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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| First Batch of Illegals flown to Mexico - Year Two of Test Program |
| 2005-06-11 |
| MEXICO CITY — Ninety-four deported migrants arrived in Mexico's capital Friday on the first flight of a renewed U.S. repatriation program that left some pledging to try to cross again, while others said their border crossing days were over. It was beginning of twice-daily flights expected to bring thousands of Mexicans to their hometowns, and the second year of a U.S. program aimed at discouraging repeated border-crossers in desert areas, where temperatures soar during summer months. Greeted upon landing by the government's Grupo Beta migrant-aid agency, the deportees were given box lunches and free bus tickets to their home towns. U.S. officials have budgeted US$14.2 million (euro11.6) to deport by air as many as 33,900 migrants who choose to participate in the program, saying they'd like to be transported all the way home — instead of being simply left on the Mexican side of the border. The head of Mexico's National Immigration Institute, Magdalena Carral said the effort was worth it, even if some migrants planned to return. "You can't try to save money when it comes to saving lives," Carral said. "One life is worth it." But she also noted the program "is not the solution. It is only a stopgap measure," and that a "legal avenue of recourse" for migrant workers was needed. Washington plans 226 flights to Mexico City through Sept. 30 under an agreement with the Mexican government. People will be bused from Mexico City to their home towns, primarily in the southern part of the country. U.S. Customs and Border Protection spent US$15.4 million (euro12.59 million) on the program from July 12 through Sept. 30, 2004, with some flights going to Guadalajara. However, all flights this year will be to Mexico City, and will [use] chartered Mexican, rather than U.S. planes. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #11 Sorry Muck - I bet the box lunch includes a lunch-meat sandwich. You don't want to support baloney producers do you?;) |
| Posted by: Spot 2005-06-11 12:56 |
| #10 Alright, here's a solution: Drop the word border from the lexicon. Replace it with a term that conveys happiness and openness. Like, the US is Mexico's patio. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2005-06-11 12:15 |
| #9 Does the lunch include bottled water? |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2005-06-11 11:58 |
| #8 They'll probably exchange their free bus tickets for a ride back to Tijuana... and that lunch box should last until there. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2005-06-11 11:32 |
| #7 In that case, it'd make even more sense to fly them to Sao Paolo or Buenos Aires... |
| Posted by: Fred 2005-06-11 11:29 |
| #6 Actually, flying them back makes sense. Flying them back to the _southern_ border of Mexico probably even makes more sense than the Capitol, but as long as they're "starting over" from pretty far down south it's OK with me. |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2005-06-11 11:24 |
| #5 Sounds like we are are now 1/2 funding weekend home visits. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2005-06-11 11:11 |
| #4 Its cheaper for the national government to simply provide the returnees a bus ticket back to the border for another try rather than clean up their own completely corruption laden economy to actually provide these obreros real jobs and a living at home. |
| Posted by: Hupolutle Gliting8009 2005-06-11 10:17 |
| #3 Compromise is in order, box lunch at the border with a little walking around money. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-11 08:20 |
| #2 "You can't try to save money when it comes to saving lives," Carral said. "One life is worth it." Easy to say when it's not YOUR money that's being expended. I'd have settled for leaving them at the border with a warning that a subsequent attempt to cross will result in being shot. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-06-11 03:02 |
| #1 free box lunsh? ima ther dood! |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2005-06-11 01:42 |