In a society and politics class we had to watch a film called “El Norte,” and the two protagonists of the film were Guatemalan, but claimed to be Mexican when they were caught at the border so that they would not be sent back all the way to Guatemala.
Does anyone have an idea of how prevalent this is in real life? Is there any real way to actually know?
2006-10-30 16:39:48 · 9 answers · asked by Dave-O 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
As someone who practiced immigration law for 7 yrs I can tell you that many people I interviewed told me they did just that the first time they got caught. Since they had no ID on them, the US officials simply tossed them back to Mexico and within 24 hours they just tried again and many made it the second time. Their nationalities were not only Guatemalan. I had not only Central Americans but also South Americans tell me that story!
2006-10-30 17:23:39 · answer #1 · answered by TrueSoul 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Thank you for the very excellent question!
In comparison to the countries in Central America, such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, etc., Mexico is NOT poor. In fact, those countries of Central America are FAR more poor than the poorest of Mexico! If I am going to feel sorry for anyone, it will be the people in Central America, but NOT the people of Mexico!
Yes, I would think that this is done all the time - it is much harder for the people of Central America to make it up to the USA and if they get deported all the way back home to Central America, it is that much more difficult to return, especially because of how fiercely and ruthlessly Mexico defends its southern border! I can see that many of them would claim to be Mexican when being deported from the USA, just for the reason that it will be that much easier for them to turn around and come back again. However, I would think that Mexican border control would possibly cause them some problems when they arrive there while being deported from the USA, as I think it would be a bit harder for the deportees to fool Mexican authorities of their citizenship status. I would be interested to hear what happens to those Central Americans who claim to be Mexicans, when they arrive back in Mexico upon deportation from the USA. I hope someone will respond here that knows how this goes.
2006-10-31 02:59:14 · answer #2 · answered by Daisy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You know why they said they were Mexican?! Mexico has a wall/fence on their southern border with Guatemala!!! Talk about hypocrisy!!! The idiots in the film didn't want to go back to Guatemala because they knew that Mexico doesn't want people CROSSING THEIR BORDER!!! As far as your real life question, it's impossible to get a close estimate.
2006-10-31 01:06:32 · answer #3 · answered by Bestie 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
In this Homeland Security Report:
NEW: Homeland Security Report:
http://hsc.house.gov/PDFs/InvestigaionsSubcommitteereport.pdf
in the first 5 pages it says, that Terrorist are pretending to be hispanics. and pay $50,000 up to be snuck across the boarder by coyotes with latin countries blessings and are granted false ID's.
During 2005 there were 650 terrorists that were apprehended. the governments says, that 10 percent to 30 percent more crossed the mexican border into the United States.
that means 6,500 to 19,500 terrorists entered the country in 2005 alone.
the report has pictures too.
2006-10-31 02:47:02 · answer #4 · answered by Tawkit 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe California Law inforcement might be able to give you some statistics. Seems to me I heard a Representative from Cali quote some study.
This can only tell you of the number caught and detained.
The ones we don't know about..........we don't know about.
2006-10-31 00:43:39 · answer #5 · answered by Norton N 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's sad that anyone would be so down and out that they would claim to be Mexican.
2006-11-01 02:05:07 · answer #6 · answered by princess_29_71 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It really doesn't matter whether they are Mexicans or not, they are illegal immigrants. Do you think that the US will be more tolerant of illegal immigrants if they are not Mexicans?
2006-10-31 00:45:11 · answer #7 · answered by me_worry? 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
THERE ARE VERY FEW. AND THE FEW ARE NOT DESERVING TO BEING MEXICAN.
2006-10-31 01:43:34 · answer #8 · answered by QUE PASA?? 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
keep guessing.
2006-10-31 00:48:59 · answer #9 · answered by LuNis 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋