Immigration debate highlights Fatal funnel forum
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The immigration debate took center stage at the Welder Center in Victoria on Tuesday evening as community members heard views and discussed the issue with a sheriff, a journalist and a Catholic priest.
About 250 community members turned out for the event organized by the Victoria Advocate to commemorate the ending of the 16-part Fatal Funnel Series.
The event began with a short film highlighting the reasoning behind the series followed by panelist comments.
Victoria Sheriff T. Michael O'Connor, the first to speak, explained the dual immigration duty of law enforcement as enforcers of both criminal and social justice.
"Understand that the local law enforcement, we're not in the immigration business," he said. "We're in the protection of human beings, saving lives and the protection of individuals."
O'Connor was overcome with emotion as he spoke of detaining two 14-year-old immigrant children during a traffic stop on a cold, rainy day.
"That's the humane part, but guess what, we have to do the criminal justice part as well," he said. "We don't turn our heads, we can't turn away."
The Rev. Stan DeBoe, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, outlined the church's stance on the issue that he said focuses on human dignity.
"The official policy of the Catholic Church does not condone illegal entry into the country, but changes have to be made because our laws aren't working right now," he said. "What's needed is a much larger legalization process that provides a window of opportunity for immigrants who are already here in this country to come forward."
Lastly, Macarena Hernández, University of Houston-Victoria journalism professor and former immigration reporter, spoke of her experience as a child of Mexican immigrants and the immigration issues from a global perspective.
"It's the same concerns with France and the Algerians, it's the same concerns with Germany and the Turks," she said. "I think this is a global issue and sometimes we get really caught up in that it's only happening in Texas, in Victoria, but really global migration is the result of many things."
The panelists were followed by questions from people on both sides of the immigration issue.
The event concluded with a song composed by Tim Hudson, president of the University of Houston-Victoria.
Participants were hopeful to hear solutions on the issue and happy the forum shed light on problem from a local perspective.
"I think it's a really good idea for it to start locally because we are profoundly affected by immigration where we are," said Uppinder Mehan, who attended the event. "I think we have been having a national conversation but it's become rather abstract. Here it's very concrete, very specific. It touches people's lives."
Comments
xring, I wonder, America is so much in a mess, we might end up like Mexico. Just look at our financial situation. If we were to ever end up in such a horrible need and our people would become even more desperate than they are now. Would we still be proud of being American. You damn right we would!
November 14, 2009 at 7:42 a.m.Thanks Joe, that's a good point - I can relate.
September 4, 2009 at 4:19 p.m.X
Xring,Latino
I actually was able to attend the Fatal Funnel Forum. Mrs. Hernandez explained that by 3rd generation most families only speak English, do claim to be American, and the first generation here are the flag carriers.
Yes some Mexican people that come to America still carry the flag of Mexico. They are a very proud people. But like some do... some don't, because they are ashamed. You have to understand that many Americans look down on Mexicans, and they feel this. So when they return to their old home to visit family they are honored and looked up to, respected. This is love for the people there, not the government. Also in Mexico most families stay in the same home for generations, unlike the nomadic
American. There definitely is love for the land that has been passed down from generation to generation. You know, that place where you grew up! But more than that. This is the room mom gave birth to me in, and Grandma bore mom, and her grandmother bore her and so on. It's not a Dedication to another country, maybe more of just trying to hold onto the only thing you have left that reminds one of home.
There's nothing wrong with being proud of where you come from, there's nothing wrong with being proud of your culture. That is what makes America so interesting, The different cultures, accents, and colors.
If I left America today, I would not forget that I am American. And every time I saw an American flag I would know where I came from. Everyone should know their heritage, and where they came from.
September 3, 2009 at 9:29 p.m.Joe – in your last post you described a very horrible scenario, which leads me to ask a question that you may be able to shed some light for me. In actuality, I really am sincere in asking this question. I have never understood the Hispanic culture of undying loyalty to a country (Mexico) that can’t provide jobs to their people, can’t provide protection to the citizens, and operates in a highly corrupt form of government.
The Mexicans are truly “dying” to get into this country, willing to risk life and limb to find a better way of life (and I don’t blame them, I would too). When the immigrants came to America from the European countries, they had disdain for the country they left and would openly proclaim that (insert European country here) sucked. Why is it that the Mexican culture patronizes and honors a country that has never been able to do anything for them except make them want to leave? I’m just curious. Thanks.
September 3, 2009 at 5:07 p.m.Okay say you are at home, you step outside with your family, a van pulls up. Your family is attacked, ambushed, you fight with all your might. You wake on the ground to find yourself and wife bloodied, your 11 year old daughter is taken. You go to your local authorities to report the incident. You are then beaten and threatened not to talk to anyone about what has happened, they are working on the case. The federal police man then escorts you home to find that your home has now been rampaged and the little you work so hard to get is gone. The police man tells you, you should be thankful you have one less mouth to feed. And you should spend more time with your 8yr old before the same becomes of him. He then smiles, tells you sleep well, and leaves. All night you think, worry, feel guilt, think, feel helpless, cry, think. You know just 100 miles away, or less there is a land that you heard of, where you can go and your family will be safer. You will be able to keep them away from these evil men who are just waiting for your children to hit puberty before they enslave them for years then kill them. You know someone who knows someone who can get you and your family there, they tell you of other people who’ve gone there and the land there is like being in a different world. You don’t have to worry about your children starving or becoming sex slaves. All you have to do, is work hard. Now, he tells you there are dangers, but if you make it, your family will be free. Should you take the risk? Should you risk your lives, for the chance that the rest of your children not becoming sex slaves? But if you go you may die. If you stay, your son will die, but before that, he will be brutally raped, he will be brutally beat and then after years of torture and wanting to die, he will be brutally killed. So, you wake up the next morning and decide to take the risk and flee to the promised land.
According to the greedy people on this site you deserve to die. Your children deserve to become sex slaves because you were born there, your child was born there. These people say they are Christian, they say they are not racial, they say you are a coward because you chose to take the risk of fleeing this evil country you were born in. You are worthless, your children are worthless because they are Mexicans. But they are not racist. You should have applied to come into “their” country and wait the five years for your visa, even though your next child would have disappeared by then. It’s not their problem, it’s yours! And any penny spent on the safety of your family holds no constitute. You broke the law, by coming here, you deserve to die. Though they are afraid to help, they are afraid to spend pennies, YOU ARE THE COWARD!
September 3, 2009 at 3:37 a.m.Welcome to America.
Land of the free.
Free only to those whom descend from imigrants themselves.
Free for the descendants of slave owners, free for the descendants of the ones who stole this land from your ascendants, raped your ascendants, killed your ascendants and forced your ascendants to flee to the miserable country you are trapped in today.
Again I say:
Welcome to America!
Where it’s not wrong to care more about money than human (Mexican) life and safety.
Where only American lives are valued.
Maybe we shouldn’t expect more from these people, besides look at whom they descend from, that’s the same blood. I guess some things truly can’t change. After so many years have passed, they still share the same greed absorbed, hate filled heart of their ancestors. Whom had no remorse for human life if they share not the same nationality.
September 3, 2009 at 3:37 a.m.Loveourmilitary - you are correct - T.Michael is a good guy. I know him personally and he truly does have the county's best interest at heart.
As far as being a politician - ehh - he doesn't need the headache. He does it because he loves law enforcement. There are always people that are armchair critics on forums that have no personal life. He takes it in stride.
September 2, 2009 at 8:22 p.m.X
Reyrey, you'll have a hard time finding anyone in Victoria that hates legal immigrants. It's the people that are ILLEGALLY breaking into our country that Americans have a problem with.
September 2, 2009 at 7:21 p.m.joe..don't be so cruel. That's been his trademark for years. And personally I think our Sheriff is a decent human being and does a fine job. Any one in an elected office has to be a poitician to some degree or they wouldn't have the job. I don't question one bit whether he's being sincere or not. He's a decent man. You must have a bone to pick with him...
September 2, 2009 at 6:18 p.m.Off the subject for a minute....DUDE TRIM THAT NASTY MUSTACHE...IT DOESN'T MAKE YOU LOOK DISTINGUISHED YOU LOOK RIDICULOUS. oh and that part about the sheriff getting emotional... typical politician antics.
September 2, 2009 at 5:28 p.m.reyrey..LOVE your comment and thank you
September 2, 2009 at 4:47 p.m.Oh, please let it be true since it was in the paper IT IS FINALLY OVER....can we really believe that?
September 2, 2009 at 4:15 p.m.Fatal Funnel Finale......it says here in the headline, but I'll believe it when I see it. Of course, it could be kept "alive" on this forum with comments and blogs ad nauseum.
September 2, 2009 at 3:47 p.m.I am not a big fan of the AG running this series for it seems that most of the people here have a hate towards immigrants. Some type of discussion has to happen although most people have their minds already made up. Sheriff O'Connor made a salient point, if an illegal alien is arrested, they must informed ICE; however their job is not to actively look for them. This issue comes down to two items, racism or economics. One group is seeing their majority disappearing and feel threatened and the other group feel that illegal aliens are taking their jobs. Now some of you will say that is about the law or use that principle and I will say if you feel that strong about illegal aliens, then don’t buy anything that you might feel that it might be tainted by their hands, i.e. fruits, vegetables. If you feel that they are taking your jobs, by all means, become construction workers, day laborers and so forth. Supply and demand, find the jobs and get them. Now, if you do not get hired, do not blame the immigrants for they are just trying to work, blame the person that hired them. And for those that argue that is then crime, well, statistics show that the crimes they commit, is committed against fellow immigrants. I am not saying that there no crimes committed against people outside their group but the vast majority are towards their own and is not endemic. A caveat here though, immigrants are victims of crimes against them by people from other groups and they do not report these crimes because there is a fear that they will ask them for their "papers".
September 2, 2009 at 11:56 a.m.FIRST , I DONT GET HOW A MURDER IN VICTORIA HAS TO DO WITH IMMIGRATION WHEN THOSE PPL WHERE AMERICANS.... VICTORIANBYBIRTH THOSE PPL THAT COMMITED MURDER WHERE BORN AND RAISED IN VICTORIA , TEXAS. THEREFORE, THEY WERE AMERICAN CITIZENS .. DO UR HOMEWORK PLZ.. AND DONT TALK WHT U SUPPOSEDLY KNOW SPEAK WHT U DO KNOW ...
September 2, 2009 at 9:48 a.m.Macarena Hernandez is a brilliant, strong, powerful speaker. UHV is blessed in having someone like her. Hernandez's public appearance at the Leo J. Welder Center was not only outstanding, but brought alot of truth.It was an honor to hear her speak.
September 2, 2009 at 2:02 a.m.Not conforming does not make you a racist .Being tired of people judging you by your skin color does not make you a racist,speaking up against those that will try to hold a group of people down does not make you a racist. Blaming all of ones problems on a group of people that makesyou racist.Because i will not keep my mouth shut about something i see as wrong is my RIGHT ,and my duty as afather,son ,or brother.And the term "whitey"has never been said by me.vbb this goes to show once again you only see what you want.
September 2, 2009 at 1:54 a.m.Now, hide & watch as all my comments are deleted while others stay put.
September 2, 2009 at 12:34 a.m.Even you BigJ never call anyone whitey.
September 2, 2009 at 12:32 a.m.I'm sorry jtj, I thought you were Mexican. My point is the members of the Mexican Mafia & others tend to be chock full of illegals, people tend to overlook that fact.
BigJ, most of the others you are referring to never ever refer to other ethnicities with racial slurs as jtj does. He is full of hatred towards those not like him.
September 2, 2009 at 12:31 a.m.VBB people generally comment on a story on the same page as the story.In regards to the murder case i thought they were all legal,has that changed?It has always been "one of yours" in the presidential seat ,so...here we are!
September 2, 2009 at 12:26 a.m.This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
September 2, 2009 at 12:16 a.m.This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
September 2, 2009 at 12:12 a.m.This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
September 2, 2009 at 12:08 a.m.Ummm..no was referencing the recent murder here in Victoria.
September 2, 2009 at midnightvictorianbybirth, you are so classy with your great knowledge of alcohol linked with suicide. One word for you love, THERAPY!
September 1, 2009 at 11:56 p.m."It touches people's lives." Like a broken beer bottle to the throat.
September 1, 2009 at 11:47 p.m.