More [illegal] Mexicans leaving U.S. under duress

[CactusCarlos]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/070508dnmetimmigrants.24395628.html

Two hours were enough for José Luis Sánchez and his family to pack their most valuable belongings in two vans – items accumulated in 10 years of living in the Dallas area.

With his wife, children and their suitcases in place, Mr. Sánchez closed the door of his Mesquite apartment for the last time, sat at the wheel of one of the vehicles – his brother drove the other – and hit the road back to his homeland.

So ended his decade-long adventure as an illegal Mexican immigrant in the United States.

According to Mexican consulate officials in Dallas, some 400 immigrant families have told them so far this year that they're going back to Mexico and asked for transfer documents to enroll their children in Mexican schools.

Enrique Hubbard Urrea, Mexican consul general in Dallas, said it is impossible to track every Mexican who leaves the area. But he said the number asking for transfer documents at the consulate is on the rise.

In 2005, the consulate issued 162 such documents; in 2006 it was 199; and last year it was 270. At the current rate, more than twice as many people will leave this year as last, he said.

"There is no doubt the trend indicates that the number is growing," Mr. Hubbard said.

And it isn't happening only in Dallas. At the Mexican consulates in Chicago and Phoenix, too, the number of Mexican families applying for transfer documents for their children has increased.

So far in 2008, more people (752) have visited the Mexican consulate in Phoenix to apply for transfer documents than the total for 2006 (248) and 2007 (330) combined, according to officials there.

According to informal surveys by the Mexican consulate in Dallas, most of those wanting to return to Mexico cite the sudden scarcity of jobs, fear of deportation and uncertainty about obtaining legal resident status any time soon.

In the last few years, and particularly the last few months, Mr. Sánchez struggled to find work. His earnings dwindled as his children grew up and their needs multiplied.

"People like me, if you don't work one day, you worry about how to feed your family the next day," he said. "We as immigrant workers never have stability, even if the economy is doing well. Imagine how things are now."

Also, he said, there is growing anti-immigrant sentiment that he would rather not experience anymore.

"Those of us who live here live depressed all the time, in hiding," he said. "They don't like us here, and those who love us and whom we love are far away. I prefer to go back, even if it means living in poorer conditions."

Mr. Hubbard said tougher enforcement of immigration laws in the last few years hasn't gone unnoticed.

"Some say companies fear hiring people without proper documents," he said.

He said others are seeing authorities detain more people in Irving, Farmers Branch and, to a lesser degree, Carrollton.

Carl Rusnok, spokesman for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Dallas, said deportation of Mexican immigrants nationally has grown from 108,900 in 2005 to 136,370 last year.

Mark López, associate director of the Pew Hispanic Center, said he has no reliable data about the number of immigrants returning to Mexico but is not surprised many are going.

"Lower-income people – obviously including immigrants – have been disproportionately affected by the economic downturn," he said.

Two weeks ago, the Pew center said the unemployment rate among Hispanic immigrants reached 7.5 percent in the first quarter of 2008, compared with 5.5 percent during the same quarter of last year.

Mr. Hubbard and Mr. López say the departures could cause problems for cities, especially those that have pushed ordinances hostile to immigrants, because in scaring immigrants away, they are driving away part of their workforce along with its purchasing power.

"If they don't like them as neighbors, they won't like them as consumers, either," said Mr. Hubbard.

But others think that immigrants returning to their countries won't hurt the U.S. economy.

"The country's economy adjusted to the immigrants' presence. No doubt it will adjust to their absence," said Ira Mehlman, national spokesman for FAIR, an organization opposed to illegal immigration.

"That these people are leaving proves what we have been saying for years," he said. "If you begin enforcing the law to prevent them getting what they come here to get, they will go."

Mr. Mehlman said FAIR would like to see more immigrants leave, not because of hard economic times but because of law enforcement.

He said the return of Mexican immigrants to their home country would force the government there to make reforms to jump-start its economy.

"Exporting its unemployed, underemployed citizens or those who are unhappy there allowed the Mexican government to get rid of the pressure to introduce changes for the benefit of their people," Mr. Mehlman said. "Now that their people are going back, perhaps they won't be able to shun their responsibility any longer."

As the moment to leave came, José Luis Sánchez and his family didn't have an idea of the Mexico awaiting them. From their family, they expect everything. From their home country, not much.

"We're going to continue living by the day, for sure," he said. "But psychologically we're going to be better. With our family, without fears, without pressures. It's worth the difficulties."

And, he added, "The American Dream is just that – a dream."

[Chris_]

Just like many of us said -- they will self-deport.  THAT is how you take care of millions of illegals leeching on our marrow.

Some selected quotes from the OP:

Also, he said, there is growing anti-immigrant sentiment that he would rather not experience anymore.

"Those of us who live here live depressed all the time, in hiding," he said. "They don't like us here, and those who love us and whom we love are far away. I prefer to go back, even if it means living in poorer conditions."

No, there is a growing anti-ILLEGAL immigrant sentiment.  May 1, 2007 -- the gift that keeps giving.

Mr. Hubbard said tougher enforcement of immigration laws in the last few years hasn't gone unnoticed.

"Some say companies fear hiring people without proper documents," he said.

How DARE the U.S. enforce its immigration laws.

Mark López, associate director of the Pew Hispanic Center, said he has no reliable data about the number of immigrants returning to Mexico but is not surprised many are going.

"Lower-income people – obviously including immigrants – have been disproportionately affected by the economic downturn," he said.

ILLEGAL Immigrants.

Two weeks ago, the Pew center said the unemployment rate among Hispanic immigrants reached 7.5 percent in the first quarter of 2008, compared with 5.5 percent during the same quarter of last year.

"Exporting its unemployed, underemployed citizens or those who are unhappy there allowed the Mexican government to get rid of the pressure to introduce changes for the benefit of their people," Mr. Mehlman said. "Now that their people are going back, perhaps they won't be able to shun their responsibility any longer."

Very true.

As the moment to leave came, José Luis Sánchez and his family didn't have an idea of the Mexico awaiting them. From their family, they expect everything. From their home country, not much.

"We're going to continue living by the day, for sure," he said. "But psychologically we're going to be better. With our family, without fears, without pressures. It's worth the difficulties."

Welcome home -- I truly hope you do well there (no sarcasm, folks -- I really do).

And, he added, "The American Dream is just that – a dream."

The American Dream is available -- to Americans (and LEGAL invitees).    The American Dream is not, NOR SHOULD IT BE, available to someone whose very first act in coming to America was to break her most fundamental law - the one that makes her a sovereign nation.

[Dixie*Darling]

You're not wanted.
You're not welcome.
Get the f*ck out!   

[Willow]

Very telling. They apply for transfer documents to return to their homeland, but they sneak into our country, fly their flags, and march in protests for rights they never earned. 

[Lord Undies]

The best way to control roaches is to eliminate their food source and make their environment hostile to their lives. 

[Chris_]

The best way to control roaches is to eliminate their food source and make their environment hostile to their lives. 

That's a little unfair, LU, an perhaps a bit below you. 

Yes, these people are taking advantage of whatever they can, including soft "laws" in the US.  Now that the laws are in the process of being enforced, they are going home, which is what we want.

They are not "roaches" and I do not completely hold their decisions against them.  Except the criminals, but those are roaches whether imported or not.

They are mice in a maze who look for the next opening.  Respecting the Rule of Law is as foreign to their minds as the thinking of UP is to ours.

We need to deport every single illegal, and not let side issues stop us.  But only political will can stem the tide.

[Schadenfreude]

The best way to control roaches is to eliminate their food source and make their environment hostile to their lives. 

That's a little unfair, LU, an perhaps a bit below you. 

Yes, these people are taking advantage of whatever they can, including soft "laws" in the US.  Now that the laws are in the process of being enforced, they are going home, which is what we want.

They are not "roaches" and I do not completely hold their decisions against them.  Except the criminals, but those are roaches whether imported or not.

They are mice in a maze who look for the next opening.  Respecting the Rule of Law is as foreign to their minds as the thinking of UP is to ours.

We need to deport every single illegal, and not let side issues stop us.  But only political will can stem the tide.

Right, so often we hear the excuse that we can't deport all of them, so let's deport none of them (?)

I hold the employers responsible as well.... looking-for-a-profit-while-selling-America-out-despicable-excuses-for-human-beings, not to mention law breakers themselves.

[Chris_]

The best way to control roaches is to eliminate their food source and make their environment hostile to their lives. 

That's a little unfair, LU, an perhaps a bit below you. 

Yes, these people are taking advantage of whatever they can, including soft "laws" in the US.  Now that the laws are in the process of being enforced, they are going home, which is what we want.

They are not "roaches" and I do not completely hold their decisions against them.  Except the criminals, but those are roaches whether imported or not.

They are mice in a maze who look for the next opening.  Respecting the Rule of Law is as foreign to their minds as the thinking of UP is to ours.

We need to deport every single illegal, and not let side issues stop us.  But only political will can stem the tide.

Right, so often we hear the excuse that we can't deport all of them, so let's deport none of them (?)

I hold the employers responsible as well.... looking-for-a-profit-while-selling-America-out-despicable-excuses-for-human-beings, not to mention law breakers themselves.

Hell yes.  If we had some employers do prison time for knowingly hiring illegals the hiring rate would go down and the self-deport rate up.

[Schadenfreude]

The best way to control roaches is to eliminate their food source and make their environment hostile to their lives. 

That's a little unfair, LU, an perhaps a bit below you. 

Yes, these people are taking advantage of whatever they can, including soft "laws" in the US.  Now that the laws are in the process of being enforced, they are going home, which is what we want.

They are not "roaches" and I do not completely hold their decisions against them.  Except the criminals, but those are roaches whether imported or not.

They are mice in a maze who look for the next opening.  Respecting the Rule of Law is as foreign to their minds as the thinking of UP is to ours.

We need to deport every single illegal, and not let side issues stop us.  But only political will can stem the tide.

Right, so often we hear the excuse that we can't deport all of them, so let's deport none of them (?)

I hold the employers responsible as well.... looking-for-a-profit-while-selling-America-out-despicable-excuses-for-human-beings, not to mention law breakers themselves.

Hell yes.  If we had some employers do prison time for knowingly hiring illegals the hiring rate would go down and the self-deport rate up.

Instead we should try and convict energy execs for high crimes and misdemeanors for doubting Al Gore's Global Warming (or is it cooling?) theories..... or at least tax the crap out of them because the prices are too high... yesh, that's the ticket.

[Uhhuh35]

The best way to control roaches is to eliminate their food source and make their environment hostile to their lives. 

Ditto! Anyone who understands Mexico knows that they are not our friends and the illegals would not make good citizens no matter what the politicians say.

[Airwolf]

The best way to control roaches is to eliminate their food source and make their environment hostile to their lives. 

That's a little unfair, LU, an perhaps a bit below you. 

Yes, these people are taking advantage of whatever they can, including soft "laws" in the US.  Now that the laws are in the process of being enforced, they are going home, which is what we want.

They are not "roaches" and I do not completely hold their decisions against them.  Except the criminals, but those are roaches whether imported or not.

They are mice in a maze who look for the next opening.  Respecting the Rule of Law is as foreign to their minds as the thinking of UP is to ours.

We need to deport every single illegal, and not let side issues stop us.  But only political will can stem the tide.

Right, so often we hear the excuse that we can't deport all of them, so let's deport none of them (?)

I hold the employers responsible as well.... looking-for-a-profit-while-selling-America-out-despicable-excuses-for-human-beings, not to mention law breakers themselves.

I agree with you. We don't have to deport one person that hasn't committed another crime other then jumping the border. However we need to engorce the laws we have and cut the funds for everything but medical emergencies and they will go home on their own for the most part.

[Thor]

The fact is, they are criminals when they come here illegally. To me, that says they have ZERO respect for our laws. With that in mind, we find illegal aliens (the CORRECT term) violating our laws consistently, from driving without a license, no insurance, identity theft, felony hit and run to more severe crimes.

[Lord Undies]

The best way to control roaches is to eliminate their food source and make their environment hostile to their lives. 

That's a little unfair, LU, an perhaps a bit below you. 

I would have thought so too up until about a year and a half ago.  Then I had my eyes opened.

Now I see a lot in common with a cockroach infestation.  The remedies have a lot in common too.

[rich_t]

You're not wanted.
You're not welcome.
Get the f*ck out!   

H5

[rich_t]

Except the criminals, but those are roaches whether imported or not.

And them coming here illegally isn't a criminal act?  The very act of illegally crossing our border makes them a criminal.

[NHSparky]

400 down, 20,000,000 to go.

[Bondai]

The best way to control roaches is to eliminate their food source and make their environment hostile to their lives. 

Agreed. They have turned most of South Phoenix into a third world shit hole.

[lars1701c]

Of course Freedumb does not want them to leave the country he will lose all that cheap labor so as to keep his costs down.

[Chris_]

The best way to control roaches is to eliminate their food source and make their environment hostile to their lives. 

That's a little unfair, LU, an perhaps a bit below you. 

Yes, these people are taking advantage of whatever they can, including soft "laws" in the US.  Now that the laws are in the process of being enforced, they are going home, which is what we want.

They are not "roaches" and I do not completely hold their decisions against them.  Except the criminals, but those are roaches whether imported or not.

Our laws do not make exceptions...that is their reasons for breaking our laws are irrelevant.

They are mice in a maze who look for the next opening.  Respecting the Rule of Law is as foreign to their minds as the thinking of UP is to ours.

Again, irrelevant....and they know they are breaking our laws when they sneak across the border.

We need to deport every single illegal, and not let side issues stop us.  But only political will can stem the tide.

I disagree.  They got here on their own, let them go home on their own.  Not one more dime of tax dollars should be spent on illegal aliens.

[DixieBelle]

Count me in the "cockroaches go home" camp.

We need to enforce EXISTING laws, punish employers and anyone else who collaborates with illegal immigrants. They will continue to self-deport if we remove their security blankets and incentives.

[Bluesuiter-Retired]

It would appear that the on-going immigration raids on businesses is beginning to pay off.

Even those who are under the radar are feeling the heat and are opting to leave on their own accord.

Unless McCain changes his stance on immigration and Bush's guest worker program, I just might have to vote with my feet -- vote by not voting.  The vast majority of folks are sick and tired of those here illegally and want the border locked down, yet McCain just doesn't seem willing to listen to them.

Bring on obama.  When he takes office, he will raise taxes on EVERYONE.  Businesses will see their profits shrink and will take steps to reduce their overhead [layoff employees] until they reach that magic number where they can once again see a profit.  If an employer attempts to hire illegals to reduce their overhead, I believe the people will rise up and shut them down.

I wonder how obama will react to an economic 9/11 which will be of his own making!

[CG6468]

Goodbye, José Luis Sánchez! Don't let the door slam into your ass on the way out!