. That’s the sacrifice you make when you serve.

The question still remained in my mind, have the rules changed? Well apparently not.

Out of curiosity I call the U.S. Army Forces Command Public Affairs Office and spoke to a Col who was very interested in what I had to say.

He asked me for the individuals name which I told him. I also told him that if he dose a google search with PFC Jose Medina’s name you will find, at the time, three references to related stories.

He didn’t seem happy at all as I could hear him typing and pulling up WebPages. He said the PFC’s command more than likely didn’t know or approve the interview that was conducted by CNN and that political statements/positions are not condoned while in uniform.

Not down playing the breach he believes the PFC is fresh out of boot camp and that the PFC for got the rules or was coursed by CNN to do the interview in uniform. Either way the PFC was in the wrong and the issue will definatly be investagated.

Hard to find Army Public Affairs Phone Numbers
http://www.hood.army.mil/paos.aspx?2#DoDPress

"I felt I had a huge debt to this country that's given me so much," Medina said. "When I heard the law that passed, I couldn't believe it. Because the America I know, freedom, liberties we enjoy, are for everyone and then this law passes and I'm like 'wow.' It's a shame; it's a state that doesn't even want you here? If I take this uniform off I'm just another person who came here illegally."

Just six hours before shipping off, Medina's family and friends gathered for a farewell feast. The Mexican barbecue could be smelled a block away.

Impassioned conversation about the controversial law could be heard over the scratching of forks and knives on plates of tangy barbecue.

"You may go to Afghanistan, you may go to Iraq," said Medina's close family friend Victor, who did not want his full name used. "After this night man, we may not see you again. You can give your life for this country. But your mom may be stopped by Joe Arpaio (the Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff known for aggressive policing.)

"That's true," Medina answered. "But it's my duty to go."

"You're Mexican," Victor said.

"I am of Mexican decent," said Medina. "But I have grown to be an American."

Ricky, 22, a friend who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is white and stops eating.

"We are all brothers over there," said Ricky, who did not want his full name used.

Before the sun rose over Arizona on Sunday morning, Medina left El Mirage for deployment to Germany.

Jose Medina wondered if some of his family members or friends, some of whom are undocumented, would still be in El Mirage when he returned.

I worry will my family live in peace," he said. "What good is keeping us safe here ... if we lose a part of what makes America so great? If we drive fear into our own peoples' hearts?"

Thank you for your service Medina. As for your family and the rest of the illegal aliens squatting in America, they need to go home and make/find peace. Illegal immigration has never made America great. Apparently you, like Obama, LaRaza, Lulac, Maldef, the corporate crooks, et al are living in fantasy land.

I worry will my family live in peace," he said. "What good is keeping us safe here ... if we lose a part of what makes America so great?

One of the things that makes "America so great" is our soverignty. America cant be a great country if we are invaded by another nation. Mexico and its citizens have a problem with our laws. They assume that because they are a neighboring country, that they are entitled to come on in and settle down with no questions asked. And if they cant get citizenship by DEMANDING amnesty, they call us racist and mean.