Comments on: Mexico – Train To El Norte

By: Andrea

Andrea — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 01:18:47 +0000

Great reportage.
I saw the ” Which way home some time ago ” believing to have been inspired in your idea, it gave me some peace of mind to know that has the number of informed people grows regarding immigration issues the better will be for everybody.
I find quite sad that we do not behave as a whole, a planet, one race,one people and are always trying to stablish differences.
We are killing the planet it’s resources it’s life all because of territory, it always comes to that, who has more, money,schools,hospitals,etc.
The planet is dying, let’s give it a chance to regenerate, the first step will be to kill the territorial idea.It all started with territory, from pollution to wars.
One world, one people.

By: Glenn Geise

Glenn Geise — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 04:52:38 +0000

What is actually criminal is the fact these people come into our country illegally. All attempts to play the pity card on me are lost in the facts that the countries these people come from could care less about improving their situations. We can not take care of our own people much less all those who live in squaller in the third world. If you feel so sorry for these people, go to them and better their conditions at home. Breaking our laws is illegal and it matters not what spin you wish to throw upon it. By doing so, you only show your stupidity concerning the whole issue.

By: Sönke

Sönke — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:18:09 +0000

I think Michael Horan argued on June 18th, 2007 at 11:25 pm in the wrong way. The U.S. has one of the highest birthrates in the western world. But this fact isn’t a disadvantage for the U.S. citizens. On the contrary, it’s an advantage. The ancient pyramid is balanced. No one has to expect a bad pension. AND: the economy of our industrial nations, espiacally the us economy, bases on the work of “modern slaves” from the third world. They are working in the us, for example, as harvesters. A work that most of the folks in our society would not exercise. Of course it’s impossible that engineers immigrate, but the uneducated workers are also important.
Our prejudices over this people are an effect of wrong immigration policy. We have restructure the integration of the immigrants in the western society. “They take our jobs!”. This is one of the poorest arguments. What do they say? “They took our country, our lifestyle!” Was the population in africa poor and sick before we came? No, they were satisfied. They had all they needed. The only reason, why they try to cross the borders of the EU and the us, is, that we forced them to take our economic system. And everyone needs a place in this system. We taught them to reach the best you can get. Are they as different to us as a lot of people think? Mabe their religion or culture is not ours, but both of us want the same. A high life quality.
This is because walls are built: We don’t want to see that this poeple are closer to us as we want. We are in fear of the consequences of our behave in the past. But would we not take this effort upon ourselves to cross the border to the holy land? I think this article is a wonderful mirror of reality. It indicades how much pain a human is willing to stand. The text is well written and it’s giving a small look into the journey of the “illegals”. But, in my opinion, I missed a taste of facts and numbers substantiate the statments.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:34:35 +0000

Hey, great job! I just read “la linea”, a book about a young boy trying to cross la linea. I like it because it tells you how it is. The author didn’t try to cover up the extreme hardships that they go through. I keep trying to look up pictures and info on the “mata gente”, a train that takes people north. I really need a picture, but I cn’t find ANY!

By: Rob Wood

Rob Wood — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:57:51 +0000

LOL – as an Australian male, I find Michael offensive and questionable altogether!

The thing is though, this ain’t Lonely Planet, so even the Michael’s of the world can express their opinions on the content of the website, even if we find his opinions a bit distasteful.

As can be seen on this thread, if you give people like Michael enough rope…

By: Virginia

Virginia — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:21:02 +0000

As a latin american female, I find Michael’s comments on reproduction offensive and questionable. I think he should do some more research.
As for the photos and story, I think you did a great job Jacquelyn.
Thank you.

By: Brittany Reeder

Brittany Reeder — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:32:41 +0000

i think that they would do well here my uncle is from mexico and he has been here 13 years and he is doing very well.

By: john

john — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 02:07:49 +0000

Look, good people have the right to live freely and take them where their God given talents allow them. Everyone wants a secure border. The US has a right to know who is here. However, we cannot allow the “illegals” to be rounded up like Jews during the second world war. That would be criminal. Small children carried across the border with their parents had no decision is where they were going or where they were to be raised. They cannot be considered “criminal illegal aliens”, they had no intent to commit a crime. They have only known the USA as their home. They are and consider themselves to be Americans; and aren’t they really??? NO??? Think again!! They have nothing in common with their “home village” To “round up” in ICE raids and send them “home” is wrong. Do you separate families, Mothers and Fathers and even brothers and sisters born on BOTH sides of the border?????? Do we start to “classify” “illegal alien’s” children by what percentage of their lineage is “legal”???? That’s the system the NAZIS used to classify the Jews for “rounding up”. The birthrate of latinos is higher because most are Catholic and choose not to use artificial contraception. You are probably afraid of “Anchor Babies” and probably want to abolish citizenship as a birth right. Are you truly afraid latinos might be “terrorist”??? Or, are you just afraid that in 30 years you may have a grandchild that is a little “brown”???? Maybe have a hispanic surname????? It sounds pretty racist!!!
Look, everyone can rant and rant; build walls of hatred and mistrust. The immigration “problem” in the US has to be sanely dealt with. This “problem” was on the way to being solved by George Bush and Vincente Fox, before Sept.11. That change everything, except that the problem still exists. Pres. Bush could just give all “illegal aliens” partial or complete amnesty with a signature before he leaves office. If the democrats win the next election, they probably will grant amnesty. So, the ranting will get everyone nowhere. Eventually, everyone will end up with a verifiable, biometric ID card of some sort, with or with “tracking device”. It is coming. An easy to follow, legal way for people to come into the country, background checked, with biometric ID from the US immigration service has to be developed—guest worker program. AMERICA CANNOT OPERATE WITHOUT THESE PEOPLE PERIOD!!! Encourage strong tax reform and freedom in Mexico and Central America. Encourage these governments to allow a system of economic growth and investment and a system of credit!!!! These countries rely heavily on remittances to keep their economies going. Corruption, gangs, drug money, smuggling has to be greatly reduced and so too, heavy taxes on their entire population.
People are people; some good, some bad. If you had the ability to improve your circumstance and had half a chance, you would try to move to a place of greater opportunity. THIS IS REALLY WHAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF “ILLEGALS” ARE COMING FOR. THEIR FINAL DESTINATION IS THE “LAND OF OPPORTUNITY” , something they feel is lacking in their home country. THEY ARE SEEKING FREEDOM — OF ALL KIND; WE BASED OUR NATION ON THE SAME THING!!!! REMEMBER, THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS WERE ALL CRIMINALS TOO!!! EACH RISKED THEIR LIVES AND POSSESSIONS TO ACHIEVE FREEDOM TOO!!

By: Michael Horan

Michael Horan — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 15:03:15 +0000

We also need to eliminate the non-profit tax exempt status for all NGOs [non-governmental organizations] in the U.S. including all of these illegal immigrants support and lobbyist organizations.

By: Michael Horan

Michael Horan — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:12:40 +0000

Yes.

All of these illegal immigrants are going to be deported from the U.S., by declaration of martial law if necessary.

The U.S. will no longer accept these people. New U.S. immigration policy is to accept only highly educated immigrants like engineers, machinists, doctors, scientists, agricultural engineers, and maintenance technicians.

And the U.S. has the right to control its borders. Consider the problem in U.K. with illegal Muslim immigrants, or in France with illegal Muslim immigrants from North Africa. Those countries are trashed.