Few Protections for Migrants to Mexico
By MARK STEVENSON
Associated Press Writer
AP Photo/DARIO LOPEZ-MILLS

TULTITLAN, Mexico (AP) -- Considered felons by the government, these migrants fear detention, rape and robbery. Police and soldiers hunt them down at railroads, bus stations and fleabag hotels. Sometimes they are deported; more often officers simply take their money.

While migrants in the United States have held huge demonstrations in recent weeks, the hundreds of thousands of undocumented Central Americans in Mexico suffer mostly in silence.

And though Mexico demands humane treatment for its citizens who migrate to the U.S., regardless of their legal status, Mexico provides few protections for migrants on its own soil. The issue simply isn't on the country's political agenda, perhaps because migrants make up only 0.5 percent of the population, or about 500,000 people - compared with 12 percent in the United States.

Until Mexico treats others as they want to be treated, I think it would be a good thing if they simply keep quiet and stop embarrassing themselves! -mm

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The Immigrants' Dilemma: To Boycott or Not to Boycott?
A split is growing over how militant the upcoming "Day Without Immigrants" should be
By KRISTIN KLOBERDANZ/CHICAGO

After flexing their potential political muscle by coming out in unprecedented numbers to protest immigration legislation, immigrants are now starting to show some divisions in the ranks. As May 1 approaches, immigrant rights groups across the country have been working feverishly to plan for what they are calling "A Day Without Immigrants," full of rallies, vigils, marches, strikes and boycotts. But a schism is growing among many of the day's organizers on how militant the message should be — whether they should encourage people to skip school, refuse to work and boycott local stores. On Monday, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, a fierce proponent of immigrant rights, released a statement encouraging his city's constituents to attend a city rally in the evening rather than abandon their posts on May 1; he even suggests bosses allot time for immigration discussions on the clock. According to Mahony's statement, students should "understand that boycotting school on May 1st will not bring about just and humane immigration reform — sometimes, boycotts could even work against positive reform."

I wonder what the factories and shop in Mexico would do if the workers walked out? Maybe fire them because there are plenty of people standing in line for those jobs? -mm

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Border Patrol Apprehensions Increase

Border Patrol officials say apprehensions of undocumented immigrants have increased by almost 30 percent in the last six months in the El Paso sector.

Officials tell KFOX the increase is due to technology, infrastructure and manpower. The agency has recently acquired more technology such as night vision goggles and cameras. It also has better infrastructure including better lighting and vehicle barriers. On top of those factors, manpower has also increased.

"I think Border Patrol in 2006 is much more efficient," said El Paso sector Border Patrol spokesman Doug Mosier.

But in the last year, there's also been the presence of organizations like the Minutemen monitoring the borders.

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ACLU unable to oust patrolling Minutemen
By Brady McCombs
ARIZONA DAILY STAR

The American Civil Liberties Union's attempt to get the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps volunteers off state trust land fizzled out Tuesday.

Last week, the ACLU's Ray Ybarra contacted the Arizona State Land Department about the group's presence on state trust land without permits.

On Monday evening, a resource area manager from the Arizona State Land Department visited the volunteers, who are carrying out a monthlong patrol south of Three Points on a private ranch off Arizona 86, both groups concurred. From there, the stories stray a bit.

Stacey O'Connell, Arizona chapter president of the Minutemen, said the issue was resolved that evening when some of the volunteers showed valid permits and those without promised to get them online.

"Nobody was escorted off state land, nobody was asked to leave," O'Connell said.

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Contractor nearing completion of vehicle barrier west of Columbus, N.M.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBUS, N.M. (AP) - A contractor is nearing completion of a taller barrier designed to stop vehicles from crossing the New Mexico-Mexico border.

The new mile-long barrier is made of galvanized steel pipes that rise alternately 5.5 feet or 7 feet above ground, which is much taller than previous 4-foot-tall barriers built by the military. It sits about five miles west of Columbus.

The pipes are placed up to 4 feet apart, wide enough for humans or animals to pass through, but too narrow for vehicles.

"It's designed to stop vehicles laden with narcotics or humans driving back and forth across the border," said Robert Boatwright, assistant chief patrol for the Border Patrol's El Paso sector. The sector includes all of New Mexico and part of West Texas.

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Immigrant rights advocates scrap plans to back May 1 boycott

PHOENIX (AP) -- Rights advocates have scrapped plans to back a May 1 nationwide worker boycott designed to call attention to the economic importance of undocumented immigrants.

Organizers fear too many participants could lose their jobs and are concerned an economic boycott could alienate employers and fuel a backlash undermining any gains made after the massive April 10 march and rally in Phoenix that drew more than 100,000 supporters.

"We know that immigrants work very hard to support their families, and some have been warned not to take more time off of work," said Joel Foster of Somos America, the coalition of Phoenix-area groups that organized the April 10 demonstration.

Instead, organizers plan to promote alternative actions, including a candlelight vigil, a prayer vigil and possibly a human chain.

Organizers met Monday and agreed a May 1 boycott would be premature considering the U.S. Senate hasn't settled on an immigration bill.