One West Virginia Immigrant Agrees: Troops Should Not be Sent

The voices of dissent get lonlier…–gm

Immigrants celebrate Independence Day with Concern
Posted 7/4/2006 05:02 PM

West Virginia National Guardsman will serve as support for border patrol for 12 months.

Story by Kimberly Beary

90 West Virginia National Guardsman spend quality time with family today because tomorrow their patriotism will send them to New Mexico for border duty. On July Fourth, one immigrant celebrates with concern due to the mission.
Like many other restaurants, Cozumel Mexican Restaurant closes early on July 4th so employees like Jonathan Valdez then celebrate America’s independence day with family. “We crossed the border,” Jonathan Valdez recalls his dangerous trip into the United States, ” We were little, my Dad was carrying us and running to get past patrols.”

Valdez is not a naturalized citizen because his paperwork is still going through. But after 16 years here, he’s not worried about himself. Instead he’s worried for those risking their lives trying to cross the border that is armed with troops. “Something can happen with the troops,like if they’re really racists they might, might discriminate them immigrants or hurt them,” Valdez said.

90 West Virginia National Guardsman are some of the troops headed for the Mexico-United States border to help stop families like the Valdez from entering America illegally. Operation Jump Start is part of the Department of Defence and Department of Homeland Security. But Valdez, who says he knows more about American history than Mexican, doesn’t believe the action is the right way to control the migration.

“I don’t understand why they are putting the troops there,” Valdez said,”Mexico is a friend of the United States. I mean, they should not– should not do that.”

The border duty leaves this 21 year old torn between celebrating his independence and mourning the unfulfilled American Dream of so many others.

Tomorrow morning, Governor Manchin will sign the necessary paperwork authorizing Guard Members to serve in New Mexico for 12 months.

Copyright 2006 West Virginia Media.