Crossing the Border

Robert A. Jones’ column “Last One Over the Border, Turn Out the Lights” (Part A, Feb. 27) was a cruel, insensitive and misleading look at a daily event which is extremely dangerous, technically, illegal, but paradoxically uplifting. Jones trivializes the suffering endured by those undocumented workers. Those people of both sexes and all ages who risk life and limb so that they and their families can escape crushing poverty, were portrayed as “winners” of a “Game” in which “the score is about 3 million to zip.” Certainly, the tactics used by the Border Patrol, such as razor wire and now, blinding light, should not be characterized as “ . . . something to mix things up a bit and keep the veterans interested.” Jones forgets that when similar tactics were used near the Berlin Wall, no one called it a “Game.”

The stakes in this “Game” are higher than Jones cares to admit. Recently other media have reported the terrorizing of undocumented workers near the border by various vigilante groups. The actions of these groups range from harassment to murder, rape and robbery. Fox Television’s “The Reporters” (Feb. 24) showed the Border Patrol encountering and yet failing to stop a group of ROTC high school students near the border. This group was dressed in full camouflage gear and armed with paint- pellet guns and BB rifles, out on “patrol” near the border. The Border Patrol’s inaction amounts to tacit approval of this activity.

Jones ignores these facts, stating, “After all, this is The Game and not to be taken too seriously.” If murder, rape and robbery are not taken seriously by Jones and your newspaper, it is time for all who sympathize with the plight of undocumented workers to find other reading material. As always, the disenfranchised are powerless against bullies, but we are not.

MAURICE SANCHEZ

Past President

RICHARD ARMENDARIZ

President, Orange County

Mexican-American Bar Assn.