THANK YOU MAYOR ANTONIO VILLABABOSO.

YOU'VE HELPED TURN LOS ANGELES INTO A MEXICO CITY CESS POOL.

ONCE A GREAT CITY. ITS NOW A CESS POOL OF ILLEGALS AND GANGS!

THANKS VILLABABOSO.

Esteban you make some valid points the Aztecs were part of a civilization of savagery and barbarism in that they would sacrifice their best to the appease the gods. They fought many bloody wars for little to no reason and were ruthless victors. Bludgeoning men, woman and children with no signs of compassion for their victims. As such, historians tell us that is why the Spaniards were so brutal with the Aztec soldiers and men. The Spaniards knew that the Aztecs were ruthless people who would kill anyone they considered to be their enemy. It is for this basic reason that the Aztec legacy is met with little or no compassion for their losses. In the eyes of many historians and people from the regions of current day Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras there is very little sympathy for the failed legacy of the Aztecs. Very little. Much like with Genghis Khan and Adolf Hitler, history has written off their demise as poetic justice. I am glad to see such a colorful topic discussed.

What a joke you Moron!The Aztecs were barbarians you MORON! The Aztecs had as much ownership of the land which is present day crap hole called Mexico & Central America, as did THE MAYANS YOU FOOL! In fact the Aztecs STOLE LAND from the Mayans present day southern Mexico). The Mayans were FAR MORE advanced than the menso Aztecs. So we'll respect the menso Aztecs the day they:

A) Give the land they stole back to the Guatemalans

B) Go back & clean up their crap hole that they have destroyed (their country)

C) Take back all of their illegal aliens that are taking up space in our jails & prisons and costing us BILLIONS $

D) Take back their illegal aliens & anchor babies that are screwing up our public schools and cities.

E. PAY US RESTITUTION for the burden of all the illegal aliens & their anchor babies that have cost us trilions of dollars over the last 40 years.

Until then you know where YOU CAN GO!!

A los demas les mando saludos desde Miami!
Esteban Flores

Hola, while Cesar’s UFW Union was and is still in some way beneficial it may still in other ways not be. For instance I can remember the days when a worker could seek work around the grape vineyards or fruit and vegetable farms in California and be hired if needed directly by the grower without the approval from the Union. After the union came along if you weren’t a UFW member you couldn’t find work in the farm fields. So therefore you were forced to become a member whether you wanted or not. That’s not too democratic if you ask me. Chaves tried his tactics here in Texas without success. Texans didn’t need nor want his Union. They ran him back to California. Now don’t get me wrong because I do admire Chaves and what he achieved. He broke ground and barriers like no other before him had. But still he had his problems that somehow he never could understand and go about in ironing those out and now that he’s dead I doubt his Union will know how to proceed to succeed. I can see where Chaves might have made some mistakes or where he could have improved but that is a matter for future union leaders. You see when it comes to the undocumented worker problem Chaves didn’t solve anything because anybody could become a union member by only paying dues that were deducted from the paycheck. All you had to do was show a social security card and we all know only to well how easy it was back then even to get one legally from Uncle San let alone from the black market. Back then anybody could get a drivers license just by paying the fees and showing any kind of ID fake or not. So my friends the Immigration reform matter can only be resolved by a willing Congress and a willing Administration with the backing of a well informed public.
SALUDOS
gil

Hola, hey DOG (Dumb Old Gringo) alias Rudie Canalla, the people came to Mexico (New World ruled by the Aztecs) from across the ocean after Columbus led the way. I don’t remember the Aztecs giving them any visas. They were all illegal as can be and looters plus robbers to boot. They were murderers who came to Mexico under their so-called conquering ways. Now the original Mexicans come back to the land of their ancestors to work and they are told they are illegal. Now ain’t that the shits? All the people that came from overseas came here forcing themselves and their ways on the natives. Tell me who the illegals are? These founding fathers you speak of traded or bought land with and from other founding fathers that also came to Mexico from Spain, France, England and where not with no right to trade buy nor sell what was not theirs. So don’t be all Mr. Obey all laws with me Mr. Canalla because I know the real story and not no fairy tales like you and your likes are so fond of spreading. The truth prevails and the Godley truth is known to Christians. Mexicans have the God given birth right to open borders and free trade to anywhere they go in the Americas because they are the original and legal owners of the land, AMEN! YES! SI SE PUEDE!
SALUDOS
gil

Gil while it is true that the United States is made up of immigrants please understand that we are speaking of legal immigrants. If you are referring to the founding fathers that came here by ship in the 1600s you have to recognize the fact that at that time sovereignty was never an issue for any inhabitants of the "new world" as was called the Americas. More importantly is the fact that the vast majority of American migration from Europe came well after the 1850's when U.S. sovereignty was establsihed and recognized by all. From that time forward is when the vast number of immigrants came here from Europe through Ellis Island. Consequently, this debases your argument that America is made up of illegal immigrants. On the contrary, the vast number of Americans of European descent arrived through the means of legal due process.

Sailer's article accurately quotes Castañeda, who has on many occasions stated that illegal immigration prolongs Mexican poverty & coruption. I have to concur.

Hey DOG (Dumb Old Gringo) why don’t you tell as about the illegals that hid in the ships that came to America back god knows when! Or do you forget to remember that that’s how most families got started here in America. Illegally. Most people in America don’t even know where their ancestors came from and they don’t mention that they most likely came here as contraband.

(Here is an article regarding Cesar Chavez’ well documented opposition to illegal immigration)
CESAR CHAVEZ: THE UFW LEADER WAS NO FRIEND TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
By Steve Sailer
In California, only three birthdays are official state holidays: Jesus Christ’s, Martin Luther King’s, and Cesar Chavez’s. Beatification as a secular saint, though, isn’t always good for the soul. A recent four-part exposé by reporter Miriam Pawel in the Los Angeles Times revealed how the labor leader turned revered ethnic icon descended into paranoia, megalomania, and general crack-pottery in the 15 years before his death in 1993.

Today, his United Farm Workers functions less as a union—it represents only 2 percent of the California agricultural workforce—than as a lucrative Latino-pride fundraising machine providing sinecures for a dozen Chavez relatives. Pawel writes, “Chavez’s heirs run a web of tax-exempt organizations that exploit his legacy and invoke the harsh lives of farm workers to raise millions of dollars in public and private money. The money does little to improve the lives of California farm workers, who still struggle with the most basic health and housing needs and try to get by on seasonal, minimum-wage jobs.”

From 1965 to 1981, the UFW succeeded in raising wages significantly for stoop laborers in California. Since then, their pay has fallen, and they’ve lost most of the fringe benefits they had won. Today, most make less than $10,000 per year. Hundreds were discovered near Salinas living in caves, a mass indignity that even that town’s most famous son, John Steinbeck, barely anticipated in The Grapes of Wrath.

Unfortunately, in focusing on gossip about the personal foibles of Chavez and his successors, the LA Times series completely ignored the politically incorrect paradox of who was most responsible for wiping out the gains Mexican-American farm workers had achieved through strikes and consumer boycotts: illegal immigrants from Mexico.

Tectonic shifts in demographics made possible both the rise of the UFW after Congress ended the bracero guest-worker program in 1964 and the union’s fall following the explosion in illegal immigration.
Chavez was a more interesting figure than either the plaster idol worshipped in the public schools or the celebrity control-freak denigrated in the LA Times. Chavez embodied both the old class politics and the new identity politics. Out of this duality grew the fundamental conflict of his life. What was more important, la causa or la raza? The UFW union or the Mexican race? This irresolvable contradiction culminated in the terrible ironies of his tragic later years and the uselessness of the UFW ever since.

During his prime, Chavez, a third-generation American citizen from Yuma, Arizona and Navy veteran, was an American labor leader fighting against the importation of strikebreakers from Mexico. But as power and praise went to his head, his image morphed into that of a Mexican mestizo racial emblem, the patron saint of the reconquista of Alta California by la raza.

In 2006, we automatically assume that America’s self-appointed Latino leaders—the politicians, campaign consultants, media mouthpieces, and identity-politics warriors—favor ever more immigration. Their influence and income flow from their claim to represent vast numbers of Hispanics, so the more warm bodies they can get across the border, the larger will be the ethnic quotas upon which their careers are based. But the union leader who is honestly battling for the welfare of his members—as opposed to the boss merely attempting to maximize the number of dues-paying workers—wants less competition for them.

Chavez’s essential problem was straight out of Econ 101, the law of supply and demand. He needed to limit the supply of labor in order to drive up wages. Just as American Federation of Labor founder Samuel Gompers, himself a Jewish immigrant, was one of the most influential voices calling for the successful immigration-restriction law of 1924, Chavez, during his effectual years, was a ferocious opponent of illegal immigration.

His success stemmed from the long-term decline in the farm labor supply. According to agricultural economist Philip L. Martin of the University of California, Davis, migrant farm workers in the U.S. numbered 2 million in the 1920s. Eisenhower cracked down on Mexican illegal immigrants, shipping one million home in 1954 alone. The famous 1960 “Harvest of Shame” documentary by CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow inspired liberal Democrats in Congress to abolish the bracero guest-worker program in 1964. The supply of migrant workers dropped to about 200,000, most of them American citizens, making unionization and better contracts feasible—as long as what Marx called “the reserve army of the unemployed” could be bottled up south of the border. The next year, Chavez began his storied organizing campaign.

Growers fought back by busing the reserve army up from Mexico. In 1979, Chavez bitterly testified to Congress:

… when the farm workers strike and their strike is successful, the employers go to Mexico and have unlimited, unrestricted use of illegal alien strikebreakers to break the strike. And, for over 30 years, the Immigration and Naturalization Service has looked the other way and assisted in the strikebreaking. I do not remember one single instance in 30 years where the Immigration service has removed strikebreakers. … The employers use professional smugglers to recruit and transport human contraband across the Mexican border for the specific act of strikebreaking…

In 1969, Chavez led a march to the Mexican border to protest illegal immigration. Joining him were Sen. Walter Mondale and Martin Luther King’s successor as head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Ralph Abernathy.

The UFW picketed INS offices to demand closure of the border. Chavez also finked on illegal alien scabs to la migra. Columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. reported in the Arizona Republic, “Cesar Chavez, a labor leader intent on protecting union membership, was as effective a surrogate for the INS as ever existed. Indeed, Chavez and the United Farm Workers Union he headed routinely reported, to the INS, for deportation, suspected illegal immigrants who served as strikebreakers or refused to unionize.”

Like today’s Minutemen, UFW staffers under the command of Chavez’s brother Manuel patrolled the Arizona-Mexico border to keep out illegal aliens. Unlike the well-behaved Minutemen, however, Chavez’s boys sometimes beat up intruders.

Successful unionization typically leads to management investing in mechanization, which reduces the number of jobs. United Mine Workers boss John L. Lewis proclaimed that he intended to force underground coalminers’ wages up so high that his union would shrink. If his members were paid enough today, they could afford to educate their kids to earn a less dangerous living by the time the bosses had figured out how to do without most of them.

During the 1970s, a similarly benign outcome appeared inevitable for American stoop laborers. The inflated piecework rates paid UFW members impelled simple productivity improvements such as light aluminum ladders for fruit tree pickers, to be followed, it was expected, by mechanization. In Ventura County, the average output of lemon pickers during the UFW’s reign rose from 3.4 boxes per hour in 1965 to 8.4 boxes by 1978. A few more decades of high pay, it appeared, would eventually turn these literally backbreaking jobs into merely a painful memory.

Then the 1982 Mexican economic collapse sent a flood of illegal immigrants north. Growers that had signed generous contracts with the UFW got out of the business and were replaced by new firms that relied upon subcontractors for cheap workers, no questions asked about their documents. Automation efforts slowed.

The rotten pay and conditions suffered by today’s workers—three laborers died of heat stroke last summer—are a matter of supply and demand. The government can pass regulations, but if there are enough jobseekers on the spot to undercut their fellow workers, laws hardly matter.

Economist Martin has noted, “We have essentially privatized the immigration policy of this country, and left it in the hands of California’s growers.” The benefit to the consumer is minor. Martin notes that about 7 percent of the price paid by shoppers for strawberries goes to the pickers. In return, the public picks up the tab for the workers’ medical care and their children’s schooling. A National Academy of Sciences commission estimated in 1997 that an immigrant without a high-school degree ultimately costs America $100,000 more than he contributes.

In the 1980s, the UFW declined into irrelevance as it ascended into the pantheon of political correctness. Losing interest in the gritty work of organizing, the aging Chavez began to back mass immigration as he became a symbol of Latino identity politics.

Chavez’s ambivalence about immigration is also widespread among the Latino-American electorate. A 2002 survey by the Pew Hispanic Center found that 48 percent of Latino registered voters felt there were “too many” immigrants in the U.S. today, while only 7 percent thought there were “too few.” This shouldn’t be startling since Hispanics suffer mass immigration’s most direct consequences: lowered wages, stressed schools, and that annoying third cousin from Hermosillo who shows up uninvited and wants to sleep on the couch until he gets himself established in a few years.

Yet when the Pew interviewers immediately rephrased the question in ethnocentric terms to read, “Thinking about Latin American immigrants who come to work in the United States,” suddenly only 21 percent of Latino voters wanted to “reduce the number” and 36 percent wished to “allow more.” Thus, Hispanic activists can easily arouse for their own profit understandable but irrational racial chauvinism.

The emergence of a truly Latino-American leader like the young Chavez, one more interested in the economic advancement of his own American ethnic group than in identity politics, would be good for American Hispanics, good for other Americans, and good for Mexico as well. As former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge G. Castaneda has admitted, the mostly unfenced border allows Mexico’s largely white ruling class to bleed off the discontented poor rather than make the fundamental reforms necessary to fix that dysfunctional country. Yet any of that is unlikely as long as the truth about Chavez is so little known.

_____________________________________________

Steve Sailer is TAC’s film critic and a VDARE.com columnist.

Sr. Martinez the problem of illegal immigration has plagued us for many years. Not only has it been a burden to the American tax payer but also to the Latino community. This is something that most people, both Latino and non latino, do not understand. For example, Cesar Chavez, the esteemed union organizer for the farm workers was a staunch opponent of illegal immigration. Not because he did not like or had any animosity toward Latinos (Mexicanos); not at all. Chavez was against illegal immigration because it gave more power and leverage to the growers, the farm owners who were mistreating and under paying the Mexican farm workers. So having a steady influx of illegal migrant workers gave the upper hand and strength to the farm owners and weakened the workers. Today's economy is no different. Whether it be agriculture, construction, manufacturing or the hospitality industry uncontrolled illegal immigration weakens the newly arrived 1st generation immigrant.

It's simple economics.

Mr. Sonntag, forgive me for taking the liberty of re-posting your commentary. I did so because I thought it was so well written, expressive and very much in line with how most Americans view illegal immigration; including Hispanic Americans. If you recall Propositions 187 (in Ca) and 200 (in Az), laws that prohibited public services to illegal alien, both passed with great support from the Latino community.

You won't hear or read Ms Salinas ever make mention of this well known fact: MOST HISPANIC AMERICANS ARE AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

I welcome your comments and look forward to your continued contributions to this discussion and issue.

David Martinez
Los Angeles, Ca

“Immigrants have found a difficult road this year”

I am time and time again appalled at your view of the immigrants that you refer to, which mainly describes the Mexican people.
You mentioned that Mexicans find it increasingly more difficult to live in the United States without being harassed by random immigration raids and collateral arrests in the workplace and family neighborhoods. You use language like hostile stands against undocumented immigrants, discrimination, increased hate crimes and racial profiling, blaming all this on the U.S Government.

First of all, can you actually and honestly start calling the facts the way they are?
Undocumented immigrants are “Illegal immigrants” as they should be referred to.
Let’s turn the situation around and pretend that Mexico is the “land of opportunity” and the U.S. a corrupt government driven society.
Here we are coming into your country illegally and take advantage of the free schooling, free medical help, free everything that I can take advantage of. The Mexican people are paying for the “freebies” that I as an illegal immigrant can take advantage of and the babies that are born in Mexico are immediately a citizen of your country although I am not.
Imagine the cost that you would have to bear to support such a system as we do here in the U.S. right now. How would you feel if this is the case?
Your argument is that the illegals are contributing to the economy of this country by being paid lower wages to the sum of 30 billion dollars, according to your figures. You failed to mention how much it costs the American taxpayers to supply these illegal workers with the benefits that they are not contributing to. The cost is multiple times more than what is being contributed by the illegal workers. I must agree with you that many unscrupulous employers are taking advantage of the illegals by keeping them in fear of being deported and consequently pay them lower wages. These employers should be indeed severely fined for basically slave labor and paying substandard wages.

The problem is that Mexico is rich in natural resources and it can offer a better lifestyle for their people if the Government was not so corrupt and stealing the average person blind.
Why doesn’t President Calderon keep a better eye on the border on the Mexican side instead of showing a grandiose stand by going to Tijuana and welcoming back those that have been deported or coming back dejected.

The majority of the American people are not anti Mexican or anti immigrants but we are definitely in favor of secure and closed borders so that we can feel we are protected. Wouldn’t you have the same concerns for Mexico? I would imagine so would everybody.

Again, everything needs to be kept in prospective and you need not fuel the anti Mexican feelings by mentioning that we as Americans treat the illegals inhumanely and without dignity and respect.
As soon as we can agree that nobody can come into to the U.S. illegally and that all must obey by our laws, than perhaps the hostile feelings towards the Hispanic population may diminish. This will show the respect and dignity to our country and our people as an outsider coming here.
I also came to the U.S. as a legal immigrant many years ago and I have served and respected the laws of this country and my family has had also hardships.
But we kept in mind that we are always trying to do better for ourselves by learning the language and immerse ourselves in the society and not stand out by being a “foreigner”.
My kids do not speak with an accent and they have not been given preferential treatment by any Government institution and they also speak their mother language. We raised them speaking English in the house and taught them also their mother language.

In your future columns you may want to wake up your fellow Hispanics by showing and telling them to start learning the language and immerse in OUR country and our system.
It is embarrassing to see that the students of the High school District where I live has only a language passing grade of 35% and one of the highest drop-out rate in the state. This is holding back the students that want to learn and those that are non-Hispanic, which are very few in this District.
I am NOT anti immigration, nor am I anti Hispanic, judging by my circle of friends, but I am for LEGAL IMMIGRATION to this country that has given me the opportunities that I am very grateful for as an immigrant myself.

Rolf Sonntag
La Quinta, CA

ESteban the bible tells us that in the end times satan will wreak havoc on earth, spreading crime and chaos. Satan & his disciples thrive in an uncontrolled, crazed atmosphere. This what is happening in Mexico. There is chaos where the evil ones are ruling the country and roam the streets at will.

Consequently I have to say that I too believe the bible correctly admonishes the lawless and in this case illegal immigration & all of the ills and deceit that go with it. Illegal aliens have not received a welcome by anyone other than the illegals because of the nature of the matter: illegal activity based in & of itself is never a good thing. Additionally, illegal aliens from Mexico as many here have said are not in the same conditions as many around the world like India, China, Pakistan & Africa. As a Latino it saddens me to say but these people would give up their lives to come here & they would contribute to society instead of trying to cheat the system. Its sad but true.

Two Sides of the Same Coin
The Connection Between Legal and Illegal Immigration
By James R. Edwards, Jr.
James R. Edwards, Jr., Ph.D., is an adjunct fellow with the Hudson Institute, co-author of The Congressional Politics of Immigration
Reform, and contributor to several published volumes concerning immigration issues. His writings have appeared in The
New York Times, The Washington Times, Human Events, and other publications.
Are massive legal immigration and massive illegal immigration related? If so, how? Many in policy circles
hold a view of “legal immigration, good; illegal immigration, bad.”1 The logical extensions of such a simplistic
perspective are to assume that the overall level of legal immigration does not matter and to underestimate
any correlation to illegal immigration. But the facts show a distinct connection exists.
In brief, this report finds:
• Legal and illegal immigration are inextricably related. As legal immigration levels have risen markedly since
1965, illegal immigration has increased with it.
• The share of the foreign-born population who are illegal aliens has risen steadily. Illegal aliens made up 21
percent of the foreign-born in 1980, 25 percent in 2000, and 28 percent in 2005.
• Mexico is the primary source country of both legal and illegal immigrants. Mexico accounted for about 30
percent of the foreign-born in 2000, and more than half of Mexicans residing in the United States in 2000
were illegal aliens.
• The level of illegal immigration is severely masked by several amnesties that legalized millions of unlawfully
resident aliens. The largest amnesty was the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, which legalized 3
million aliens.
• Amnestied aliens to date have been fully eligible to sponsor additional immigrants. This has contributed to
the ranks of immigrants, both legal and illegal (and often both).
• Many aliens who receive a permanent resident visa each year have spent years living in the United States
illegally.
• “Anchor babies” and “chain migration” provide opportunities for many aliens to plant roots in the United
States. Those aliens might not otherwise have done so.
• An overly generous legal immigration preference system, whose bias is toward relatives and against ability, sets
unrealistic expectations. Many aliens who technically qualify to immigrate face the reality of backlogs and
waiting lists.
• Amnesties, technical qualification for a visa, chain migration, and vast opportunities to come to the United
States (particularly via tourist visa, the most abused visa by eventual immigrants, according to the New Immigrant
Survey) all foster an “entitlement mentality” among many foreigners.

Martinez, Obama is going tp start kicking out the illegal aliens because the auto industry and the unions are behind him. They helped finance much of his campaign. They need to make sure the American worker is protected and that means shutting down the trade imbalance with China for cheap goods and Japan for cars. At the same time Obama realizes that the borders have got to be closed and that illegal aliens have to be sent back. This is all part of the plan. Anything other than this and we'll have chaos and financial disasters even worse than we have now. Obama is a wise man he will not bite the hand that feeds him for if he does he will be a lame duck one term president when the Republicans take control of congress in 2010. Bill Clinton was smart emough to understand this and that's why he worked with the Republican congress to make sure the extreme left nor the extreme right were kept in check. Obama will do the right thing as you have stated.

LA VOZ DE AZTLAN
Los Angeles, Alta California
November 6, 2008

President Hussein Obama appoints Israeli Zionist as "Chief of Staff"

Rahm Emanuel, born in Israel and with deep Zionist roots, has been appointed White House Chief of Staff by President elect Barack Hussein Obama. Rahm Emanuel is said to hold dual US/Israel citizenship and his father Benjamin M. Emanuel was a member of the Zionist Irgun terrorist organization responsible for the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946.

Irgun was also involved in the Deir Yassin Massacre along with the Stern Gang in 1948. The Deir Yassin Massacre resulted in the murder of 254 peaceful Palestinian villagers, over half of them women and children. See a Deir Yassin Massacre Documentary at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prLPvqttW9c

Rahm Emanuel spends a lot of time in Tel Aviv and was a special Israeli Defense Forces operative during the 1991 Gulf War. He had undisclosed assignments at an army base in northern Israel.

In an interview today with the Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv, Rahm's father, Benjamin Emanuel, said he was convinced that his son's appointment would be good for Israel. "Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel," he was quoted as saying. "Why wouldn't he be? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to clean the floors of the White House." The Ma'ariv article also quoted Benjamin Emanuel as saying that his son spends most summers visiting in Tel Aviv, and that he speaks Hebrew.

Also today, the Jerusalem Post reports that the "Israeli Iron Lady" Tzipi Livni has already sent orders to President Obama to not to talk with Iran just yet. "We need to fight extremism," Livni said as she stood next to outgoing US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at a joint press conference in the home of the American ambassador to Israel.. "We need to continue the pressure on Iran and I believe that the idea of continuing the pressure comes with more intense and effective sanctions on the Iranians."

We are getting a clearer picture now who might be pulling the strings on Obama.

http://www.aztlan.net/obama_appoints_zionist.htm

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
La Voz de Aztlan
Website http:/www.aztlan.net
Contact:
http://www.aztlan.net/contactlavozdeaztlan.html
Join Project Amigos
http://www.aztlan.net/project_amigos.htm

I have read your column for awhile now and you have a very good outlook on the topics you cover. I would like to mention that not only is Obama a African-American, even though I think your either American or not American, everyone has forgotten he is also white. I wish I knew his mother's heritage so I could say German-American or the like to keep it in perspective. By the way I am American (Native American) to keep it in perspective.

Byron, I understand your frustration over this issue. Unfortunately, most of the liberal media does not care about babies or fetuses being murdered. Many in the liberal media are so far entrenched in the idea that abortion (the murdering of unborn children) is a "right" that they simply look at those who care about the unborn dead as "Christian right wing fanatics".

All I can say is that their time will come. One day they will have to answer for their inhumane nature and actions on the innocent unborn or for WHY they did NOTHING while millions died.

THIS is a prime example of why the Latino community, and namely the Mexican community, is in such turmoil. The Spanish media that feeds them nothing but lies is morally bankrupt.

I pray to God that Obama, who I believe will be a good president, will be humane to the weak and innocent (the unborn) as the faithful Christian that he claims to be. If he is not, then God help us all.

God help us all.

salina,the reason our country is divided is simple. one party backs abortion and the other upholds the sanictity of life. i heard an interview of a former nurse who worked at a abortion clinic. she said she made big money but couldn,t take it any more. the partial birth abortion procedure was the final blow that made her quit. most people don,t know what it is. the baby is killed when it,s head is partialy out . thay is why it is called '' partial birth'' a full 9 month old baby murdered. so salina if the 2 supreem court justices resign next year we will have the partial birth issus up for vote again.

Juan, actually Latinos did NOT play any bigger role in this election than in any other over the last 40 years. It was the BLACK VOTER & the NEW REGISTERED VOTER that made the significant difference. Blacks came out to vote in record numbers; the same with new registered voters. Obama had a 3 to 1 advantage over McCain with the new voter & a 10 to 1 advantage from the black vote. Consequently, Obama was able to secure more than a 10 point popular vote victory.

The large & significant numbers came directly from the black voter & the new registered voter, many who were black & white.

You must understand that Latinos generally vote Democrat. Obama got almost 70% of the Latino vote to McCains 30%+.

THIS is NOT great considering that Latinos 20 years ago voted 90% Democrat. But these numbers do not mean anything if Latinos do NOT come out in record numbers (meaning more & more Latinos are voting).

The fact is Latinos are NOT voting in greater PER CAPITA (%) numbers, unfortunately.

Your opinion piece of President elect "Obama must keep Latinos in mind" from my point of view is crucial. When you look at the state who flip from Red to blue it was those state whose Latino voters showed up and voted for Senator Obama. When you look at the south with the exception of NC and Fl important as they are he would have come up short with the on electoral votes with the state w/hi latino voters. The turn out of 10-11 mill votes and more then likely even 14-15 million in the next up-coming 4 yrs. President elect and the DEMOCRATES will do well to keep this in mind as they move ahead to include Latino in the this adminstration. Thank you for your opinion article.

Well said Doug, very well said. I agree with you. We should not look to the govt as an entitlement for anything other than what the govt's role is: to protect the property, freedom & liberties of its citzenry and maintain the infrastucture (roads & highhways). IT's NOT the govt's role or job to:

* Pay out money to anyone (welfare)
* Create jobs
* Offer social service programs, etc.

These are the great fallacies of the socialists & many liberals in the Democratic party. Show me a true socialist country & I'll show you a dysfucntional bankrupt country whose people live in squalor & poverty.

Maria Salinas & anyone of the socialist mindset have no business asking (or demanding) of our govt "What's in it for me?"

MARIA SALINAS NO ONE OWES YOU OR ANYONE ELSE ANYTHING.

IF YOU FEEL YOU ARE OWED ANYTHING THEN YOU MUST HAVE PAID FOR IT AND DEVELOPED IT.

OUR AMERICAN GOVT OWES YOU OR ME NOTHING OTHER THAN NATIONAL & DOMESTIC SECURITY (& what I mentioned above).
Thank you

Re: Article "Obama must keep Latinos in mind"...Yes, I too am an american who felt very proud of my country following the Obama victory, even though I did not vote for him. But I also felt that your portrayal of "What is President-elect Obama going to do for the Latino community in exchange for its support" is symptomatic of the cause of many of our issues today. Why do many of us feel as though we require something in return for executing our constitutional right to vote for our candidate? This, to me, is why our country has sort of a "welfare mentality" to expect that we are to receive something from the government. Instead, I believe that the freedoms that we are all offered in this country allows us to achieve greatness without the gov'ts "help". True, many people in this country are sufferring, but I do not believe that the solution is the gov't or more "pork" coming my way. It would be nice if other members of the media would believe this also.

Barack Obama has stated on many occasions that he is for immigration enforcement. Yes it is true that his campaign and constituents are the unions and union workers from Illinois, Michigan, Penn, and other industrial union states. Consequently it would make sense that Obama would have to cater to the needs of the American people, namely the aforementioned unions. I have to believe this is a primary reason why so many moderate Republicans are turning their backs on McCain and supporting Obama. McCain, according to the GOP faithful, has turned his back on them. Obama on the other hand is forced to back his constituents and largest financial contributors: the unions of the mid west and those that support American labor. It is fair to assess that illegal immigrants are a threat to American labor, just as Cesar Chavez predicted in the 1960's. Cesar Chaves was a staunch opponent of illegal immigration because he knew that an uncontrolled flow of cheap labor would weaken the migrant farm worker and their plight to obtain rights and organize. Ironically some 40 years later American workers, including Latino Americans are faced with the same dilemma of having an uncontrolled massive flow of cheap, unskilled labor. This massive flow has been slowed down significantly over the last 2 years due to the economy and it is estimated that many illegal immigrants have returned to their country of origin for lack of work.
Obama understands that his constituents and financial supporters will be angered if he does not live up to his word; as was the case with the GOP. Many within the GOP did not like their candidate, John McCain. Many felt that he was the worst of their pool of candidates. However, McCain being somewhat of a moderate (or “maverick” as he calls himself) was able to pull enough votes in the primaries from the more right wing voters of the GOP. Needless to say, McCain’s unpopularity within the GOP coupled with a dismal GOP administration the last 8 years that McCain is associated with (rightly or not) has left him in dire straights with the mainstream voters and with the GOP moderates who want SOMETHING of their agenda to be implemented.
Obama even though he is NOT a conservative by any means, is one that understands the American economy and specifically the dynamics of the labor market. He knows that he has to protect the American worker by penalizing American companies that leave to do business elsewhere and ALSO those that hire illegal immigrants. Obama understands the need to protect America’s interests and that means making certain that American companies are given the incentives to STAY in the USA and to ENFORCE immigration laws through the hiring of legal employees.
These are the changes that Americans are looking for.

James, I was wondering who you are endorsing for President: McCain or Obama? I see that both candidates have pledged to eliminate illegal immigration that has cost so much money and problems. I personally think that Obama is the stronger of the two in this category because he is backed by unions and these unions see illegal immigration as nothing but trouble and more costs to the American tax payers.

I believe that Obama will be more aggressive in stopping the ilegals from crossing our borders. McCain claims that he will do the same but he has not shown us the will to do what is needed. On the other hand Obama is his own man he will not cower to any of the open borders lunatics, plus these crazy people are losing the battle and war. Americans, as you and others have noted are no longer putting up with the illegal alien lobbyists.

I welcome your opinion and would enjoy your iput.

Best regards,

Akbar Motaze
UTEP

In a recent column, you quoted Maria Teresa Peterson concerning young Latinos voting in the upcoming election. Peterson said that these young were "proud of their Latino heritage'. My question is why are they proud of their Latino heritage? What, specifically, makes them proud? I.m sure you have an answer, Ms. Salinas

One last word for all Latinos...let's stop the blame game and start loving each other and all other races because we are all the same. Get up and make something of urselves! I am an ex-gangmember who really got caught up in mafia stuff, then did almost 6 years in prison, and got deported. As I came to this country, people rejected me for my past. It seemed almost impossible for me to fit in but I didn't go cry to the government or anyone. I got up, started studying everything possible, got my degree, got my job, helped even those who rejected me when they needed me, and in the end it was all worth it. I fought evil with love and love overcame. Learn to understand each other and to accept people even if you disagree with them. Get up and fight evil with love and evil will be overcome. Don't fight fire w/fire because the fire will only grow; throw water on fire and the fire will be put out. Latinos...get up and fight w/hard work and love and I know we will overcome! Love u all, Charlie!

If you remember me, I was on one of ur interviews in El Salvador about the MS gang (the one w/glasses). Although we may have disagreed in certain political views, I certainly do admire and wish the best for you. You're part of the voice of Latinos and I grew up watching you while I was in L.A. Keep speaking out against injustice and for what u believe is right. My prayers are always with u as I remember that u ate pupusas w/us overhere and we really enjoyed ur presence. I showed my parents in the U.S. some of the pics I took of u and they were really happy to see that u came here. Their thoughts and prayers are also w/you. Keep being strong, keep helping those women that suffer from low self-esteem, keep representing those who need justice, and most of all keep being urself and even more! Always comfort those in pain and bring a smile to those in sadness. Thank you so very much for being who you are and may God continue to bless u always. Love, ur friend Charlie :)

Well, Raquel, thanks I actually got the # for the Mexican Embassy from this lady at a Catholic Charity, whose number was given to me by this guy at the LULAC district office in Houston, whose # was given to me by the LULAC lady in Washington, D.C., whose # was given to me by a LULAC council guy here in Washington state... Lol... I called many many places that day... I still need to call the Mexican Embassy. I have gotten many many references and I am very very thankful for everyone who's given me any information on who and where to call. Thanks, to everyone...

Sonia be careful. I would not listen to much of what Gil has to say. He has a history of posting racist and hateful comments against others here, and as such, he is not taken seriously at all. On the other hand David made some very kind and noble suggestions.

Have you consulted a family law attorney? You might want to get the advice of one; most do so with no charge for the first consultation. The same with an immigration lawyer as well. There are a few out there that might take your case Pro Bono, if in fact it has legal merit.

God bless you and your family and I hope that your nephews are reunited with their family.

David,
Thank you very much. I will do that.

Sonia, try posting this on various websites, for example:

Hispanicbusiness.com
Maldef
Lulac

All have forums or contact information. Maldef and Lulac might be able to help.

Good luck.

ANYONE WHO CAN HELP PLEASE WRITE A COMMENT BACK I WILL GIVE MORE INFORMATION AND DETAILS ON HOW TO CONTACT ME... Thank you...

To ANYONE:
I am writing you because my sister has begged me to. This is one of our many cries out for help in this matter. I am hoping to at least get some attention to what is being done to my family.
My name is Sonia Payan. I'm a Specialist in the United States Army. I'm currently in Fort Lewis, Washington, but I was born in Houston, Texas and lived there until I joined the military in January 2005. My family still lives there. I am writing you (like I mentioned earlier) on behalf of my sister. She is currently in a federal prison in Conroe, Texas, and has been there since January 2008. Teh reasons for this is because on December 2007 she was caught in the US after being deported for being here illegally. Her own husband's family called ICE and told them all her information. She has lived in this country since the year 1986 or something like that. I am not sure of the dates because I was born in the year 1986 and everything from those times is what I've been told. My sister was brought here by my mother at a very young age. She grew up here, went to school here, and I know that by the age of 16, I believe, she already was a legalized permanent resident in this country. She got into some trouble growing up. First with a possession charge at the age of 18, for which she was given probation for 3 years. She then revoked her probation on the year 2001 (I was 15 and involved in a physical altercation with another girl my age. My sister became physically involved, ands therefore charged with "Injury to a Child becasue she was 21) and was sentenced to prison for 2 years, which she served one year of and was released on parole on August 2002. She completed her parole in the year 2003. In the year 2006, I believe, she met a man who would become her husband after that. He is an American citizen. They were wed (I think) on January 2007. She had her first child from him on February 4, 2008. (She had two children already from another relationship.) All three children are American citizens. On July 19, 2007, my sister went to take her exam to become an American citizen. She was denied (for reasons unbeknowst to us at the time), and detained. She was ordered to be deported on December 18. Her three children and her husband were still in Houston. Right after she was deported her, my mom, and my sister's husband tried to help her come back across illegally. They were caught, my sister was arrested again, and my mom and my sister's ex-husband were let go. My sister's marriage fell apart. Her husband decided the stress was too much, I guess understandably so. He told her he wanted nothing to do with any of it anymore. I guess after getting caught he was shaken up. My sister found yet another way to come back to Houston. I would tel lyou all the hell she went through, but it really is too much. Let me just say, I know that even though I've been trained by the US Army, I wouldn't have been able to do what she did. She made it all the way back to Houston by herself. She went to what used to be her house and saw her kids after 5 months of not being able to touch them. Her husband and his mother made it clear that he did not plan on staying with her. She was later banned from going to his house. Then he stopped bringing the baby to go see her. Next thing you know, ICE officer showed up and detained her yet once more. This time, they had been given her SS#, her vehicel's VIN #, my mom's vehicle's make and model, the name of my mom's business, my niece and nephew's school name. My sister's hisband's mom had made sure they knew everything. She convinced them that my sister had returned to the United States to kill her husband and kidnap their child. After her arrest, her husband changed his number, stopped answering any of our calls, including my niece and nephew calling to see their little brother. He had me, my niece, my brother and my mom as his friends on his MySpace account, but deleted us. I haven't talked to him or anyone in that family in... a very long time. My sister was recently visited by some lawyer and he told her her divorce was final. He had filed for divorce and claimed she had abandoned the marriage. He got full custody of the baby. My sister may have lost her rights in this country. She may have broken the law. And, as a matter of fact, we are all still very confused about to why she was banned fro life from this country. She was sorking for the City of Houston at the time of her arrest in July 2007. She had been paying her taxes. She has 3 children that are all American citizens, as well as her husband. There has to be something wrong in what was done. Even if there wasn't, I highly doubt that she, in losing her right to live in this country, has also lost her rights as a mother. There has to be something wrong in what is being done to her. I would like to have this publicized. I would like for people to hear this story. I am makin videos on YouTube for my baby nephew so if in case we can't get in touch with him, he will one day see that the rest of his family is looking for him. I am also having my sister mail me letters for him so I can record myself reading them and then upload the videos online so him, as well as any woman who has children taken away from her life in that way can see and hear her story. We have no idea how to fight this, and also have no means of gettign a high-powered lawyer's defense. My brother wrote Senators when he was in Iraq, I wrote Senators from here, I wrote MSNBC, I tried to write CNN, I will continue to write until someone responds. I would be thankful forever if you at least responded, which would be more than I can say for everyone else I've written about this to. Thank your for your time.

Hello Gloria, that's a nice gesture but not realistic at all simply because the bad loans have been sold several times over to various finance and mortgage lenders who are stcuk with bad paper.

Simply "re-doing the paper work" (loan docs) to make it more affordable is not an option. The losses on bad loans have been passed onto so many lenders that it has snow balled into a such a severe disaster.

The bottom line is: we should NOT bail out banks and mortgage companies for being lax on pre-qualifying to whom they loan to.

Barny Frank and the other ridiculously foolish democrats that were urging Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to loan to everyone REGARDLESS of their income and whether or not they were able to pay the loan, should be held accountable.

These fools along with some of the CEOs and directors thatfled with millions should be on trial for gross negligence and malfeasance of public funds and trust.

Thank you,

David Martinez
Los Angeles, Ca

Hello,
I work for a Credit Union in South West Kansas, I read one of your articles in regards to those loosing homes b/c of high variable interest rates. I'm in the business of Repossesions and Foreclosures myself, so I feel that maybe by throwing out this idea maybe someone can read it and put it to use, I know each state is different and it may not apply to certain states. In order to help those who have fallen behind on payments we take certain measures such as Forebearance agreements, extensions and refinancing. I believe that if those financial institutions who have several clients who are behind and close to foreclosure would refinance them to a fixed interest rate and move the interest earned due to those high interest rates to a 0% interest loan and give a short term on it, they would have a better chance at saving the loan and those clients could keep their homes plus now the financial institution would not come up loosing b/c the interest rate will be paid for.
Thanks,
gm

Jim, I am glad to say that Maria speaks only for herself and not the rest of us Latino-Americans (Mex-Americans). Her arguments are weak at best and really absurd.


1) If the buyers did not know whatthey were signing (which is insane) then WHY DID THEY SIGN?

2) Loan officers are bilingual these days, WHO IS SHE KIDDING?

3) Many mortgage contracts are in Spanish.

4) If these "poor Latinos" could not afford these homes THEN THEY SHOULD NOT TRIED TO BUY HOMES THAT WERE CLEARLY OUT OF THEIR PRICE RANGE.

What is insane about these arguments is that the Democrats through the coersion of people in congress like Barney Frank, Maxine Waters and Rangel cried for Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac to lower their standards for qualifying.

NOW AMERICANS ARE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG (DEBT) FOR THE INSANE SOCIALIST IDEALS OF PEOPLE LIKE THE AFOREMENTIONED & MARIA SALINAS.

IT'S OK TO GIVE MONEY AWAY TO THE "POOR" AS LONG AS IT IS SOMEONE ELSE'S MONEY & NOT THEIRS.

HYPOCRITES.

Maria stated in her article that "Latinos" are hit hardest by the bank faliures because many received home owner backed financing. One only goes to a home onwer for financing a home for three primary reason:
1) A bank will not lend the money
2) The individual has bad credit
3) The individual can not afford the home with stated income.

Also she states many didn't understand what the terms of their loan were. Another perfect example why "Latinos, Mexicans" or whatever you choose to be called shoul learn, speak, and understand the language of the country you live in.

Ladies and gentlemen of this fine forum, as you can clearly see Gil is a racist and quite delusional. What many in the pro illegal immigration faction do not understand, many Latino Americans (actually MOST) are against illegal immigration. However, people like Gil and many of the socialist ideologues in the California senate that have bankrupt our once great state are equally delusional in understanding that most Mexican-Americans do NOT want rampant uncontrolled illegal immigration.

As I have noted several times before, we voted overwhelmingly for Propositions 187 in Califas and 200 in Az. Both of these propositions prohibited illegal aliens from receiving state funded benefits and programs. Latinos came out in big numbers in favor of prohibiting illegal aliens from receiving state funded benefits.

Gil, if you wish to deceive yourself that is your perogative. However, the vast majority of us Latino Americans prefer the truth: illegal immigration must be stopped.

Martin, illegal imigration has always declined during tough economic times here in the USA. The question is: How long will this last? How long will we be at peace without more massive invasions of Mexico's ills? Yes, I agree that this is a silver lining but we still have a criminal and unfriendly government with massive problems at our door steps. We MUST secure our borders with a state-of-the-art wall and with our military. Furthermore, we should use military force at will when necessary against the evil Mexican police and the Mexican drug dealers; BOTH that are one and the same.

Yes, Martin I do agree that this is a silver lining. But we still have a long ways to go. We need to turn away the 25 million illegal aliens and their anchor babies before we can start celebrating. This is very much possible, but we need to encourage them to return to their country of origin.

David Martinez.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION DECLINES AS U.S. ECONOMY FALTERS
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, Associated Press Writer Thu Oct 2, 10:57 AM ET

(Thank God there is a silver lining to our economic woes. At least we don’t have tens of millions of illegal aliens storming our borders. It’s time Mexico takes of its own people and the problems they have created)


WASHINGTON – Illegal immigration, which has sparked political and social turmoil in communities across the nation, is on the wane, according to an independent report released Thursday.
The number of illegal immigrants entering the United States has slowed significantly the past few years, falling below the number of those entering the country legally, according to the report by the Pew Hispanic Center, a Washington think tank.
The report estimates there were 11.9 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. as of March. That would be a decline of 500,000 from the center's estimate a year ago. However, the change was not statistically significant because of the large margins of error.
The Pew study does not address why the decrease occurred, but other researchers cite the nation's struggling economy and stepped up enforcement of immigration laws.
"The decline in job prospects in construction, service and other low-skilled jobs are communicated through extended networks of would-be movers from Mexico and Latin America," said William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution, another Washington think tank. "It also may propel more return migration."
Census data released last month showed that overall immigration slowed dramatically in 2007, though the Census Bureau does not distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants.
Illegal immigrants are notoriously difficult to count. Many researchers, including the federal government, estimate there are about 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.
That's a big increase from the start of the decade, when the Pew Hispanic Center estimated there were about 8.5 million.
From 2000 to 2004, about 800,000 illegal immigrants a year entered the U.S., the Pew report estimates. Since then, the average has dropped to about 500,000 a year.
A decade ago, the number of newly arrived illegal immigrants began to outnumber those legally entering the country, said the report, written by the Pew Hispanic Center's senior demographer, Jeffrey Passel, and senior writer, D'Vera Cohn.
"The reverse now appears to be true," the report said.
Illegal immigrants make up about 30 percent of all immigrants, according to the report. About four in five come from Latin America, with most coming from Mexico.
Congress has passed several measures designed to increase border enforcement, and the Bush administration has stepped up raids on businesses. Some local communities have also passed ordinances to address the issue.
Congress, however, has failed to pass a comprehensive package addressing illegal immigration, despite several attempts.
Illegal immigration has not been a big issue in this year's presidential election in part because both of the major parties' nominees, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, support comprehensive immigration packages that include increased enforcement and an eventual path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants.

hi

I considedr myself a well educated 81 yr. old woman. I could not believe that you would suggest that every person vote who is qualified. Their civic duty should be to vote if they are educated on the issues or people they are voting for. Otherwise stay home.

I liked your site.

What would happen to the self-styled "Hispanic/Latino leaders" if the United States did away with bilingual services which would mean that the immigrants would learn English out of neccesity? These so called
"leaders" would be out of a job. Remember that human nature dictates that if a person does not have to learn a second language, they usually don't, so I'm not blaming the immigrants themselves.

When the U.S. practiced slavery, it was illegal to teach a slave to read and write because literacy would have given the slaves power. There is a term in Spanish "Saber es poder" which means "Knowledge is power". How is it that Salinas and others don't see that literacy in English for immigrants in the U.S. is as important as literacy for the slaves?

Could this be a carryover of the Mexican social caste system?

Furthermore, in the Maria Hinojosa interview, Salinas talks about people singling out Mexican illegal immigrants for immigrant bashing. She fails to point out that we do not have a problem with Canadian or European gangs. The demographic that has the highest crime rate are Mexicans. Why is this?...because as long as Mexican immigrants are seen as expendable cheap labor who are worked such long hours that they cannot be home to raise their kids, those kids will join gangs. Also, when you lower the standard and tell Mexicans they are not smart enough to learn English, of course they will have low self-esteem. Neither Hinojosa nor Salinas were willing to address these issues. Whether out of misguided good intentions, or out of a desire to stay on top by keeping others down, neither Hinojosa nor Salinas are helping the situation on either side of the border. As long as we keep the border open, Mexico's government willhave not incentive to make life better for its people.

Per Ms. Salinas's interview by Maria Hinojosa on "One on One". She says that illegal immigrants do the work no one else does. The fact is, Americans used to do this work and what changed is that unscrupulous business owners know they can exploit illegals and work get around labor laws by hiring them so Salinas clearly disrespects the memory of those who fought so hard to put labor laws in place. She also talked about how the Spanish language is no threat to English in the U.S. It's not the Spanish language that is the problem, it's the fact that so many from Mexico are not learning English. She then said how it's good business sense that Americans learn Spanish, (which I've done) yet she did not address the fact that so many Mexican immigrants (thanks to our enabling American culture) have not learned English.

Thank-you David Martinez,as I told Gil many days ago,race is NOT in my blood,I wish I could save the world but I can't.There is beautiful vacation spots that make billions that could make the rest of mexico just a little more vibrant.Instead it goes to a few greedy familys and poiticians.The crime in the border towns is so bad now this white boy is not going back.And I feel that a lot of people feel the same way.Thanks Gil. for saveing,not only my life but the thousands you've saved by makeing us feel warm and fuzzy inside and stopping US (true US) citizens from going there.Ja,Ja,Ja

Armando you make a good point. The Clintons appear to have been pushed aside from the Democratic party insiders. A political science professor at U.T.E.P. has made a similar analyses as yours. He, however, has gone further to state that the Clintons' political life depends largely on Obama losing this election. His theory is, if the Clintons' are to stay alive within the Democratic Party Barack Obama must lose this election so that Hillary would then be poised to say "I told you so" and run for office four years from now. However, if Obama wins this Nov then she and Bill will have an early retirement from politics. I agree with both of you. The Clintons have seen their best political days go by years ago. It is a Catch-22 for Hillary. If Obama wins she's outside looking in (for future presidency). If he loses the GOP will have taken control of the white house at least another 4 years and more than likely 8. At that time she will be 69 and worn out to the core.

Clintons R history.

Mr. Flores, Hillary and Bill Clinton are not the politcal heavy weights that they once were, or thought they were. Had Bill Clinton have even a smidgen of clout that he once held some 10 years ago, his wife would have been on the ticket with Barack Obama. As it is, she is on the outside looking in.

I wrote an opinion on this several months ago. The Clintons do not have the power and clout that they only thought they had. Just look at some of the facts surrounding her bid for the Democratic Presidential nomination. First, not one of her husband's cabinet members endorsed her bid. Not one. Almost all of them publicly supported Obama. Second, all of the Democratic party's veterans endorsed Obama. Thirds, Hillary was not even on Obama's short list of possible running mates.

The Clintons are deceased politcally and America can rest assured that we will not being seeing either of them on a nation platform for a very long time, unless their daughter decides to run for office.

Let us all hop and pray that McCain win this election in Nov and that he implement all that he has promised with respect to the vast problem that we face with illegal immigration:

I Build the border walls along the Mexican border

II Fortify this wall with a strong military presence

III Deport ALL illegal aliens

IV Prohibit federal funded programs to be accessible to illegal aliens

V Prosecute ALL employers that hire illegal aliens.

VI Punish and fine all Sanctuary cities (like San Francisco) that allow illegal aliens to reside in their cities.

VII Place a moratorium on Mexican immigration into the USA until the I.N.S. and Customs is able to report that a vast portion of illegal aliens return to their country of origin (Mexico).

VIII Place sanctions on Mexican imports until Mexico cooperates with the USA on immigration matters AND pays the USA for the cost of the illegal aliens that are here.

IX Force Mexico to entice their illegal alien population to STAY in Mexico. Which simply means stop Mexico from being so corrupt and criminal toward their own people.

X Prohibit ALL states, cities and counties from allowing illegal aliens to receive ANY public assistance, thereby enticing them to return to their country of origin.


If McCain complies with these basic steps that are already a part of our laws (they just need to be enforced), we can look forward to having our nation once again be clean and respectful.

I completely understand. I'm sick of watching my old neighborhood and surrounding cities turned into slums by massive influx of illegals who do nothing but trash our communities.

The local schools that at one time were the best in So California have fallen to the bottom of the list.

Graffiti and vandalism is rampant everywhere there is a large illegal alien population.

Gang activity is everywhere there is a large illegal alien population.

Drug dealing is rampant in these same areas as well.

Parks that used to be so nice, where we used to play as kids have been over run by trash and graffiti.

It's absolutely disgustng.

Now, how do I know it's the ilegal aliens that have caused this?

1) The Latino population increased over 300% over the last 10 years in all these areas.

2) Ca Education Dept stats reveal the numbers of kids from illegal alien parents.

3) Ca Prison records reveal the same thing.

Illegal immigration is a huge problem that must be stopped.

I live in El Paso, TX and can see Juarez from my front porch. We just heard the news yesterday that Mexican drug cartels have approved sending hit men into the U.S. Supposedly this intelligence was received last week and the media just now told El Paso citizens. The legitimacy of the warning is not known for sure but we have had drug killings in El Paso in the past. I don't know but I am sure getting sick of all the murders and violence in our "sister" city.

You're welcome Jason. As I tell so many Latino Americans came to this country to escape the dep troubles of their country of origin. For most or many that is Mexico. So logically I ask those that are dubious of this, WHY IN THE WORLD WPULD WE WANT TO DUPLICATE WHAT WE LEFT?

ANSWER: we do not.

I am as much angered and frustrated as the next to see my country, my state (California), my home town and county being destroyed by massive ILLEGAL immigration.

Over crowded schools with kids who speak no English, whereby the education is virtually worthless.

Over crowded jails and prisons by illegal aliens and 2nd generation (kids of illegals).

Parks and public places filled with graffiti and trash. Cities that were once nice, clean places to live have been destroyed.

Violent murderous Latino gangs have grown 1,000% over the last 10 years. MS-13 from El Salvador exist in more than 30 states.

Mexican drug traffickers are making their way in our country.

THIS MUST STOP.

Ms. Salinas has a clear agenda, the takeover and reposession of our great country by Mexico. They claim Americans stole it from them which is a bald faced lie and unfortunately this is the propaganda that Mexico teaches their young. They teach them to hate Americans and they teach them that they have a RIGHT to come to the U.S. without asking permission. Do we have that right in Mexico? No we do not.

There is an Hispanic American website:

http://dontspeakforme.org/

that is a wonderful place for patriotic Hispanic Americans to visit and support. They also have many videos on YouTube. Thank you.

Mr. Martinez,

Thank you so much for your response. It has gotten to the point, I am sad to say, that many Americans do not know who we can trust anymore. We know there are many, many Americans of Hispanic descent who truly love and appreciate this country and it is very gratifying to have this fact reinforced here by a fellow American patriot who just happens to be of Hispanic descent. I am tired of people such as Ms. Salinas using the "racist" weapon against Americans simply because we are against the illegal invasion of our country, by, yes, mostly Mexicans. We have a right to fight for our sovereignty just as Mexico or any other nation does.

Enough of the non-stop, incessant whining of the pro-illegals in our country. Americans have had enough. We have been pushed too far. We are sick of footing the bill for people who have no right to be in this country. California is already lost. The illegals have bankrupted that state and now are trying to do the same to the rest of our country. Americans do not owe Mexico anything. America does not interfere in Mexico's laws and policies, and we demand Mexico quit interfering in ours.

I will tell you straight up, Ms. Salinas, how DARE you criticize the federal immigration laws of the United States of America. How DARE you criticize our I.C.E. agents by insinuating they are on a "hunting expedition." Just as your beloved Mexico has the right and DUTY to enforce the immigration laws and quotas of their country, so does the U.S.A. I, and most Americans, are sick and tired of all the Mexican agents who have infiltrated our country with their demands and criticisms of our RIGHT to enforce our own laws. The arrogance is appalling. How dare they! Stop with the asinine "undocumented" immigrant label. People who are in the United States of America illegally are "illegal aliens" who are in clear violation of the laws of the United States of America and WE can and WILL enforce our own laws! Those who are aiding and abetting these lawbreakers will eventually be arrested too. I hope you are not one of them ma'am!

Undocumented immigrants. I love that term. What does it mean? I believe it means people who have broken the law and are in my country illegally. Voluntary deporting IS working. When jobs are not available to criminal aliens they leave. There is a big difference between illegal immigration and legal immigration, however, ms salinas doesn't acknowledge the difference. It is sad that for all the misrepresenting she does in her writing, it doesn't change any minds on illegal aliens.

In your column: New Immigration policy...run in the El Paso Times.
Juana Villegas was in this country ILLEGALLY!
Juana was popping out babies as fast as she could...(4)so far...
Juana was driving without a license...
Maria E. Salinas...you are so far to the left you are about to fall off this planet!
Maybe you should look into some other countries immigration policies...like Mexico!
Bruce in El Paso, Texas

Your comment in today's article titled, "New Immigration Policy" regarding the roundup of fugitives is inflammatory and misleading. "...... they are called collateral arrests, those who are in the wrong place at the wrong time."

People who choose to come to the USA illegally are criminals. They have chosen to be on the wrong side of our laws and they get much better than they deserve. Other countries are far less generous with social services that the USA, and the thanks we get is to berate our law enforcement and whine about the injustices that happen as a result of "being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

I very much like the Mexican people. For the most part they are nice people and hard workers, but some have a strange way of showing their appreciation of the safety and freedoms we enjoy in the USA. Tearing down our laws will only lead to conditions they fled from Mexico to avoid.

Yes, Juan I think you are. An "audit" is a financial review of one's peronal (or business) financial documents.

On the other hand a "raid" is a legal arrest of one or more suspected law breakers. BOTH are legal, both serve legal enforcement purposes.

Although, I believe we need FARRRRRRRR more RAIDS to enforce the travesty of illegal immigration.

The IRS conducts audits, ICE conducts raids. Am I missing something?

BE CAREFUL & BEWARE.

If you post opinions contrary to those of Maria E Salinas you stand to have them deleted from this forum.

It's unfortunate that in our great country of the USA we have people like this. They only want to allow you free speech IF and ONLY IF you agree with them.

As a 3rd generation American of Mexican descent whose family (father, uncles, brothers) fought for this country, we are not allowed to openly discuss our opinions because our opinions are NOT what SOME LATINOS, and I repeat SOME, believe we should have.

CONTRARY to Maria Salinas's beliefs MOST Latino Americans are against illegal immigration.

CONTRARY to Maria Salinas's beliefs MOST Latino Americans do NOT favor welfare and government programs as do the Democrats.

I can go on and on with all of the misconceptions or lies perpetrated by the Spanish media, but I'm not so sure Maria Salinas would allow these opinions to be posted for very long.

We'll have to see.

I disagree with you on every issue and do not like being accused of rage, racism, or otherwise insulted. The tactics you use or straight out of the Nazi handbook and have no place in an intellectual setting. You can get me to listen or read when an intelligent argument is made for your case.

Sadly I doubt you will change and thereby you lessen the tone and fall into the hands of others like you on the opposite side.

I challenge you to write a dozen columns that are not critical or insulting to those you disagree with. Just show you points ande why they are economicaly and constitutionaly better for the USA, not Mexico or any other country.

Thank you

The article about the voluntary deportation of illegal Mexicans entering the country,is one sided and not touching on the right issues.What happen is wrong but why is law. Why should American people feel sorry for the poor woman who was about to give birth to her fourth child and was arrested for driving without a license? So besides that one law she was breaking, how many other laws was she breaking? Entering the U.S. illegally, working with a false S.S. number, getting free medical for her illegal children, and maybe welfare fraud. There is the burden on all tax paying people. The people who are citizens can’t get a job aready because some illegal will work cheaper or for cash. Check out the Home Depot in your city with several Mexican in the parking lot looking for cash jobs. I am a roofing contract who has to compete with this everyday. The pilot program for checking status of citizenship of all who apply works. Every Mexican I hired was illegal. So who is wrong? Feel sorry who?

Maria,

re: your article on "Voluntary Deportation" (Sacramento Bee, Sunday, 8/10). Share your sympathies on the matter. Wish to send you some information which may be of interest, but couldn't find your contact address. Please send me email and I'll send it by reply (too long for this comment page)

my best,

red

Hola Marielena te escribo esto porque donde vivo hay muchas cosas que son muy injustas vivo en un estacionamiento de mobilehome, necesito nos ayudes comunicate conmigo por favor.

how do you send an e-mail to this web site? i don't see an e-mail address for an item from cedo.

cedo international in tucson

hi i listen to you every friday on latin usa ...i live in san antonio Tx ...i have a son in Medical scool in Boston ....he came from a poor family so i'm very proud of him ...maybe you can let know if there is any articals on this ...minority s going to med school thanks

Dear Ms. Salinas: I read your column in the Santa Maria (CA) Times and appreciate your enlightening us with your perspective on items of interest.
Your June 30 article told of consular representatives from at least nine countries in Latin America deciding to unite to inform & provide services to their citizens in NY. It would be helpful if they would encourage them to learn English. Those that already know, could help the others. Companies wth rich CEOs and stockholders, Latino entertainers and athletes, etc., could help support these efforts. In fact, if English could be taught in their home countries, that would give them an advantage when they come to the U.S. When my husband was in the U.S. Army in Germany in the 1950's, they were teaching English to their school children. This would show a person's good faith in wanting to become a productive US citizen and be an advantage in obtaining employment. Please use your influence to encourage this. Thank you.

I READ YOUR ARTLCE ON HISPANIC WOMEN AND THAT THEY GET BREAST CANCER MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE. WELL IT MAKES SENSE SINCE THEY ARE SO MANY ILLEGALS WHO DO NOT GET THE PROPER MEDICAL CARE SO THAT IS PART OF IT. THE SAME PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE A GOOD DIET. SO,THOSE TWO REASONS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THAT PROBLEM. WE JUST NEED TO GET RID OF THE ILLEGALS SO THAT THE MEXICAN GOVERNEMT CAN TAKE CARE OF THEM AND THE AMERICAN TAX PAYER WILL BE OFF THE HOOK.

Re: Coynitha and A Disservice to your female readers.
As far as I can determine from several medical sites and previous understanding, breast cancer is NOT the leading cause of death for any group of females in the US as stated in your column today in the Sierra Vista, AZ Herald.
Heart disease leads all causes in all classes and breast cancer is led by lung disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer's in most cases.
My mother died of the lingering effects of breast cancer so I am am well aware of its physical and psychological impacts but heart disease is the number one killer and to misstate that is to put millions at risk by ignoring the facts.
You would do your female readers a great service by publicly correcting and emphasizing that correction.
I hope that mine will not be the only request for correction that you receive.
I do not always agree with the conclusions in your columns but find them rational and contributory to informed conversation.
Thank you.

Dear Ms. Salinas, I'm sending a comment that appeared in Sierra Vista Herald, May 16, 2008. The statement appeared in the "On Your Mind" section where people call in opinions. I strongly take offense to "here she is without one drop of American blood in her". I thought you were born in the U.S. I don't agree with many of your public opinions, but disagree with the caller calling an American of Mexican descent as not having "American" blood. You may want to address this comment in an upcoming column. Thank you for giving us a warning in the newspaper today about who Maria Salinas is going to berate next time. Now she’s going to berate the U.S. Homeland Security. If she’s not berating the bishops, she’s berating the American people or the president. Here she is with not one drop of American blood in her. She admits when she goes someplace with her children they’re all speaking Spanish because they love the Mexican language more than the American language. She probably has a Mexican flag in her front yard. Why can’t we get her mailing address? Is there something the Herald is covering up? It seems they put her on a pedestal or something. Is she the Virgin Mary? Why do the American people put up with a Mexican reporter in our newspaper? And we can’t write her and tell her what a great job she’s doing. Why can’t we be treated fair and honest and get both sides? There’s no one on the opposite side in the Herald. Try to be fair and honest with your readers. We pay for the newspaper.

Los Angeles is not what it used to be. I lived in the Eagle Rock area for years before moving to Orange County about 15 years ago. What a tremendous difference! Two different worlds and people. The people in Orange County care about their communities and in Los Angeles it's pure apathy and indifference. I went back to visit family and friends years later and go to a Dodgers game and it was a wreck. The area around Dodger Stadium looked like Tijuana. I didnt dare go downtown either because everyone told me that it was dangerous even during the day!

Los Angeles is in a sad state and condition. It has lost everything that was once nice about the city. The city is mismanaged and the police are in a catch-22 where they are defenseless and yet forced to fight criminals who are better armed than them. This would never happen in Orange County or San Diego. They don't allow the gang criminals the freedom to do as they please. This is something that Los Angeles is missing.

Barack Obama will be victorious in his bid for the Democratic nomination. He has convincingly won the popular vote as well as the pledged delegates, and he's gaining more delegates with each passing day. The only chance that Hillary has is a behind the scenes deal where she and her husband are able to manipulate the election process at the convention in August.

If that is the case then you can expect complete mutiny by the Obama supporters and chaos for the Democratic party. The super delegate arrangement is a mistake that even the original authors of the dysfunctional system admit it's a failed system. Moreover, the authors of this dubious rule admit that they conceived the idea for the sole purpose of not allowing certain factions within the party to have too much control in the early 1980s -e.g. Ted Kennedy, Joe Biden, etc...

Obama will win the nomination. If not, expect a riot that will make LA & Detroit riots in the 60's look like a picnic. OBAMA! OBAMA!

I read your recent column concerning Mexico, Canada and capital punishment with great interest. However, the article contained the following information:

" According to the Web site religioustolerance.org, last year the only countries that had 25 or more executions were Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United States."

I have not checked that site, but since I am a bit of a Sinophile, I noticed a glaring error. China. China executed at least 1010 criminals in 2006. I doubt there was major reform in 2007. I also have a hunch that the former Burma is also high in the numbers of executions per year.

In any event, I always enjoy your commentary.

GLH

If Hillary Clinton is banking on the super delegates to help her win the Democratic nomination then you can rest assured that the Democrats will lose the general election. Assuming that the Obama supporters and the moderates that were leaning toward Obama accepted these doubtful and highly suspicious terms, the general election would be a landslide for McCain just based on the GOP faithful being charged up to defeat Hillary Clinton.

But that's the least of the Democratic Party's worry though. The Democrats would have a large scale mutiny on their hands. Many in the Obama camp already see Hillary and Bill as nefarious and they have already vowed that they would sit out the election if she were to win the nomination. But even worse than that it would divide the party for years to come. Many in the black community would see this as an underhanded political move against the black candidate. And there would be many Latino Obama supporters, like myself, who would see it the same way.

David, as a Cuban American I have to say that I agree with you that Latinos do not encourage or support illegal immigration. I cannot speak for all Cuban Anmericans but for those that I know I have to say they too believe that we should not allow illegal immigration to continue. While we are a country of immigrants I think it's important that we unbderstand that we are a country of legal immigrants. That's another thing that I think is falsley argued by the people that you say want illegal immigration. They always lie about the fact that people who are against illegal immigration they claim are against all immigrants and immigration. This is a lie because they leave out the fact that it is illegal immigration that we do not want and not legal immigrants. I think you should add that to your list of myths. Well that's my humble opinion anyways. Thanks.

The "No Child Left Behind Act" isn't working because students are not being allowed to graduate? Sorry, Ms. Salinas, students are not being allowed to graduate BECAUSE NCLB is working. Otherwise, these students would just continue to be passed from grade to grade without any basis for their passing.
As an aside, I think the high drop out rate being tied to NCLB is kind of a stretch. NCLB raised academic standards and put in place exit exams for proficiency. Did these students drop out because the work was now too hard? Did they drop out because they couldn't pass the test? No, they droppped out because they could. Their parents didn't put any emphasis on academics and this is the result. Ms. Salinas' use of these stats to "Bush bash" just aren't warranted.

America's Youth column, last paragraph: "High school dropouts are twice as likely to be unemployed, three times more likely to live in poverty, and eight times more likely to end up in jail." Sorry, but it's "two times more likely" (error 50%) or "three times as likely." Also, "seven times more likely" (error 14%) or "eight times as likely." See U.S. News & World Report Stylebook under "greater than/as great as. They don't mean the same thing ... ."
Sincerely,
Dr. Ken Hooton,
writingwrongs@cox.net
(520)378-3661

A major with today's high school education is failure to teach trade skills for those who do not plan to go on to college. A former son-in-law graduated from a technical high school in Las Vegas. When he graduated he joined a plumbing company. He didn't have to accept fast-food wages.

My case was similar. While in college I majored in English. While there, I took a carpentry framing class. Upon graduation, I realized I didn't want to deal with a massive bureaucracy. So I went to work with a construction company. Fortunately, I got called off a Utah roof in February to become a reporter. The only training I got in journalism was "See how we change what you wrote and learn to do it our way."

I've been a journalist for more than 30 years and have been published in more than 100 different magazines. The focus has been on the trades. I'll never get rich or famous, but taking just one trade class has made a great difference in my life.

Elena,
I want to thank you for focus you are bringing to the school drop-out rate issue. I can tell you first hand, we have taken the Fort Worth Independent School District by storm here in Southeast Fort Worth. You would be amazed at the level of commitment we have managed to gain after we had high school students tell us their experience in their own words. It would help if the media helped attract coverage of the positive things are youth do in the community. Nonetheless, you are so right in saying No Child Left Behind is a big joke.

I read your column today and read Portillo's. A few points. 1)Most Anglos aren't prejudiced against Lations, just illegal immigration. We want to secure our borders against ALL traffic, then work for citizenship for those here, knowing illegal traffic will be stopped. You want us to do what Mexico will not - embrace illegals. 2)A love of education begins at home - not in Washington. Our foreign ancestors worked to assimilate-not segrate. They respected their roots but wanted to be Americans. Speaking English is the path to achieving success in the working world, immigrants should learn English and make sure their children do.3)Latino leaders in enterainment, politics and sports should reach out to students in urban schools & fund academic scholarships.4)Use leverage to lobby US government & corporations to work with the Mexican government to create good jobs in Mexico & a guest worker program. China's economy is a great example of the impact US business can drive economic improvement.

Ms. Salinas,

Re: Column in San Diego Union Tribune, 4/7/08

As a former junior high school teacher of a largely Latino student body in San Diego County, I was aware that many of my students never made it to high school, but dropped out after the junior high "graduation" ceremony. Am I correct that these students do not make it to the national drop-out statistics because these statistics are limited to those who enter High school? If this is true the problem is more alarming than most think.

Bill Neis

Nice column on the Dominican Republic (4/1/08)and I agree entirely with your sentiments. What I am wondering is why you feel you need an SUV? My guess is you don't and that wuld make you part of the problem.

DEAR MARIA ELENA SALINAS,

BEFORE READING YOUR BOOK I WAS QUITE CONFUSED ON WHAT CAREER I WANTED TO TAKE ON, I HAD ACTUALLY THOUGHT ABOUT PURSUING A CAREER IN JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR A WHILE. AFTER READING YOUR BOOK I WAS ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT BEING A JOURNALIST AND ANCHORWOMAN WAS THE PERFECT CAREER FOR ME.

I AM CURRENTLY A JUNIOR IN ST. JOHN'S PREP HIGHSCHOOL. IVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO DO A PROJECT, IVE DECIDED TO DO IT ON YOUR BOOK. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF MAYBE YOU COULD LET ME KNOW WHAT SONGS YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF WITH..I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO EXCHANGE EMAILS WITH YOU BECAUSE I TRULY ADMIRE YOU AND YOUR WORK SO MUCH.

SINCERELY,
WITH LOVE AND BEST WISHES,

SYLVANA

Ms. Salinas,
After reading your column in the 3-25-08 Arizona Daily Star, I felt compelled to respond. I am one of the citizens urging my elected officials to maintain the pressure to build the wall...brick or virtual, and I am neither radical nor anti-immigrant. What I am is anti illegal immigrant. An illegal immigrant is NOT an "undocumented worker". These people violate our laws and our national sovereignty when they cross our borders, steal legal citizens' identities and take American jobs. I disagree with the assertion that the wall says we no longer have any democracy or freedom. I believe it protects our democracy and our freedoms by insisting on equal justice for all and not singling out a specific group for preferential treatment. Remember, the Berlin wall was built to keep its citizens in...the border wall is being built to keep lawbreakers out. The United States has not only the right but the duty to protect its citizens and its borders.

Ms Salinas
Regarding the wall's purpose, do you not have a fence around your property or, if not, a lock on your door to prevent people from entering your home that don't belong there or have a right to enter without your permission - especially when you aren't able to be there to stop them?

Same thing!

I moved to Northern California Central Valley area from Seattle, WA over three years ago. Before moving here, I had heard of the illegal immigration problem but thought those opposed were bigots and rednecks. However, after spending time in an area with a high Mexican immigrant population my views have changed drastically. I am not against immigration and believe the US should make it easier to become a citizen LEGALLY, but I have never seen a group of people demand services, accomodations, acceptance and tolerance on the part of the country they are immigrating to with total disregard of our culture, laws, and rights as Americans. The term illegal immigrants has the word ILLEGAL in it. So while a vast majority of immigrants do not commit crimes and simply want to better their lives in America, the fact remains they are breaking the law every second they are here. I do not get to choose which laws I follow, if I speed, I get a ticket, regardless if I feel the limit is oppressive!

In today's article (March 24)you ended your article by saying we have "Good neighborly relations" with Mexico. Are you kidding me???? Mexico is a 3rd world nation pushing their poor into the United States. The only thing Mexico has done for the United States is " Ruin public schools, kill helth care, destroy our emergency roms, increase the crime rates, increase poverty rates, bring previously extinct diseases back into the country, exponentially increase in population at an alarming rate, create slums and ghettos,keep millions of cars that would otherwise be junked on the road thus incrasing pollution, jam our highways and roadways with millions of more drivers, etc ect etc. we do not have friendly relations with Mexico or the people who come here. They hav no interest in being Americans or assimilation. They are here to steal from the country and return nothing. NEWS FLASH...the United States was doing just fine before millions and millions of illegals came here.

So many times through history, the good leaders are eliminated by a single person. Why doesn't this happen to the greedy leaders? What is the psychological difference, or is it planned by someone?

Now we have the price of oil out of control with those rich oil corporations saying, "Who me, we didn't do it!" Evidently this is sucked up by the public as Big Oil laughs all the way to the bank with their billions in profit.

Our whole economy is in the process of being destroyed by their greed. The market demand should not overrule common sense. Either Big Oil states that enough is enough and drops the price they charge for oil, or 1929 will be made to look like a minor incident.

Miguel,
I am not exactly sure why I was paid less than my male co-workers. It wasn't due to my work ethic because mine is exceptionally strong while theirs are mediocre at best. I am no longer in that enviornment so I am not going to worry about it anymore. With all that being said, I am against illegal immigration, but wonder how they are going to send millions of people home. Support John McCain for president, against Clinton/Obama.
Support a border fence but question its effectiveness. Support a comprehensive/fair enforcement of immigration laws for everyone not just latinos. English should indeed be the official language however people should be free to speak whatever language they please in their own homes. Although I disagree with many of Ms. Salina's opinions stated in her columns from Padilla the misguided/misunderstood victim to immigration I respect the fact that this is her site and don't enjoy reading posts from people who insist on defacing it. I still admire Ms. Salinas.

For many years I have worked in a male dominated profession and have had to work twice as hard and be twice as smart as many of my co-workers to earn my 77 cents for every male dollar. Finally three weeks ago I started a job with equal pay. I realize I must begin again in proving myself but now I am excited to be almost equal. Your articles normally hit a nerve but this one I could relate to on a personal level.

Dear Ms. Salinas,
I read your article found on p.C11 of the Herald News in Passaic County, New Jersey printed on February 27. As a Cuban-American, I found your opinion fact-based. What was a bit disturbing to me was the underlying hostility and provocative tone displayed by your words toward the Cuban community in exile. Was this really necessary? Whatever the answer to this question is, it makes you a cynic at best and an instigator at worst. I wish you all the best! Sincerely, R.S.

Maria, You are a great newscaster. I like your professional style, keep it up. Ned D. Campbell, Tallahassee, Fl.

The post "msg id: me904" whose author is "Tom Tancrado" an effort to knock down the excandidate Tancredo is offensive at least and hate speech to most across the board. It is imperative that the posts from people who have no credibility or respect for anyone are deleted and their IP addresses should be reported to the proper authorities as well as their ISPs so that they are incapable of having an internet connection. Internet access at your home ought to be a privilege and not a right.

Ms. Salinas, on behalf of those who have spewed arrogance, ignorance and bigotry, I apologize to you for their hatred and lack of respect for you and those of your family, race and culture. it is a shame that those of other races and cultures feel so threatened and emotional by the Latino race and culture, that they deem themselves literally void of anything resembling an education. They truly are the children who have been left behind. I apologize for their lack of compassion, empathy and heart!

In reference to "Rising power of the Latino Vote" I wish I could agree with you, but unfortunately I think the majority of Latino voters are blindly following Villaraigosa and other influentials. I am a 40 year old, white male, contractor who has a great deal of love and respect for my brothers from south of the border. I have traveled Mexico extensively, mainland and baja and sincerely feel no prejudice toward the group. But.....I feel their voting is based on superficial, misinformation. Bush got their vote because he's Catholic and doesn't believe in abortion. Now they've seen how much he cares for them, none, and are ready to vote democratic. But you can be sure as shit they aren't going to vote for a black man. You can deny it, but the prejudice is crystal clear. The majority of middle-class Latino voters are working their asses off, uneducated and just don't have time to become informed. It's much easier to 'follow the herd.' A colossal mistake again.