Wednesday, December 18, 2013

It's happening.

So many fantastic things have happened since getting my Permanent Residency, I'm going on three years as of May 2014. I've been lucky to have found employment as quickly as I did despite the economy, and I've gained an immeasurable appreciation for the people in my life as well as every single opportunity that has presented itself.

I'm looking back at the very first blog post, I'm happy to see I had my moments of optimism in that muddled mess. I guess it was just the very last couple years that were the most challenging, those are the ones I remember the most vividly and I wasn't a happy camper. I never thought I'd be able to talk about being undocumented as openly as I do today, but this is not the reason for this post. As a lot of you might know, today I am going to have one of the most, if not the most monumental culminations of my life. I am returning to Mexico.

Nineteen years after leaving for what I thought was another summer vacation, I am finally seeing family members that last saw me when I was a whole foot shorter. This is one experience I find myself at a loss for words. All I can say is that I can't wait to see the people I grew up with, and visit all the historically significant places in my home city, el Distrito Federal. After spending time there, I'll be going to Yucatan where I'll get to see more familiar faces, and a ton of Mayan temples as well as cenotes (click on that link, eat your heart out!)

This has been a long time coming, and it could not have come at a better time. Hopefully by the time I return, I'll have news from at least one Law School, but who knows! Whatever will be, will be. I know I am one fortunate individual and I am so thankful for having every challenge I've had and every beautiful person and experience I've had, because without all this I would not be the person I am today. I don't feel like I say it enough, thank you all, from the bottom of my heart for being as encouraging, loving and supportive as you have always been. It is people like you that make this life worth living.

I'M GOING TO MEXICO!!! (gotta finish packing now)

MUCH LOVE!!!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Human Rights Abuse on the US-Mexico Border

It's been far too long since my last post. Life has certainly gotten busier since receiving my Residency. I recently came across an interesting article I really wanted to share on facebook, but I do not like to use that space for expressing my political beliefs. This is what this space is for.

The article is titled, "Border Patrol to Keep Controversial Deadly Force Rules". Thank you Sarah Childress for writing this, PBS for publishing it, and Cuentame for sharing it. Apparently the Border Patrol has decided it is absolutely necessary to maintain the use of unbalanced force used against people fighting for their lives.

Trust me, I completely understand the Border Patrol POV. Although it is obviously extremely difficult for me to side with them when I have been on the immigrant end. It is difficult for me to understand how a rock can be much of a threat to the Border Patrol when they have so much gear to protect them like bullet proof vests, helmets, and powerful machine guns. How much damage can a rock do in comparison, and how is a bullet a comparable threat against a rock??? Shooting an 16-year boy 11 times for throwing a rock? Are you kidding me?????? That is most certainly use of unnecessary force!

Fisher, Border Patrol Chief states that the environment in which his agents work in is very different from that in which other law enforcement agencies work in, completely granted. For that same reason, wouldn't one think there is even more opportunity to avoid using unnecessary force? He says, “In many cases, unlike a concrete jungle, you have a very narrow trail and the Border Patrol agent doesn’t always have the ability to get out of the way.” Get out of the way of A ROCK? That must be one huge rock those immigrants are throwing.

It seems preposterous to me that this is being allowed. For the majority of the people crossing the border, they hardly have any belongings on their person. The people the Border Patrol is most likely using to make their case for requiring their guns to use against immigrants are the instances when they encounter criminals smuggling drugs or people who actually carry weapons of equal lethal force. With the increasing cases of abuse of force and 19 deaths since 2010, exceptions to the laws governing the use of force against immigrants certainly needs to have exceptions.

Peace.

MUCH LOVE!!!