Thread: Illegal Town USA? Part 2

Illegal Town USA? Part 2 11/15/07

Melissa Correa
CBS 7 News
November 15, 2007

El Cenizo, TX- A border town just hours from West Texas is a "safe haven" for illegal immigrants.

Another city ordinance makes English the town's second language.

El Cenizo residents are more comfortable speaking in Spanish. Their city government is all about helping residents. So what do you do when your community doesn't understand what's going on? You change the language.

El Cenizo, TX: A border town that sits right off the Rio Grande. But this isn't just any border town...flags like this one signify a major difference between El Cenizo and the rest of the nation.

The majority of residents don't speak English, which was a barrier between local government and the community for several years.

In 1999, El Cenizo became the first and only US town to adopt Spanish as it's official language. Mayor Reyes says, now all residents feel comfortable participating in local government.

"Pues mucho de nosotros mexicanos venimos vistarlos aqui. (well many of us Mexicans come visit here.) Si, si esta bien que sepan los dos idiomas. (Yes, yest it's good they know both languages)." says Leonel De la Cruz Sanchez, a visitor of El Cenizo.

What do you think about Spanish? "Fine by me, but I can't speak it," says resident Larry Spear.

But city employees speak Spanish, and almost all business along the border is conducted in Spanish.

Is speaking Spanish better for the community? "It's better represented and better served," says Mayor Reyes.

But some residents feel they should be pushed to learn English.

"We're in the United States, and I would like everybody to talk in English and have everything in English," says resident Daniela Mendoza.

"Es necesario saber el ingles, (it's necessary to know English)" says resident Blanca Elizondo.

The group says a "Spanish speaking" town invites illegal immigrants.

"We have a lot of illegal activity here," says Juan Alejandro.

Too much for the volunteer police force to control.

"A lot of trafficking of people. A lot of drugs."

Volunteer police chief Juan Alejandro, is literally an army of one. He says, it's not his responsibility to keep illegal immigrants out of the US, it's the Border Patrol's.

"They got 1000 agents. They got 1000 agents. That's their job."

But in order to do their job, Border Patrol Agents must drive several minutes to get to El Cenizo's river crossing. The cameras and sensors track illegal activity, but by the time the agent responds, it's usually too late.

"Anyone can cross, buy their beer, and move on," says Mayor Reyes.

But instead of moving on, some border crossers are moving in...becoming a part of the growing community.

"My job is to make sure that my community is operating and that we're providing the resources and services that the city demands," says Mayor Reyes.

Services like the new volunteer police and fire departments. And paved streets and sidewalks...all paid for by all residents.

"They're contributing to the local economy by purchasing and paying their taxes. They're paying their property taxes," says Mayor Reyes.

The mayor believes El Cenizo could be the wave of the future for towns along the border.

So are you willing to embrace Spanish? Would you approve a "safe haven" ordinance?

Click here to discuss this story and tell us what you think.
http://www.cbs7kosa.com/news/details.asp?ID=3276

Illegal Town USA? - Part 1:
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-90738-.html

Wave of the future? WTF It better not be the wave of the future.