Additional Opinions about the Children

Facts often help cement beliefs, suspicions and logical deductions. As I see it, it is very easy to grasp the validity of some sayings or sentences like, for instance, “War brings out the best and the worst of people.” This opinion does not necessarily apply [only] to military conflicts, but to any kind. The case of immigration without documentation to the United States is no exception. It has certainly been [the issue] treated the worst by many American politicians — some because of their hatred toward these refugees—but each time, it is also possible to find out about humanitarian actions whose value is strengthened because people carry them out of their own free will. Today I want to talk about one clear example.

Thanks to a notice that appeared twenty years ago yesterday–no more and no less–in the Californian publication ImpreMedia, a group of women originally from Veracruz, Mexico and referred to as Las Patronas was formed. They accompany undocumented people just to care for them, help them and comfort them when they are sad and crying. The job is now, obviously, more necessary from the viewpoint of human rights because in recent months, whole families are making the journey: parents, sons and sometimes pregnant women. And now special attention is given to care for the handicapped, the weakest of the weak. They pay no attention to papers, only to the human part of the dangerous journey.

Separately, the journalist María Peña from La Opinión recounts the statement by three undocumented immigrants [who are] residents for several years: “Don’t deport us to death and violence.” It has to do with a young Guatemalan woman and two Salvadorian men who have suffered attacks, were witnesses to criminal acts or simply condemned to death by a gang. In the article, the colleague refers to a meeting between the two young men with members of the so-called Progressive Caucus of the House of Representatives. Some American law allows those who are in danger in their countries to stay. I find it easy to understand the existence of this real risk, resulting from the decision by some gang leader. But it must be hard …

The article tells of a survey by the Public Religion Research Institute. Seventy percent of the citizens surveyed believe that migrant children should not be deported but treated like refugees, and 27 percent agree with deporting children. And a dear Guatemalan friend and resident of two decades expressed in a letter: “It is very difficult to give an even-tempered opinion … of course humanity cannot abandon these children and leave them to fend for themselves … The Hispanic media is taking up the banner with respect to this situation, which to me sounds like “vendetta” because the migratory reform has not been approved … It would sadden me a lot if they were using these young lives for some dark end.”

She adds to her commentary: “Plus, this country can be as dangerous or more [dangerous than] these children’s countries.” I propose they can be inhospitable, indifferent and cold. There is a lot of ground yet to cover, but ultimately it is becoming a big problem. How is this country going to help them if in some states they are not even looking after their own children? My soul aches to imagine what can be happening to these young children who’ve come without any warning.”

I’m including this piece because it speaks to the complexity of the problem, and I think it may also help to analyze the ways that exist, both within the U.S. as well as in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, to kill off the reasons for the exodus.