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“Let
us raise our voices in the opposition to the continued treatment of the Mexican
and American border as a “militarized no-mans land” rather than as a boundary
between brothers. Let us raise our voices against… human rights violations
which continue to be perpetuated against the Chicano/Latino population by the
border patrol.” In the article above, this quote is from a community/Chicano
rights activist Herman Baca. In this article written in 1979, he is giving a speech
in regards to the cruel punishment on the border patrol. As seen in the
article, he is one of many people wanting to make the border a place of peace without
any hostility. Especially if a lot of funding is going towards the construction
of the wall. He prefer it go towards fixing the immigration policies in the
United States so more and more people can be accepted as citizens in the United
States. As the border fence began to be
extended in 1979, more and more people would protest the streets with signs
saying “stop the fence” or “stop racist tactics”. As seen in an article from
the Los Angeles times. The article discusses an event in which protesters greeted
the construction workers who were about to start the work on the border fence.
It was stated by Phil Garlington that “60 people went out to protest the $3.5
million dollar fence”. Many were outraged that their tax paying money was going
to the construction of the fence. Even though the actual fence was not being
constructed yet, it was the realization that this new fence “the carter
curtain” or “tortilla curtain” was going to replace the old iron fence and
create a new fence which could cause more damage to people trying to cross it. It
was stated that the new fence would be a 10-foot barrier that would have a
three foot concrete base, three feet of tough steel grid and the top four feet
of chain-link fencing. This was the final design for the fence.
![Picture](/uploads/4/2/6/3/42638063/1418883989.png?250)
On
the other hand, a part of the community was not against the creation of the
border. An article by Grene Hall states that it is had become safer since the
wall has been in place, and if the wall was expanded it could become more safe
than it already was. “The agents are working hard and doing their job, but they
are outnumbered and in the case of the drug dealers, sometimes outgunned”
(Hall). To the people in the farming communities, they say that more border
patrol agents need to be hired because of the low ration of border patrol officer
to the individuals crossing. It is difficult for them to go out in to their
farming lands without seeing someone trying to jump the border or suspicious
drug activity. Hall states in the article that more farming communities are
often threatened by drug dealers to use their land to cross their drugs, which
results in a community who are scared to speak up due to the fear of
retaliation by these individuals.
In general, both communities have a valid point. One points out that the border patrol should not conduct any uncivil acts and be inhumane. It claims that the government should be more considerate of where the need is and what the people would like their tax paying money to be put into. On the other hand, more rural communities are complaining of their not being enough border patrol agents in the area. They say that neighborhoods with an overflow of illegal immigrants are more focused on than other rural areas. Especially the areas in which farmers have territories near the border. It seems as if the more rural, the less worried border patrol is about the border. The only way they pay attention is if they are expecting people to cross during that area.
In general, both communities have a valid point. One points out that the border patrol should not conduct any uncivil acts and be inhumane. It claims that the government should be more considerate of where the need is and what the people would like their tax paying money to be put into. On the other hand, more rural communities are complaining of their not being enough border patrol agents in the area. They say that neighborhoods with an overflow of illegal immigrants are more focused on than other rural areas. Especially the areas in which farmers have territories near the border. It seems as if the more rural, the less worried border patrol is about the border. The only way they pay attention is if they are expecting people to cross during that area.