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The Human Side of the Border Story

Tue May 16, 2006 at 09:30:01 AM EST

With sagging poll numbers and pressure from his core base, President Bush has deployed the National Guard (on All Terrain Vehicles -- ATVs) to assist the Border Patrol in militarizng the border.

Kay Shepherd has interviewed several of the volunteers involved in No Mas Muertes, the coalition of samaritans dedicated to preventing deaths in the desert.

Her most recent podcast interview is with Michael Hyatt, a Tucson radio talk show host and documentary photographer.

English transcription here
Spanish transcription here, compliments of XicanoPwr.

Earlier podcasts with No Mas Muertes volunteers are:

Interview with Margo Cowan, No Mas Muertes lawyer.
Interview with Vivian Pettyjohn, author of Charged with Possession of a Conscience.

If you like what ePMedia's been doing with research, reviews and interviews, please consider donating to help with our efforts.

commentary :: :: :: buzz-it!

The Human Side of the Border Story | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)

Xposted (none / 0) (#1)

at Orange
at Green

by Cho on Tue May 16, 2006 at 09:33:48 AM EST

very cool move on the Spanish translations! (none / 0) (#2)

//Green, huh?

by luaptifer on Tue May 16, 2006 at 10:15:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

That's a gracias to XP --! (none / 0) (#3)

Green -- well, it seemed appropriate, and I have seen Booman refer to his site that way...

Odd though, the orange and the green, however, seem like the warring factions of the Irish...

by Cho on Tue May 16, 2006 at 10:22:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

: i was hoping that might be XP's work (none / 0) (#4)

have not seen so much of him elsewhere but i've been sort of MIA myself. soon, i swear!
interesting observation that i'd not considered. i can certainly rationalize it as apt given that the tent defined by excluding all but the deluded, the artificial 'grassroots coalitions' and 'rupt-wing 'wacko-riders' leaves behind a diverse set of "other". maybe not so fratricidal as the dynamic you identified, thankfully!

by luaptifer on Tue May 16, 2006 at 03:21:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

received this press release from a friend (none / 0) (#5)

which she received from the Catholic Network.

Please Contact your Senators Today Regarding S. 2611, The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006
This week, the U.S. Senate will be considering S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act (CIRA) of 2006. The legislation represents a positive step forward in enacting a comprehensive immigration reform bill before the end of the year. Over the next two weeks, the Senate will consider amendments to the legislation, both amendments which would improve the bill and those which would cause more harm to immigrants and refugees. It is important that the Catholic network weigh in on this important issue at such a critical juncture.
CIRA contains many positive provisions, including a legalization program which includes a path to citizenship for up to 10 million persons in Title VI; family unity provisions in Title V; and a temporary worker program in Title IV. However, it also contains overly punitive enforcement provisions in Title II of the bill. Moreover, it contains provisions which could preclude some of the undocumented population from qualifying for the legalization program. It is important that our elected officials receive the appropriate messages regarding this legislation. They include the following:
Legalization provisions: We support the provisions in Title VI which provide a path to citizenship for up to 10 million persons and the provisions in Titles IV (temporary worker program) and V (family-based immigration). However, we support changes in the bill to allow the maximum number of undocumented persons to qualify for a path to citizenship. These would include:

Restoration of protections for those persons who have resided in the country for 2-5 years and who would be required to go home prior to applying for a green card, including restoration of confidentiality in the process; a right to appeal adverse decisions; no waiver of rights, and an extension of the application deadline.

Creation of a realistic opportunity for those here 0-2 years to participate in the program, who under the bill must return home and apply through the temporary worker program, which could take years.

Removal of provisions which would render ineligible any person who commits document fraud or misrepresents fact on a I-9 application. (Undocumented immigrants without legal status often are compelled to misrepresent their status in order to obtain employment)
Enforcement Provisions: We also support amendments to the bill which would remove or ameliorate harsh enforcement provisions in Title II, including:

the expansion of the definition of an aggravated felony;

increased use of indiscriminate mandatory and indefinite detention;

removal of protections for asylum-seekers, refugees, and other vulnerable populations;

the authorization of local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws;

limits on judicial review.