Thread: VA: Activists to cross U.S.-Mexican borders

Activists to cross U.S.-Mexican borders

By KEITH WALKER, Potomac News & Manassas Journal Messenger
Published: April 16, 2008

By KEITH WALKER

kwalker@manassasjm.com

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.

http://www.insidenova.com/isn/news/loca ... ers/13869/

"We don't want hate politics and racist legislation to get passed in other parts of the state," she said.

We don't want hate organizations and pro-criminal legislation to get passed in any state!

.

The People United statements say that NAFTA created "vast disparities of wealth and power" between Mexico and the United States.

Then go protest in Mexico! Not our problem they're not taking care of the OWN people!

Hope the BP will be checking ID's at that crossing

Originally Posted by had_enuf

[b]"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."

What? They think we don't know why they cross our borders illegally?

Personally, I don't see what this group hopes to accomplish with their foolish endeavor. What's so special about a few people crossing the border without legal documentation? Geez, hundreds, if not thousands, are doing it daily!

This is nothing more than a weak attempt at getting a little news media.

SOOO, are these people going into Mexico without papers?
Mexico enforces their illegal immigration laws.

I bet they have travel visas and approval from both countries and this is all a BIG PUBLICITY STUNT.

Well then just what is the excuse of the people swarming our borders from the other country's all over the world, just not to long ago 300+ people were arrested in a sting operation and they were from 53 different country's just what is their excuse?

I'm not saying NAFTA did not hurt both country's but that is not the total cause of what is happening to out country....these people are idiots!!

Maybe the Minutemen can tape them crossing into Mexico without documents and then crossing back into the US. Let's see how they manage to get in either country without papers.

Shouldn't be hard to find their crossing, I'm sure there will be tons of media there for their stunt.

Mexicans should blame Pres. Fox for signing the NAFTA agreement for Mexico.

If I recall correctly there is a $5000 fine for entering without inspection. Illegals are deported instead of being fined. But we know who these Americans are and where they live, I hope each one is charged $5000.