Arizona says it is illegal to be an “Illegal” Mexican National

     Arizona has always been the seat of radical thinking, a trait they share with the nearby state of Colorado.  If Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer signs pending legislation making it illegal to be illegal, Arizona will take the cake for being the most radical and hate based state in the entire nation.  Attempts to pass this short-sighted legislation were vetoed by the prior Democratic governor.

     Because our forefathers came here seeking freedom from persecution, certain requirements were drafted into U.S. law.  In general, we believe someone must do something to be a criminal.  The legal term is “Actus Reus”, Latin for “guilty act”.  A person must beat his wife, rob a bank, drive drunk, or do something to be guilty of a crime.  

    Cartoon drawing: The Funny Times Cartoons Treasury

Cartoon Words:  Uncle Tim

It is the requirement of the “Actus Reus” that keeps the police from arresting those with diverse political or religious views just because they want to.  They can’t arrest you just because you are Catholic, for example. It also keeps local police from harassing undocumented workers.

     Under the proposed Arizona law an undocumented Mexican National does not have to do anything to break the law.  He has broken the law just by existing.  While an undocumented worker may have violated federal laws or regulations when he came to the US, that is not the basis of the Arizona law.  Rather, it is the mere fact the undocumented person exists that will give Arizona state and local police probable cause to stop him and arrest him on sight.

     The injustice of the law can better be understood if we look at US history.  Many of our forefathers came here seeking shelter from religious persecution.  The King’s army arrested those who did not share the state creed.  Since most worshipers were wise enough to refrain from praying while the soldiers were present, it was decided they could be arrested just for believing.  Hence, to be Catholic, for example, let alone practice being Catholic, could get you killed.  All you had to do to warrant interrogation was is be accused of being Catholic.

Photo from the Daily Loaf

     Under the Arizona law expected to pass, all the police need for probable cause to stop you or search your home is the belief you are undocumented.  You can bet a lot of US citizens are going to be stopped or have their houses searched while the county mounty swears he thought the citizen was undocumented.  Since most undocumented workers in Arizona are Hispanic, you can bet most U.S. citizens who suffer unreasonable traffic stops, street interrogations and yes, even property searches, will be Hispanic.  Well, maybe not.  Surely the police and Sheriff "Little Joe" Arpaio can tell an undocumented alien from all other Hispanics just by looking.

     The complete bastardization of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution against unreasonable searches and seizures aside, the compelling reason to throw this law in the trash is the deterrence it will have for

 Photo Nevada Reform Immigration For America

undocumented workers to report crimes.  The boy who is raped, the wife who is abused, the husband who is robbed, none of these people can approach local police.  If they do, they are subject to arrest.  After all, they are guilty of a crime because it will be illegal to be illegal in Arizona.  As my father, the late Judge Paynter, would say, ‘that is a damn poor way to run a railroad!’.  It is an unjust way to treat people whose only crime is seek a way to put food in the bellies of their families.

     Immigration reform is sadly overdue because of extremist views like those in Arizona.  My suggestion is, take notes on which party supports these kinds of laws and which party opposes them.  If you can’t vote then call the three or four primos you know who can.  When legislatures insist on passing radical laws then it is time to vote new people into office.  Until then, invest in timber futures.  There are about to be one hell of a lot of witches burned at the stake.

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ICE ANSWERS FREEDOM MARCH WITH MASSIVE CRACK DOWN Nearly 40 arrests shows ICE support for legal migration

37 arrested in San Diego area

enforcement surge 

Where is Barak Obama?

ICE brags about nabbing 59 year old Mexican National because she has a conviction 21 years ago.

       Here we go again, four days after the RIFA march on Washington, the biggest civil rights protest since Martin Luther King’s famous speech “I have a dream”, the ICE raids are back! Barak Obama has no control over the agencies he oversees if the recent action by ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is any indication.  The massive raid in San Diego started the day after the Reform Immigration For America (RIFA) March on the nation’s capital in support of fair immigration laws.

     RIFA seeks an end to abusive raids which terrify the immigrant community.  Over 200,000 people showed up to voice their opinion Sunday, March 21st, 2010, and to protest exactly this kind of cattle round up.  These are 200,000 voices that went unheard.  Those voices are backed by millions.  Not all of them are Latino.

     It is clear ICE Leadership seeks to embarrass the President of the United States who supports immigration reform.  The message is, “ICE does not care what the President says, after all, he is only the commander and chief.  ICE leadership must oppose the comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) bill now in front of Congress.  Either that or they can’t read.

     With a Colombian style drug war on the US-Mexico border the likes of which the world has not seen since Pablo Escobar and Carlos Lender ran the Medellin Cartel, ICE has it’s hands full.  If they were not so intent on rounding up grand mothers they could devote more attention to the gangs that threaten Mexico and the US.  To their credit they have drug lords Vicente Zambaba, and Juaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, recent Mexican Drug Lords. 

The first pic is of Joaquin, the next pic is Carlos Lender whose character was depicted by “Carlos” in the movie “Blow”. 


     The big guys in the bullet proof vests who knock on the door in the middle of the night, a horrible reflection of the actions of a mad man from the 1940’s era, brag about catching a 59 year old abuela with a drug conviction which is 21 years old!

      “Excuse me, mam.  I couldn’t help but notice you broke the law 21 years ago.  Now, it does not matter to us that you may have rehabilitated yourself sometime during the past two decades.  Ja, Ja, I guess you must have or you would probably be dead!

     Anyway, by the way, don’t ya think those bullet proof vests we wear to protect ourselves from grand mothers like you are pretty cute?  Oh, and if you voted for Bush you made a big mistake!

     Now don’t worry, we don’t do cavity searches.  We leave that to the perverts who own the private ‘detention’ centers.  Now wave good by to the grand kids before I give you these pretty silver bracelets.” 

     To be fair to ICE, they don’t quite report it that way.  Here is there version:

     “Among those arrested by the San Diego-area teams was a 59-year-old Mexican female with a 1989 conviction in San Diego for possession of heroine for sale.”

     The press release is a disgrace considering it smears mud in the faces of so many who have given their heart and soul to a nation and receive knocks on the door in the middle of the night in return.  Of course, we should not attribute all of the disrespect for President Obama and the March on Washington to ICE.  The headline hungry Sheriff "Little Joe" Arpaio from Phoenix was busy with his own hoe down. 

Second two pics, Pablo Escobar, killed by Colombian Army, and Juaquin Guzman,

"El Chapo", recently caught by the good guys!

      ICE spokesperson, Robin Baker continues rubbing the salt into the wound. 

      "This enforcement action underscores ICE's commitment to strategic, effective immigration enforcement that enhances public safety,"

     I didn’t know Mexican abuelitas, grand mothers, with convictions 21 years ago, were a threat to national security. 

     "ICE will continue to target, arrest, and remove those who come to this country to pursue a life of crime rather than the American dream."’

     They must have worked pretty hard to track down granny.  No wonder we can’t find Osama Bin Laden.

     The Fugitive Operations Program was established in 2003 to eliminate the nation's backlog of immigration fugitives. Today, ICE has 104 FOTs deployed across the country, including three assigned to work cases in San Diego and Imperial counties.

     Let’s see, who was president in 2003?  I think it was George Walker Bush, a Republican.  By the way, according to my research, a   few Republicans are starting to re-think their closed-border, conservative thinking on immigration.  Republicans have always been good at counting.  It has taken a lot of years for them to count to 200,000, though.

 The ICE propaganda continues:\

     “Other initiatives that figure prominently in this effort are the Criminal Alien Program, Secure Communities and the agency's partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies under 287(g).”

     It is the 287(g) program which got “Little Joe” Arpaio started on his witch hunt.  To ICE’s credit, they withdrew support from “Little Joe” after he started constructing tent camps to hold his victims and win free press.  On the other hand, the 287(g) program has allowed local law enforcement to terrorize the immigrant community.  Who is going to report a crime when local law enforcement is hunting you down?

 I have a little more sympathy for the ICE action against a three time convicted felon who got nearly 6 years in the penn for illegal re-entry.  Although, except for being separated from his family through the mid-night express to Mexico in 2004, he appears to be clean since 2000.  If they can ship granny home after 21 years clean, I guess they can ship Crisantos Almazan-Ibenez home after 10 years.

     By the way, if you are not doing anything this next holiday, I bet there are at least two families looking for father figures.  They might love to have the extra company.  Just don’t wear your bullet proof vest, if you have one.

 If you have committed a crime any time during the last 50 years, no matter whether you have rehabilitated yourself and are now an icon in your community;  If you have come back to support your wife and be a daddy to your children after being deported, best lay low.  Really low.  Santa Clause is coming to town.  “Little Joe” Arpaio is driving the sleigh with ICE just behind him!

  I don’t know if the people at ICE are trying to make the President of the United States look bad with an enforcement action on the heels of the RIFA march to Washington D.C.  The press release looks like someone is trying to CYA.  For my Spanish speaking readers who may not understand English slang, CYA means ‘Cover your ass!”.

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Un Dia La Vez Los Tigres Del Norte, Rifa March for immigration Se Dice La Verdad! Ya esta nuestro dia en vez!

One day at a time

RIFA - Reform Immigration For America

March on Washington DC

Sung by Los Tigres Del Norte

English lyrics first, Spanish lyrics second

It is the same message no matter which language you hear it in!

Si se puede!

I need to find you God,
help me now
I want to know what I have to do
This is our road that we must follow
Dear God for my best
I want to live one day at a time

One day at a time, my lord,
That is what I ask from you
Give me the strength to live one day at a time

Yesterday has passed, my lord, 
Tomorrow may never come
Help me now, I want to live, one day at a time

You have lived amongst all men,
You know my lord that now is worse
there is great pain, there is a lot of selfishness
and much evil
God for my best I want to live one day at a time

One day at a time, my lord,
That is what I ask of you
Give me the power to live one day at a time

Yesterday has past, my lord,
and tomorrow might never come
help me now, I want to live, one day at a time"

Spanish Lyrics

Necesitado me ecuentro senor
ayudame hoy
yo quiero saber lo que devo hacer
muestra el camino,que devo seguir
senor por mi bien
yo quiero vivir un dia a la vez

Un dia a la vez mi cristo
es lo que pido de ti
dame la fuerza para vivir un dia a la vez
ayer ya paso mi cristo
y manana quisas no vendra
ayudame hoy yo quiero vivir un dia a la vez

Tu ya viviste entre los hombres
tu sabes senor que hoy esta peor
es mucho dolor hay mucho egoismo
y mucha maldad
senor por mi bien yo quiero vivir un dia a la vez

Un dia a la vez mi cristo
es lo que pido de ti
dame la fuerza para vivir un dia a la vez
ayer ya paso mi cristo
y manana quisas no vendra
ayudame hoy yo quiero vivir un dia a la vez"




We can bring change about for Gay immigrants, through the RIFA MARCH ON WASHINGTON!   We can bring change about through rescuing Latino children at risk! 

Cada persona si se puede hacer una diferencia!

"Please, my lord, I say on bended knees, help my Hispanic brothers, and all who suffer injustice, bring the message of change to the American people, one day at a time." 

Tim Paynter

Those who gave their lives… Miriam Vega 4 RIFA & Immigration Reform

Miriam Vega

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." Mikhail Bakunin

     A Guatemalan immigrant who naturalized years ago, Miriam was a tireless worker for those who have no voice.  Though I did not know her, those who did had a great love and respect for her as a devoted citizen who worked ‘tirelessly to organize the community, to fight alongside them for immigration reform and against daily injustices suffered by the poorest workers”. 

     Today, the voice of the voiceless is being heard across the nation as those who participate together find the power and protection to speak out, most recently through the Reform Immigration For America campaign. Miriam was one of those who made all of this possible.

      You don’t have to die in battle to die a soldier for the cause.  Miriam perished in an automobile accident on her way to the March on Washington D.C. for immigration reform. 

     According to a report in Eye Witness News 3, a Mazda MS3 operated by Jamie Mejia, 20, of Stamford was traveling northbound in the southbound lane of Strawberry Hill Avenue when it struck a tree just before 5 a.m.. After hitting the tree, police said the car struck the passenger side of a Toyota RAV4 driven by Maria Sandoval, 41, of Stamford.  Maria’s passenger was Miriam Vega.

     The Jaws of life were likely used to cut Miriam from the wreckage.  She was transported to Norwalk Hospital’s critical care unit.  Miriam passed from her wounds.

     A message on the RIFA website says:

“Mrs.. Vega was a tireless fighter for the rights of all immigrants despite the fact that she herself had her papers. I think the least we can do as a community is to honor her work posthumously for her passion for helping her community even though she personally had no need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform,” said Claudia Carias, member of MIGUA in New York, who organized one of the hundreds of buses that went to DC on March 21. “ We need to do all we can to show our solidarity to the Vega family and the two survivors,” she added.

     All of us face mortality, a gift God has given us and which is so misunderstood.  I hope when it is my time I can go doing what I love so much, and in a cause so great.

     Miriam, you will be missed.  I did not need to know you in person to know of your great works.  There are those who seek the spot light, and those who make the voices for freedom from oppression heard.  Of the two, those who fight in the trenches have the valor, from my point of view.

     My prayers to the survivors, Jaime Mejia and Maria Sandoval.

     Tim Paynter, Attorney at Law, Denver, Colorado

     Authors note, the Toyota Rav-4 is a file photo only, not associated with Mrs. Vega or the accident.

A memorial mass will be held this Thursday, March 25, 6:00pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 19 Smith Street, Port Chester, NY 10573. To help support her family and community through this difficult time, please send Donations to her daughter Jennyfer Lima c/o First County Bank, Account# 669122162.

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