Bombs Kill at Least 32 Iraqis in Baghdad and Mosul

This past Monday, more than 32 Iraqis were killed by suicide bombers in Baghdad and Mosul. Surprisingly the bombing in Baghdad took place outside a police training academy just as students were leaving. Witnesses stated that they saw a teenage boy get out of a car in front of the academy, walk into the crowd of people and students and detonated himself. The car that the teenage boy came in exploded shortly after the teenager blew himself up. Around 15 people died from the car explosion. That same Monday morning in Mosul, a suicide bomber killed at least 17, reports said. This attack was towards an American-Iraqi convoy. The violence for these attacks was brought on by the Iraqi Parliament’s approval about a security decision about American troops staying in Iraqi until 2011. This apparently angered Iraqi rebels. Even though there have been many bombings within the past year, the United States is working diligently with the Iraqi government and the United Nations to figure out a solution to stop the bombings.

The New York Times
International page A10
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Written by: Katherine Zoepf

Border Wars

After watching the documentary Border Wars, it was quite evident that the documentary was portraying a negative view towards illegal immigrants; focusing on the growing problems faced on the American-Mexican borders in the south. While many immigrant activists may feel that this documentary film provides a very biased view on illegal immigrants, I feel it is much merited. It was quite evident throughout the film that these illegal immigrants would do anything and everything to cross the borders into America to live a better life than the one they have in Mexico. I for one agree with the views by Congressman Hayworth. He is a strong advocate for stronger and tighter border control with Mexico. He stated in the film that while only 1500 people are caught crossing illegally, another 4000 are able to cross illegally into America and head up north into urban areas because there is a smaller chance that they would be caught by the police. Now I really don’t understand the commotion with Hayworth’s view. His intentions is to make the American border more secure and stable so that we can put a stop to these illegal immigrants. Many other Americans feel the same way. While this belief is widespread, many Latinos believe that this white people being racist towards the Latino community. First and foremost, how can this be accurate? Congressman Hayworth said that the United States allows 200,000 LEGAL Mexicans into this country a year. America shows no discrimination, xenophobia, racism (whatever you want to call it) towards the Latino community when it comes to the immigration debate. I believe the problem felt by Hayworth and many other Americans is the illegal immigration problem. Why should these people deserve the right to be in America illegally? A Latina said in the protests “we have the right to be here...This use to be Mexico’s.” I believe that it is these people that are making the problems in this debate and throughout the film. Sure, way back when, some of the land might have been Mexico’s, but obviously the United States paid for this land and it’s theirs now. I’m honestly feeling irritated by these people who want to live life in America illegally. The same old stuff keeps occurring. It is no way fair for them to live in America and deny the right for others to gain citizenship and asylum. The reality is that these are criminals and they are not welcomed here. If they were legal I allow them in with open arms, but in reality they are not. This is a growing problem for the United States, and if something is not done to secure the border and inflict stricter laws and punishments, this will only escalate into deeper and bigger problems for America and Americans in the near future.

"Border War"

“Border War” was a very interesting documentary on illegal immigrants and some of the ways they sneak across the border into America. To some this is a big problem that needs some sort of solution. This is why we have a border patrol. Mr. Maheda is a border patrol officer who had some information to share with us individuals who are less educated on the issue. He explained how smugglers gather large groups of immigrants and help them get into America. These smugglers also referred to as scouts, make a good deal of money for what they do. After sneaking these individuals across the border, they offer up safe houses for these illegal immigrants to stay in until they venture further in land away from the border. We heard the story of Lupe Moreno and how he ran a safe house. At first they were living out of a garage and hosting illegal immigrants there. His wife said that she would not put up with anymore illegal activity when they moved to their new home. Lupe Moreno did not abide by her standards and she was forced to flee the family. This safe house was the second one instated in California, which was later discovered when his daughter would talk about the issue. She did not like all the new company and even slept with one of the immigrants who was staying there. She was often molested and had two kids by the age fifteen. Congressman J.D. Hayworth, stated that out of all immigrants 4,500 make it across illegally. He believes that to correct the problem we need to enforce existing laws and close out all other options. Illegal Immigrants are usually coming to the United States to work, but some find themselves caught up in the drug smuggling process. In saying this, there are many individuals who believe that this issue is a big problem, where others like Enrique believe otherwise. In the 1980’s Enrique was a part of the “Border Angels” who would march up into the canyons and provide these illegal immigrants with supplies like food and water. He believes that they are just crossing to improve their lives and doesn’t see much harm in the influx of immigrants. We heard the tragic story of Officer Dave Marsh who was shot and killed by Ormondo Garcia. Garcia was a ruthless individual who had been deported three times, was here illegally, and didn’t like being told what to do by law enforcers. There are many illegal immigrants who have crossed into America and been unidentified. These immigrants when they pass away, whether it is because of the long journey or illness, are buried in Terrace Park Cemetery. This cemetery hosts 400 immigrants that have not been identified. Another interesting aspect was the discovery of the tunnel that stretched from Arizona to Mexico and was used to transport illegal drugs. This passage was tricky to find because when they were not transporting drugs they would disguise the tunnel by flooding it. The documentary was very informative and offered opinions from the pro and con aspect. There are many individuals who are very passionate about this topic, and stand behind their beliefs making the issue harder to control.

Information from: Border War Documentary and Speakers

Border War

I chose to respond to a recent documentary we watched in class. Border War is a collection of stories related to the Border and illegal immigration. These stories ranged from Immigration officers daily lives to a woman who’s parents ran a safe house. The story that affected myself the most was the story of the woman who lived in a safe house. During her childhood when her father ran this, she was subjected to sexual advances from fifty year-old men and her family splitting up. Because of her childhood she became quite bitter towards illegal immigrants. Even though she was a Mexican American, she was anavid supporter of a stiff border, and she even joined the minutemen club. The main thing that disturbed me about this story is that during a rally, Illegals protested that they had a right to be here. I have no problem with immigrants that come here legally, but when someone comes illegally and expects to mooch off of our government I become quite angry. These people were saying that they had a right to be here, but there points of argument have no backing. One said that since this land used to belong to Mexico (it hasn’t owned it since 1848) they still had the right to live here. Another argument was that they could live there because Santa Ana sold it too cheaply and that it should still be there’s. The problem with this argument is that we also bought land from other countries and there people don’t think they can just move here without being documented. All in all this documentary made me quite upset and ruined my entire day.

Border War Documentary

Today in class we viewed a documentary titled "Border War."  This documentary focused on the topic of illegal immigration and more specifically on the views of people that are affected by this topic everyday.  The first person shown in the movie is a man that is a part of an immediate strike team.  This team is an attack force that takes actions first and asks questions later.  Their main goal is to detain illegal immigrants crossing the border alongside what they call a coyote, or the person assisting them cross. Later in the documentary the same man is in pursuit of an illegal immigrant with a fellow worker when the person they were chasing hit one of the officers.  This just shows how far some people will go to come into and stay in this country.  In another example of how a life was affected by an illegal immigrant a women describes how her husband had been shot and killed by an illegal immigrant.  He was pulled over in a simple traffic stop and the immigrant shot him once then shot him in the head to kill him.  This just shows how ruthless some people can be when they want something too much.  The third person shown is a women who had grown up in a house that had housed many illegal immigrants right after they had crossed the border.  She had been traumatized by these men that had come to her house and was even raped.  She had her second child at the young age of 15.  She had seen what these people are capable of what their intentions in the U.S. are and decided to speak out.  She ended up joining the minuteman project.  Then the last person shown in the documentary was a politician who believed in stopping all illegal immigration.  He was a person who kind of summed up the feelings of all of the others shown.  So far in the documentary I have learned many things I didn't know before.  Such as the lengths that some of these people will go to get into the U.S. and to stay here as well.  It has been quite a shock to me so far and I am looking forward to seeing and discussing the rest of the documentary "Border War." 

“U.S. Deportee Brings Street Dance to Street Boys of Cambodia”

“I can’t go,” K.K. said over the thump of the boom box, as his boys jumped and bounced around him like tiny springs. “I can understand that they deported me here. I’d like to go visit, "only visit," because I live here now. I have a brand new life.” The Article “U.S. Deportee Brings Street Dance to Street Boys of Cambodia” that was published on Sunday, November 30, 2008 shows us, the reader, that this young man’s statement is an accurate one. The article discusses how in Cambodia a little slice of Long Beach, California, was brought there by a former gang member by way of a federal prison, an immigration jail and then expulsion four years ago from his homeland, the United States, to the homeland of his parents, Cambodia. The former gang member is Tuy Sobil, 30, who goes by the street name K.K. The boys in his dance studio are Cambodian street children he has taken under his wing as he teaches them the art he brought with him, break dancing, as well as his hard lessons in life. The only thing is K.K. is not here because he wants to be. He is one of 189 Cambodians who have been banished from the United States in the past six years under a law that mandates deportations for noncitizens who commit felonies. Hundreds more are on a waiting list for deportation. Like most of the others, K.K. is a noncitizen only by a technicality. He was not an illegal immigrant. He was a refugee from Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge “killing fields” who found a haven in the United States in 1980. He was an infant when he arrived. In fact, he was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and had never seen Cambodia before he was deported.

But K.K.’s parents were simple farmers who failed to complete the citizenship process when they arrived. Like some children of poor immigrants, K.K. drifted to the streets, where he became a member of the Crips gang and a champion break dancer. It was only after he was convicted of armed robbery at 18 that he discovered that he was not a citizen. Like many deportees, he arrived in Cambodia without possessions and without family contacts. He was a drug counselor at first and then founded his break dancing club, Tiny Toones Cambodia, where he now earns a living teaching about 150 youngsters and reaching out to hundreds more. Some other 189 deportees have found work that uses their fluency in English, particularly in hotels. Some have reunited with families. But many have slipped into unemployment, depression and sometimes drug use.

My opinion of the Article “U.S. Deportee Brings Street Dance to Street Boys of Cambodia” is that it is amazing how a person can make a negative situation positive. Even through this terrible situation K.K. stands out as a success, both in finding a calling and in embracing his fate. He has a fair command of the language, unlike some deportees who arrived with no knowledge of Khmer. But the only hurdle left in K.K. way is his club has been invited to send dancers to perform in the United States but the Cambodian boys who speak no English and have never left their country and do to him being deported and excluded from the United States for the rest of his life, he must stay behind.


Article written by: Seth Mydans

The New York Times

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Article on page A6 of the New York edition.

Border War

Illegal immigrants are creating huge problems in America. At least, that is the stance that the makers of Border War seem to be stressing. They follow the lives of several people whose lives have been directly affected by immigration policy. They include a senator, a Latina member of the Minutemen, a border patrol officer, and the wife of a deceased border patrol. It is interesting to see the different perspectives from the different backgrounds that the movie brings together. However, I feel that the overall message is very biased against illegal immigrants. Funnily enough, the only humane message I can recall from the documentary is from the border patrol officer. He says how he will work hard to bust the smuggler's themselves, but that he understands that the immigrants are looking for a better life and are people too. The rest of the testimonies are blatantly against the idea of an open border and illegal immigrants. The senator involved has been very influential in trying to create obstacles such as the wall on the border of Mexico to keep people out. He passionately defends his position advocating enforcement first. He simply wants to keep America for Americans. The Latina member of the Minutemen involves herself because of her own personal experience with immigration. Her father, a Mexican, operated a safe house for immigrants looking for shelter on their way to their final destination. It tore her family apart, her mother being unable to deal with the added stress that comes from being involved with the man operating the 2nd most frequently visited safe house in California. She is widely met with anger amongst the Latino community because she advocates groups like the Minutemen who work to prevent illegal immigrants from coming to America, when oftentimes they do so out of necessity or so they can provide more easily for their family. The final testimony comes from the widow of a border patrol officer. Her husband was killed in a routine traffic stop by an illegal immigrant who had been deported several times and was a known drug dealer, as well as being wanted on several counts of attempted murder. This testimony was the most unsettling, because there was no attempt at creating an unbiased view on immigrants. The entire lack of testimony to create a positive light on illegal immigrants implied that many immigrants are going to become contributors to social problems like drugs, and social unrest. There was very little material that attempted to create an unbiased view on the situation of Hispanic immigration, and I think that the documentary needs to create a broader view in order to be more effective.