"MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- The death of a Mexican man shot by U.S. authorities while trying to sneak into California proves that extending border walls will not curb illegal immigration, President Vicente Fox's office said Monday.
Guillermo Martinez died Saturday in a Tijuana hospital, a day after he was shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent near a metal wall separating that city from San Diego, according to prosecutors in Baja California state.
Authorities said Martinez was on the Mexican side of the border at the time, but may have picked up rocks and made motions as if to throw them at the U.S. agent.
Baja California Gov. Eugenio Elorduy said in a statement that U.S. officials were investigating the shooting. But U.S. authorities on Monday could not confirm that.
At his briefing with reporters in Mexico City, Fox spokesman Ruben Aguilar said the government "laments and condemns" Martinez's death, and is demanding an investigation.
"This occurrence does no more than provide evidence that only a law that guarantees legal entry and is respectful of human rights can resolve the migratory problem both countries face," Aguilar said."
Call me crazy, but Mexico doesn't act like it has a migratory problem. How many Americans are busy trying to move to Mexico.
I am not real happy with the way things are going and in truth I prefer open borders but given the current circumstances it is important for the US to know who is coming in and out of our borders.
7 comments:
LD,
The situation in Israel is not comparable to the border situation here in the US but you answered that one.
California has had an ongoing discussion for years about what to deal with the illegal immigration issue.
I don't have any numbers to quote but I would surmise that our border issue is equal to that of any state.
Something needs to be done and soon.
There was a time when Nazis and communists built walls. Now, it's the United States and Israel.
I'll never be a supporter of walls that divide.
LD,
I hope that your son gets that position.
SD,
That is a nice slogan but it is far too simplistic an approach. I am not real happy about the need for walls either,but sometimes we get stuck doing unpleasant things for the good of all.
OK. Let me be a little more specific.
In general terms, during the first Bush Administration and the Clinton Administration there was a growing awareness in this country, particularly among those who led the country, of the need to recognize that the world is an interrelated and connected thing. That countries need to learn to cooperate and work together to solve the problems facing humanity. That it would be impossible for the U.S. to survive without helping create an integrated and cooperative international community. In the past few years under the second Bush Administration, that has been thrown out the window. I believe it's the biggest tragedy of the current administration and the ramifications may be felt for years. We will be paying the price for this administration's failure in the area of international relations for years.
The push for a wall along our border with Mexico, the building of the wall in Israel -- both are examples of what I believe is wrong with that approach. They divide. They don't unite. They are a small bandage that doesn't even begin to cover the wound that exists. They are not solutions.
Soccerdad,
Those are nice platitudes you espouse but they don't hit the realities of the world we live in the way that you want them to.
Look at why Israel is building the wall. It is a defensive measure made necessary by hundreds of terror attacks. It is not because they want to but because it is a safety measure made necessary by butchers and murderers who choose to negotiate through violence and not words.
The US is looking at a wall for similar reasons. I don't really like it, but there are solid reasons for investigating it not the least of which involves having neighbors like Mexico who encourage illegal immigration.
I haven't any problem with immigrants. My arms are open all I ask is that they go through the process legally.
A little over four years ago almost three thousand were murdered here and there is no doubt that the terrorists would do so again, given the opportunity.
We need better control of the borders to help protect our citizenry.
It is not nice nor pleasant but that is life.
As for the world banding together I am all for that as well, of course I could speak chapter and verse about the world and its efforts in Africa. Or Kosovo, or the way the world handled the Holocaust.
We can work towards better cooperation but sometimes fences help create better neighbors.
And, I can just easily say that a wall is similar to what you call my platitudes. A wall will not stop terror attacks, nor will it stop people from crossing our border. It's a false solution to what I admit are very real problems.
Actually the wall in Israel has helped to curb terror attacks by more than half.
But I agree that it is not a solution. It is part of an ongoing comprehensive solution that has many parts, some diplomatic, some force.
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