Journal #15: Border Patrol State

Ms. Silko,

After reading your essay “Border Patrol State”, I have come across some points that I do agree with and some that I do not. Overall, US Border Patrol along the New Mexico-Arizona-Texas borders has dramatically changed and become more aggressive. However, it is hard to say that it is a negative thing. Yes, some of the Border Patrol officers are very narrow-minded, angry, and aggressive people. But, those few officers should not be used to describe the entire Border Patrol force. In your essay one statement really stuck out to me when you said, “‘Immigration,’ like ‘street crime’ and ‘welfare fraud,’ is a political euphemism that refers to people of color. Politicians and media people talk about ‘illegal aliens’ to dehumanize and demonize undocumented immigrants, who are for the most part people of color.” First off, I do not believe that the Border Patrol is accusing only colored people of being these things. It just happens to be that in these Southern states colored people are the majority of people that do contribute to these matters. It would be no different than pointing fingers at the minority groups in the North – who are not all colored people. Immigration is not the problem in the US; it is illegal immigration. I do agree that calling illegal immigrants “illegal aliens” is offensive. Since I am Catholic I was brought up to believe that everyone is equal and deserves equal opportunities. However, we do not live in an ideal world. I do believe that immigrant should be treated the same and given the same rights to apply for US citizenship – which I am almost positive they do. My father himself is an immigrant, yet he is not a man of color. He is also not a US citizen to this day and people do not frown upon him for that. It is more so the actions of immigrants that define who they are, not the word itself. Overall, there are many things that are not right in this world and that do need to be brought to attention. Immigration is a huge issue globally. Sadly though, this is a world based on capital, politics, and power.