Mexican consul shares his perspective on issues By VICTOR MORALES, Staff Writer
Thursday, November 15, 2007 10:25 PM PST
JOSELITO VILLERO PHOTO
Pablo Jesus Arnaud Carreno is the Mexican consul in Calexico.
CALEXICO — Undocumented immigrants have been on the forefront of news coverage lately.
The October fires claimed at least two people suspected of crossing the border illegally near Tecate, presumably avoiding detection. The burned bodies of five people, and seven others, suspected of being illegal immigrants remain hospitalized with burn injuries.
Outgoing Baja California Gov. Eugenio Elorduy Walther criticized the U.S. while visiting Calexico on Oct. 31 for its resistance in normalizing the residency status for millions of Mexicans now in the U.S.
And the No Borders Camp demonstrators last week, with their anti-border message, reminded residents for five days that the Imperial Valley remained a hotbed in the immigration debate.
As the events played out, officials spoke and opinions flew.
We talked with the person charged with unconditionally representing all of the thousands of Mexican citizens that live and travel to the Imperial Valley.
Pablo Jesús Arnaud Carreño is the Mexican consul in Calexico. Since 2002, the consular office has helped Mexicans renew passports, retrieve important documents and file complaints.
On Wednesday, Arnaud provided some insight on the Mexican immigrant experience, a perspective absent in recent dialogue.
Q: The U.S. is about to implement a new policy for U.S. citizens and residents crossing the ports of entry. What does this mean for Mexicans?
A: Not a lot because all Mexicans crossing the border need to have a visa or a permit to enter the U.S.
What you refer to is going to occur at the beginning of 2008. The U.S. is going to be accessible to all citizens that enter independent of their origins, with a passport.
Mexicans for natural reasons will require a passport, they have always been asked for their passports.
The entire world will require a passport except for residents that are in the process of naturalization.
Q: What do you think of No Borders Camp protesters, their behavior and their message?
A: Well, that is an anarchist group. The anarchists don’t believe in social order, in which I am not in accord with.
In that sense, that anarchist group of the U.S. demonstrated on both sides of the border. On the Mexican side there were no problems and no altercation. On the U.S. side the demonstration was repressed and in that sense, I feel they are normal occurrences in the U.S.
In the case of Mexico, demonstrations are permitted only if and when there is no aggression on the part of the demonstration, like what occurred in Mexico with no problem.
Q: What do you think of the performance of the customs officers at the ports of entry?
A: Well, they have their policies that obligate them to inspect vehicles and pedestrians.
We have been insistent with Mr. Billy Whitford (Calexico ports director) in the sense that it is necessary that they express in every moment the good education they received from their parents.
This consulate has continually received complaints of mistreatment with some of them but not all of them.
But some of them behave in very rude ways.
We have to consider that the one who crosses on foot or vehicle comes for three reasons. They come as tourists, or they come to work or they come as consumers.
In the case of the tourists, they come to spend money in the U.S. The one who comes to work, gives time and his life and their money to the U.S. The one that consumes at the shopping centers in the Imperial Valley or Yuma or San Diego comes to the U.S. to leave his money. The economy of the U.S. and Mexico together is tremendous.
It would be difficult for the border cities to be sustained if it were not for the people of Mexico. In the entire border zone we have to consider that those cities and all its residents largely live thanks to the existence of Mexicans coming as tourists, consumers or workers.
In the first place we should be well received for convenience.
You see that when you entered the consulate; I did not hit you or register you. On the contrary, I stood to give you a warm welcome because you are coming to my house.
You have come to benefit your community and there is a benefit for the consulate to inform people. So that is a common cause that we constantly convey to the agents — the good treatment to persons that come to this country. Ninety-nine percent come to this country to benefit it and to make California’s economy stronger.
Q: Do you get many complaints of racism, mistreatment and threats?
A: Yes, yes, mostly from the port of entry and detention center.
Q: What is the frequency?
A: Almost every day.
Q: How many?
A: One, two or three daily. Mistreatment or disregard of their human rights is frequent. For example, imagine it is your wife that they have detained at the port of entry. She protests and they take her to a room and order her to disrobe. A female agent inspects her and puts her finger inside your wife’s vagina. How would you feel as her husband?
Q: Does that happen a lot?
A: Not much, but it happens. We presently have such a case that I am about sign off on.
Q: How does a complaint like that get processed?
A: We take the complaint to the agency’s chief and if we do not get a satisfactory answer we will take it to Washington (D.C.).
Q: But how can you balance security and civility? The U.S. authorities have a job to do.
A: Among individuals like among the nations respect shall generate peace. That was said by Benito Juarez. And when that is applied in all nations there will be peace.
" Hey 0207 you have NO clue what you are talking about.
As far as the comments made by the Mexican Consul, they need to clean their act in Mexico first before they start bashing the US, maybe VIC should have asked the Consul how is Mexico going to stop all the corruption that exist? When is Mexico going to provide better living wages maybe then, there would not be so many people trying to cross over everyday legally and otherwise. If VIC was a real reporter he would have asked non biased questions.
"
jaymz887 wrote on Nov 20, 2007 4:35 PM:
" one sided issues based on lies. there are 2 sides to every story. "
ramos5 wrote on Nov 20, 2007 2:10 AM:
" 0207 Go back to Mexico where you belong.
PS
Take Vic with you! "
0207 wrote on Nov 19, 2007 8:09 AM:
" Lay off the reporter, he is going his job. Shoot the messenger is the last resort of cowards. Virtually every Mexican or Mexican American who frequently crosses the border has had a negative run-in with the US border control apparatus. These Border Patrol defenders are running scared or they wouldn't be so shrill. In ten years I predict this whole border wall, Minuteman, hate-immigrants hysteria will be forgotten and people will wonder why we spent billions of dollars on this nonsense, leaving the debt of their failed parents to their children. "
1978 wrote on Nov 17, 2007 12:20 AM:
" JUST THE OTHER DAY THEY HAD SOME MARCH IN CALEXICO AND WHAT HAPPENS FIGHT BREAK OUT BORDER PATROL HAD TO USE FORCE. TRY DOING THAT IN MEXICO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. IF YOU GOING TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY RESPECT THE LAWS JUST LIKE YOU WOULD IN YOUR COUNTRY.
"
sil wrote on Nov 16, 2007 7:37 PM:
" Regarding Ramos5 comment..I would add Adelante to the List (beside La Voz, La Cronica. This guy is as bad as Borjorquez who did come from the "La Cronica". "
ramos5 wrote on Nov 16, 2007 2:11 PM:
" Nice job Vic! You really do show off your "non-biased" opinion, just like you did with the "No Borders" articles. In the previous article, you called yourself a "Veteran", at least you didn't call yourself a true "Patriot" to the US. I, and all the other IV Press readers, would surely read right through that one! Again, might as well go work at "La Voz", or "La Cronica". "
pinchi wrote on Nov 16, 2007 11:41 AM:
" On question six is this the kind of words we should be using. And if it is true why arent you doing anything about it. Is this the education the mexican consul has. "
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pacomerte wrote on Nov 23, 2007 9:46 PM: