As evening falls on southern Mexico, Sarah (not her real name) is shopping at a fruit market a block from her house. It is Friday, and her father, an investigator for the State Judicial Police, is home relaxing on his night off. Wearing blue jeans and an unbuttoned shirt, he is sweeping his front porch, waiting for his daughter to return and make dinner.
Sarah pays for the food just as a rush of black SUVs with no license plates speed past her along the road. She recognizes them instantly as they pull up to her home in a cloud of dust. Men in dark masks with AK-47s jump out and run toward Sarah's front door. Two of them are wearing police patches. One of them is her father's commander.
"They're taking your dad! They're taking your dad!" shouts a little girl in the store. Sarah tries to run, but her legs won't churn fast enough. Everything is in slow motion. She watches the gunmen drag her father out onto the street while he screams, "Show me the arrest warrant! Don't take me!" Sarah sees the men punch her mother and shoot her father in the leg, before hauling him into a truck and driving away.
By the time Sarah gets home, all that is left of her father is the blood-stained pavement. He has not been seen since.
For Sarah and her family, years of intimidation and abuse by corrupt police officers have come to a head. Her father, a member of the anti-kidnapping unit, had discovered that his commander had taken a young girl hostage and that he and other cops were working for the cartels.
Sarah's father tried to bring his commander to justice, denouncing him to Mexico's National Human Rights Commission, but there were no arrests and it just made him a target. Crooked policemen and cartel thugs had threatened to kill him, beaten Sarah and raped his wife, but he refused to work for drug traffickers.
After the kidnapping, Sarah and her mother rushed to the Public Prosecutor, but officials refused to take a statement. The women told nearby police agencies about the corruption and abduction, but no one would help. In desperation, Sarah went to the state capital to ask the military to intercede, but once again, she was turned away.
Sarah spent the next few nights in hiding at her uncle's home. She needed to get farther away. Sarah had family in Juarez, and while going to one of the most violent cities in the western hemisphere for sanctuary is like going to hell to cool off, her uncle put her on a plane.
When Sarah landed, she found out that her uncle had been murdered outside the airport for helping her escape.
In Juarez, Sarah met up with her mother and two younger brothers, who also had managed to get away, and for two months they hunkered down in an apartment.
"I was living in shock," says Sarah. "I was unable to understand that life as I knew it was over forever. I was so scared that I only stayed inside, living in my world of fear."
One afternoon, Sarah's mother received a phone call from a hometown friend. Her father's commander was threatening to kill Sarah's grandparents if they or any family member spoke to the fugitives. Even worse, said the friend, the commander and his troops knew where Sarah and her mother were hiding in Juarez.
"I felt like my world was collapsing," says Sarah. "I did not know where to turn or where to run."
The next morning, Sarah and her mother heard over the radio that the United States was offering protection. Sarah had never thought of living among los gringos; her life was in Mexico, where the 21-year-old was already halfway through law school. But now she was out of options. The corrupt police knew her location, and they were coming.
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I GUESS WE NEED TO GO INVADE MEXICO AND HELP THEM RE-ESTABLISH THEIR GOVERNMENT......OH WAIT, IF WE DID THAT, ALL THE LIBERALS WOULD BE THROWING A FIT!
I GUESS WE NEED TO GO INVADE MEXICO AND HELP THEM RE-ESTABLISH THEIR GOVERNMENT......OH WAIT, IF WE DID THAT, ALL THE LIBERALS WOULD BE THROWING A FIT!
The U.S. is giving asylum to those who are escaping Cuba...............yet Mexico is worse. She's also a law student so she could contribute to if she was giving asylum.
Honestly, it sounds like the judges who won't grant aylums are in on the drug cartels. Check to see if their accounts are padded.
She's been locked up for a year..............why not apply for citizenship after all this time? By now she could have learned what she needed to take and pass the citizenship test. She's pretty smart so she could have figured this out by now. Why not her legal team too?
The war in Mexico is horrendous to say the least................would love to visit but with this war with the drug cartels going on...............things are only going to get worse.............that's probably where the U.S. military is going next...............we're pulling out of the Middle East slowly but surely...............just watch.
The U.S. is giving asylum to those who are escaping Cuba...............yet Mexico is worse. She's also a law student so she could contribute to if she was giving asylum. Honestly, it sounds like the judges who won't grant aylums are in on the drug cartels. Check to see if their accounts are padded.
She's been locked up for a year..............why not apply for citizenship after all this time? By now she could have learned what she needed to take and pass the citizenship test. She's pretty smart so she could have figured this out by now. Why not her legal team too? The war in Mexico is horrendous to say the least................would love to visit but with this war with the drug cartels going on...............things are only going to get worse.............that's probably where the U.S. military is going next...............we're pulling out of the Middle East slowly but surely...............just watch.
Very, very sad story. If we take in everyone in the world with a sad story, pretty soon it will be our story. If we weren't already supporting so many illegal immigrants from Mexico, and being victimized by them as well, then perhaps this young lady's request would have been granted. As it is, most of us are fed up. We cannot afford to take care of our own. And as for the fact that ER's can't turn you away, pretty soon that will change. We'll be just like the rest of the world, because we have no money. So you may as well stay where you are.
Very, very sad story. If we take in everyone in the world with a sad story, pretty soon it will be our story. If we weren't already supporting so many illegal immigrants from Mexico, and being victimized by them as well, then perhaps this young lady's request would have been granted. As it is, most of us are fed up. We cannot afford to take care of our own. And as for the fact that ER's can't turn you away, pretty soon that will change. We'll be just like the rest of the world, because we have no money. So you may as well stay where you are.
I don't only have a headache....I have a heart ache. Yes, Mexico should take care of the problems just like the USA did with the mafia...yes? still working on that one I think.
This is not about a counry asking for asylum if that would even be possible, but a young lady. I am disappointed that the US would not or could not help her and her mother.
Whie I sympathize with what is happening and feel for those involved like one above said its their problem. Mexico has for year allowed this type of violance to happen. As long as it stayed south of the border and Mexico City they didn't care. Now that it has moved into their own backyard the first thing they do is A. Point their finger at the US and claim its our country's demand for drugs that is fueling this and B. that it is up to the U.S. to come riding to the rescue. They made the climate what it is by their apathy of politic thought, and turning a blind eye to corruption at all levels. They shrug their shoulders and say its always been that way.
Are innocents being harmed? Yes. Are the police and the Government corrupt and a majority of the problem? YES. Is that cause for the United States to come riding to the rescue or grant entry to those who are caught in the middle. NO! If the shoe was on the other foot and the violence and corruption were in the United States what do yu think their reaCTION WOULD BE? i'LL TELL YOU THEY WOULD POINT, LAUGH AND SNICKER SAYING SEE THE GRINGOS ARE GETTING EXACTLY WHAT THEY DESERVE. That is why I really don't care. Clean up your country. Arm yourselves and fight back instead of being sheep and just taking the corruption. Its amazing that maybe 45,000 ppl are hold MILLIONS hostage. SHOOT BACK FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!!! Turn the tables and take back your country and make it into that which you aspire to be. A model of what you want to escape to the United States. Time for the people of Mexico to rise up and rid themselves of the corrupt army, p[olice and government. The last thing that any of those want is a pissed off population that starts shooting back at them and says enough is enough!
I don't only have a headache....I have a heart ache. Yes, Mexico should take care of the problems just like the USA did with the mafia...yes? still working on that one I think. This is not about a counry asking for asylum if that would even be possible, but a young lady. I am disappointed that the US would not or could not help her and her mother.
Whie I sympathize with what is happening and feel for those involved like one above said its their problem. Mexico has for year allowed this type of violance to happen. As long as it stayed south of the border and Mexico City they didn't care. Now that it has moved into their own backyard the first thing they do is A. Point their finger at the US and claim its our country's demand for drugs that is fueling this and B. that it is up to the U.S. to come riding to the rescue. They made the climate what it is by their apathy of politic thought, and turning a blind eye to corruption at all levels. They shrug their shoulders and say its always been that way. Are innocents being harmed? Yes. Are the police and the Government corrupt and a majority of the problem? YES. Is that cause for the United States to come riding to the rescue or grant entry to those who are caught in the middle. NO! If the shoe was on the other foot and the violence and corruption were in the United States what do yu think their reaCTION WOULD BE? i'LL TELL YOU THEY WOULD POINT, LAUGH AND SNICKER SAYING SEE THE GRINGOS ARE GETTING EXACTLY WHAT THEY DESERVE. That is why I really don't care. Clean up your country. Arm yourselves and fight back instead of being sheep and just taking the corruption. Its amazing that maybe 45,000 ppl are hold MILLIONS hostage. SHOOT BACK FOR CHRIST'S SAKE!!! Turn the tables and take back your country and make it into that which you aspire to be. A model of what you want to escape to the United States. Time for the people of Mexico to rise up and rid themselves of the corrupt army, p[olice and government. The last thing that any of those want is a pissed off population that starts shooting back at them and says enough is enough!
Peaple head North because the United States is known for its Freedom.Human rights are taken more seriously in the US.Yes Mexicos problems are not to be solved by the US.In fact the problem,even if US tried,couldnt be solved.Just like the Middle East.Us cannot solve their problems but still try.Why???The united States is a great country,and some peaple have no Idea how good they have it.They complain about health benifits and many other issues.In other countries if you dont pay first hospitals dont attend you.They let you die in the emergency room.Here they attend you regardless and you have to pay back the debt.Some peaple ignore important values like honor and respect and think you can justify a crime with a crime.Ignorance is among all Nations and if you want to make a change in this world,dont judge and lend a hand to those who want to be helped,not those who just want to complain and dont want to put some work in.This girl and her family have done nothing wrong.If she did come to the US she would most likely not be a threat to this country.She was halfway done with law school,wich shows her dedication to achicing something good in life.Keep in mind any threat to this country would probably not seek for help.
Peaple head North because the United States is known for its Freedom.Human rights are taken more seriously in the US.Yes Mexicos problems are not to be solved by the US.In fact the problem,even if US tried,couldnt be solved.Just like the Middle East.Us cannot solve their problems but still try.Why???The united States is a great country,and some peaple have no Idea how good they have it.They complain about health benifits and many other issues.In other countries if you dont pay first hospitals dont attend you.They let you die in the emergency room.Here they attend you regardless and you have to pay back the debt.Some peaple ignore important values like honor and respect and think you can justify a crime with a crime.Ignorance is among all Nations and if you want to make a change in this world,dont judge and lend a hand to those who want to be helped,not those who just want to complain and dont want to put some work in.This girl and her family have done nothing wrong.If she did come to the US she would most likely not be a threat to this country.She was halfway done with law school,wich shows her dedication to achicing something good in life.Keep in mind any threat to this country would probably not seek for help.
Hey, if guns were that easy to get why don't the people get them and run the cartels and corrupt government out? Why must we fix their problems? And they ARE THEIR problems.
Hey, if guns were that easy to get why don't the people get them and run the cartels and corrupt government out? Why must we fix their problems? And they ARE THEIR problems.
This is so amazing I get headaches just thinking about it. Just recently while watching the morning news, I saw an advertisement for vacationing in Mexico! The commercial showed this exotic and peaceful land, sky blue waters and people everywhere wearing smiles.....How about heading south? If Mexico is this pristine and exotic country filled with love and smiles to attract worldly travelers, then those who advertise it either contradict this story, or they themselves work for the aforementioned drug cartel and should immediately be shot!
This is so amazing I get headaches just thinking about it. Just recently while watching the morning news, I saw an advertisement for vacationing in Mexico! The commercial showed this exotic and peaceful land, sky blue waters and people everywhere wearing smiles.....How about heading south? If Mexico is this pristine and exotic country filled with love and smiles to attract worldly travelers, then those who advertise it either contradict this story, or they themselves work for the aforementioned drug cartel and should immediately be shot!
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