Have any Anti-immigration supporters here ever lived on the border?

Question

As a border resident myself, the animosity and numerous misconceptions towards Mexico and undocumented migrants is very uneasy for me. The border communities on each side of the border are very dependent on eachother; they share their resources and act effectively as one large city that straddles an international border. Businesses on both sides are dependent on residents from the other country as customers and workers (a lot of Americans work in Mexico too). For years these communities have had mutually beneficial relationships, but as immigration becomes such a heated issue, extremists abound threatining "solutions" that are working to destroy the relationships of these border communities. Most US border residents don't want the "giant-wall/mass deportation/militarized border solution" because it will greatly disrupt our way of life, create eye-sores in our backyards, and ruin friendships on the other side.

Answer 1

why no

Answer 2

You have some good points. I've lived along the border (TX/MX) and it gives you a wider perspective.
Unfortunately the immigration debate is interpreted by many as a chance to air their racist views. They aren't really discussing immagration, just expressing their dislike of anyone who has a different skin color from their own.
I'd recommend they read:
Crossing Over: A Mexican Family on the Migrant Trail by Ruben Martinez
Here's my book review of it:
Ruben Martinez tracks migration between the Mexican town of Cheran and the U.S. through the stories of individuals and families. The richly descriptive, dense text is like reading a 330 page National Geographic article. As Martinez peels the layers away, he uncovers the historical, cultural, political and social factors affecting the lives of Mexicans leading to their repeated entry into the U.S. then returning to their town. The reader sees the changes in those left behind, the seeping of American culture into their village, and the changes in those struggling to make a living in the margins of America and the traditions brought with them.
Experience the river crossing, the searing desert, the monotony of field work, the sounds and smells of a meat packing plant, the annual fiesta that draws migrants home to Cheran, and much more. Alternately view the action through the words of a Border Patrol, orphaned tunnel rat children, a worker in the factory, neighbors in an American small town, ranchers along the border, a priest in the village and many more voices that make up the mosaic view of immigration.
The author doesn't tell the reader what to think, just describes the conversations, the towns, and the people in ways that are sometimes insightful and other times obscure. Draw your own conclusions, but they will be more informed conclusions than you had before.
Well worth reading, particularly as the immigration issues are not going away.

Answer 3

I have worked and lived near the border in 4 different states for the last 20 years and u must be on crack. The people in Lordsburg NM. have watched their livestock be released by people cutting their fences to get to the freeway. Southern NM, AZ, CA, and TX have wings of hospitals being shutdown because people with no means of paying the bills by law must be treated. Border patrol agents have been killed. Most of the illegal drugs in this country come from our southern border by land. Over 90% of the people in our jails have dependency problems and 33% are illegal immigrants so please tell me how we benefit. I do not support illegal immigration and no amount of BS from uninformed people can make me change my mind. Be real. I am all for the legal and controlled immigration and believe that if done right it actually helps everyone but to say that illegals help is total BS.

Answer 4

uh huh.

And what part of leaving the border where it is doesn't make sense?

I can see you make no distinction between legal and illegal.

The next time a border patrol agent shows up bound gagged and shot in the head I will be sure to think about having open borders for all the criminal activity. And Bush...he doesn't care who gets killed on the border.

HE NEVER SIGNED AN ORDER TO PUT TROOPS ON THE BORDER HE SLOWED IT DOWN TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK THAT BY VOLUNTARY STATES THE BORDER CANNOT BE CONTROLLED.

If destroying border relationships helps in enforceing our laws for illegal immigration - YOU CAN COUNT ME IN AND IM ALL FOR IT.

Funny how only pro-illegals on the all the border states try to deny the issue and say the same things you do.

Answer 5

I thought the issue was that some Americans are irritated that the ILLEGAL immigrants are given immunity. THAT's not fair to the millions of immigrants that came to this country the right way. We don't hate that they're here (well I don't) we hate that they're doing it illegally. We don't know WHO is coming over the border, or what they've done and that's scary.

Answer 6

Canadians cross into the US every morning just for work, at the end of the day, they just go back to Canada.

The majority of Illegal Aliens cross into the US from Mexico every morning, some for work, some looking for work, some looking to settle down, some having kids, most never go back to Mexico at the end of the day or the next day or next week... See the difference?

Answer 7

The sushi seems very scrumptious! Their sarcasm useful! i'm neither for or against via fact i understand there's a center floor someplace with this debate. I basically choose the racial profiling did no longer circulate alongside with it. yet hiya, if protesting SB1070 is that scrumptious, then i'm inquisitive approximately eating at Stingrays! basically choose there became into one right here. LOL Viva l. a. diferance'! (Yep, i comprehend it is french, basically theory i might upload some character to the respond).

Answer 8

ARG!!! STOP IT!!! We are not Anti-immigration, we are Anti-ILLEGAL Imigration. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!!!!!

Stop being an F_ing retard! NOBODY is proposing to just erect a wall and never let anybody in again. What is proposed is to erect a wall to funnel people into entry ways we can control. All we want is to know who is coming across to make sure they aren't terrorists or criminals. Once we can verify who somebody is, they'll be able to travel back and forth freely. See? No racism, no hatred, just a common sense approach to protect all of us from bad people. Immigration is good, ILLEGAL immigration is bad.

Answer 9

First, call them what they are. Illegal immigrants, not undocumented migrants. Yes, I lived in El Paso, TX for 4 years and continue to live in Texas. I know what "illegals" are going to my state. Texas and the rest of the United States can take care of itself. Your doom and gloom story does not fly. Get legal, learn English and assimilate or get the hell out of my country!

Answer 10

No i haven't lived anywhere near the border and i thank god . but i do feel for those who do their property values have dropped, they constantly have people trespassing on their property and job loss to illegals is the constant . there is a good documentary called "Cochise County cries from the border" it shows you just how devastating illegals have been to Americans living on the border.

Answer 11

The Minuet men....undocumented migrants my a$$! I thought the border was somewhere this side of Texas and California...at least you would think so!