The Script
hour 2: El Norte
(read the script from hour 1: The Border )

** indicates an interview originally conducted in Spanish, and translated for the purposes of this web site.

KEN VERDOIA : IT'S ANY MORNING IN A MAJOR CITY IN THE AMERICAN WEST.
ALL OF THESE MEN HAVE RECENTLY ENTERED THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY.
THEY STAND ON STREET CORNERS WAITING TO BE HIRED ON THE BOTTOM WRUNG OF THE WAGE LADDER AS DAY LABOR. WITHOUT DOCUMENTS, THEY’LL BE PAID IN CASH UNDER THE TABLE.
A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE IS THAT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WILL EARN FIVE-BILLION-DOLLARS OFF THE BOOKS THIS YEAR.
ON THE STREET, THEY ARE A LABOR BLACK MARKET IN THE OPEN, RISKING ARREST. ITS A CHANCE THEY’RE WILLINGLY TAKE.

"JOSE" : "I HAVE A FAMILY BACK IN MEXICO. I HAVE TWO KIDS AND MY WIFE. IN THE FUTURE I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THEM HERE WITH ME. AT I MAKE HERE IN A DAY, IT WOULD TAKE ME A WEEK, WORKING FROM MONDAY TO SATURDAY. LETS SAY IT TAKES ME A WEEK TO MAKE 600 PESOS. WITH A DAY JOB HERE I CAN MAKE SIXTY DOLLARS. I EARN THE WEEK’S WAGES IN ONE DAY."

KEN VERDOIA : ITS EARNED THE HARD WAY. DAY LABOR IS THE LIFTING, LUGGING BULL WORK OF BUILDING AND TEARING DOWN.
TEN HOUR DAYS ARE STANDARD. FIFTY BUCKS AN AVERAGE DAY’S PAY.

"JUAN" : SUPPOSEDLY, ONCE YOU COME HERE, GREAT OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE ENCOUNTERED, BUT THAT IS A BIG FALLACY. IT’S A TREMENDOUS ATROCITY. WHEN YOU ARRIVE HERE, YOU ARE TREATED WORSE THAN IN YOUR COUNTRY’S SOCIETY. BUT SINCE WE ARE ALREADY HERE, WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT BUT TO ENDURE.

VERDOIA : LIKE MANY METROPOLITAN SETTINGS, THE CITY OF PHOENIX HAS BEEN INUNDATED BY THE LABOR BLACK MARKET.
THEY HAVE GATHERED ON BELL ROAD IN THE CITY’S NORTHWEST LOOKING FOR WORK. . . CHOKING INTERSECTIONS AND IMPACTING LOCAL BUSINESSES.
MACDONALD’S OWNER KEENAN STRAND WENT TO THE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE FOR HELP.

KEENAN STRAND : WE ASKED THE INS FOR SOME HELP, CAN THEY DO SOMETHING FOR US. THEY SUGGESTED THAT THEY WERE BUSY ON THE BORDER DEALING WITH DRUG ISSUES AND DEALING WITH COYOTES AND THOSE KIND OF LIFE THREATENING THINGS, AND THAT THIS TYPE OF SPOT ENFORCEMENT WASN’T GOING TO HAPPEN. SO WE ASKED THE CITY FOR SOME HELP.

PEGGY NEELY, Phoenix City Council : IT WAS IN CRISIS. BUSINESSES HAVING, SHUTTING THEIR DOORS. BUSINESSES LOOKING AT SALES REDUCED BY TWENTY-FIVE THIRTY PERCENT. NEIGHBORHOODS HAVING A HIGHER CRIME RATE. THEY SHOWED UP. I CAME INTO OFFICE IN JANUARY, AND THEY SHOWED UP ON MY DOORSTEP IN MARCH SAYING COUNCILWOMAN NEELEY, WE HAVE DEALT WITH THIS SINCE ABOUT 1992 AND WE NEED A SOLUTION.

Verdoia : THE SOLUTION FOR PHOENIX WAS TO OPEN A CITY-ORGANIZED DAY LABOR CENTER.
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS NOW GATHER AT THE SIGHT EACH DAY. EMPLOYERS PULL IN AND NEGOTIATE DEALS. WORKERS HOP IN THE CARS AND DRIVE AWAY.
IN ITS FIRST YEAR, THERE WERE DRAMATIC CUTS IN THE NUMBER OF WORKERS ON THE STREET.

"JUAN" : WELL I’VE SEEN THAT ITS SAFER HERE THAN OUTSIDE. AT LEAST THE POLICE HERE DON’T BOTHER YOU. OUTSIDE YOU HAVE THE RISK THAT THE POLICE ARREST YOU AND GIVE YOU A TICKET. WE ARE HERE TO MOVE FORWARD, TO MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER, THAT’S WHY WE COME HERE.

[KEENAN STRAND] : ITS LIKE NIGHT AND DAY. OUR BUSINESS ALONE OUR REVENUES ARE UP 250,000 DOLLARS FOR A ONE YEAR PERIOD.
[PULL UP]
KIDS USED TO WALK TO SCHOOL PAST AS MANY AS 100 MEN DOWN THE SAME SIDEWALK. SO, YEAH, ITS BROUGHT DIGNITY BACK TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND ITS BROUGHT DIGNITY TO THESE GUYS WHO ARE JUST LOOKING FOR A DAY JOB."

VERDOIA : THE DAY LABOR CENTER HAS ITS CRITICS.
IN A SIMPLE SENSE, PHOENIX IS NOW PROVIDING A HAVEN FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO FIND WORK. . .A PROBLEMATIC ROLE FOR ANY GOVERNMENT.
BUT CENTER SUPPORTERS SAY THEY WERE FORCED TO EXTREME MEASURES BY THE FAILURE OF NATIONAL POLICY.

[SALVADOR REZA] : NAFTA CAUSED A LOT OF THIS TO HAPPEN. FIFTEEN, TWENTY YEARS AGO YOU WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THIS. SO WE CANNOT RESOLVE THE IMMIGRATION POLICIES, BUT WE CAN RESOLVE THE COMMUNITY PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM OF THE IMMIGRATION POLICIES IS WITHIN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ALONG WITH THE MEXICAN PRESIDENT. THEY SEEM TO HAVE LOOKED THE OTHER WAY. THEY SEEM TO NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT."

VERDOIA : PHOENIX COUNCIL MEMBER PEGGY NEELEY SURVIVED AN ABORTED RE-CALL CAMPAIGN, AIMED AT DRIVING HER FROM OFFICE BECAUSE OF HER SUPPORT OF THE DAY LABOR CENTER.
SHE CLAIMS THE FAILURE TO DEAL WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, AS A NATION, FORCES CITIES TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO MAINTAIN ORDER.

[PEGGY NEELEY] : BUT I BELIEVE WE HAVE A FEDERAL ISSUE, AND I BELIEVE THAT I’VE LISTENED TO A LOT OF CONGRESSIONAL PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION AND THEY’D LIKE TO TURN THEIR HEADS AND SAY ‘NO, THERE IS NO PROBLEM.’ BUT IT IS CAUSING A WHOLE HOST OF PROBLEMS. ITS CAUSES PROBLEMS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IT’S A TAX ON OUR POLICE, IT’S A TAX ON OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND THE WHOLE GAMUT. AND I TRY AND TELL PEOPLE THAT DO NOT SUPPORT THE DAY LABOR CENTER THAT THIS WAS A SOLUTION FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS A CAUSE FROM A SYMPTOM OF THE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION PROBLEM."

VERDOIA : BUT THE LURE OF EMPLOYMENT IS MORE THAN THE DAY LABOR MARKET.
MOISES ABOITE, WHO WE MET DURING HIS FAMILY’S RETURN VISIT TO JUCHIPILA IN MEXICO, IS ON THE JOB IN WENDOVER ON THE UTAH-NEVADA STATE LINE.
MOISES AND HIS WIFE ANNA ARE NOW LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. BUT WHEN HE FIRST CAME TO UTAH, HE HAD CROSSED THE BORDER ILLEGALLY.
HE WANTED SOMETHING MORE THAN DAY LABOR. . .HE WANTED A STEADY JOB. HE FOUND THAT IT WAS HARDER TO LEARN ENGLISH THAN TO FIND WORK.

[MOISES ABOITE] : AND I STARTED WORKING IN THE KITCHEN BECAUSE EVERYBODY THERE, NO, YOU DON’T REALLY NEED TO SPEAK ENGLISH BECAUSE EVERYBODY SPEAKS SPANISH IN THE KITCHENS. ALMOST EVERYWHERE. EVEN IN SALT LAKE OR ANYWHERE YOU GO. THE KITCHEN, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE COOKS, THE DISHWASHERS, THEY SPEAK SPANISH. SPANISH PEOPLE ARE THERE ALL THE TIME. SO WE DO THAT KIND OF JOB. SO I DIDN’T LEARN ENGLISH BECAUSE I GOT STUCK IN THE (ANA: IN THE KITCHEN) IN THE KITCHEN. SO I’M JUST LEARNING ENGLISH RIGHT NOW.

VERDOIA : IN FACT, IMMIGRANTS NOW PLAY A CRITICAL, BEHIND THE SCENES ROLE ACROSS THE BOARD IN SUSTAINING UTAH’S ECONOMY.

DAVID BAILEY : MORONI FEED COMPANY IS A FARMER COOPERATIVE WHERE OUR OWNERS, WE’RE FAMILY OWNED FARMS. WE PRODUCE TURKEYS. THERE’S SIXTY-FIVE INDEPENDENT FARMERS IN SANPETE COUNTY// AND TOGETHER OVER THE LAST SIXTY-FIVE YEAR WE HAVE EVOLVED INTO A TURKEY PRODUCING COMPANY THAT RAISES, THAT PRODUCES ALMOST 90 MILLION POUNDS OF FINISHED TURKEY PRODUCTS.

KENT BARTON : OUR COMPANY IS MADE UP OF ABOUT 900, 950 EMPLOYEES. WE’RE 54 PERCENT HISPANIC AND THE REMAINDER MOSTLY CAUCASIANS. IN THIS DIVISION, HERE AT THE PROCESSING PLANT, IT’S A LITTLE MORE SKEWED TO THE HISPANIC POPULATION. PROBABLY 70-30 AT THIS LOCATION.
YEARS AGO WE HAD MORE PEOPLE COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND COMING TO WORK HERE ON OUR LINE. DURING THE LAST TWENTY YEARS WE’VE HAD A FEW THINGS HAPPEN. ONE, IS OUR NEED FOR LABOR HAS GONE UP AS OUR PRODUCTION HAS DOUBLED. ALSO, WE HAVE MORE KIDS GOING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE OR OTHER CAREERS, AND SO THAT’S MADE IT SOMEWHAT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO ATTRACT LABOR FROM HERE IN OUR LOCAL AREA.

MORONI PLANT WORKER #1 : WELL I HAD SOME COUSINS THAT HAD BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE. THEY INVITED ME TO COME TO VISIT, AND I SAW THAT IT WAS VERY TRANQUIL PLACE TO WORK AND I LIKE IT. SO I STARTED WORKING HERE FOURTEEN YEARS AGO.

MORONI PLANT WORKER #S : QUESTION: HAVE YOU SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THE YEARS SINCE YOU’VE BEEN HERE, LIKE PEOPLE COMING OVER FROM MEXICO?
OH YEAH, A LOT OF PEOPLE COME UP HERE. MOSTLY CAUSE THEY LIKE TO BE HERE. THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO WORK.
MEXICO IS REALLY POOR. HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WE HAVE A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE WORKING. LIKE I TOLD YOU, UTAH IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO BE.
BASICALLY WE DON’T CARE WHAT KIND OF WORK WE DO, WE JUST GOT TO GET IT DONE. WE DON’T CARE WHAT KIND OF WORK WE GOT TO WORK ON, WE JUST HAVE TO GET IT DONE.

VERDOIA : FROM TURKEY PLANTS IN THE HEART OF UTAH TO SKI RESORTS IN THE MOUNTAINS, TO CASINOS ON THE STATE LINE, TO RESTAURANTS FANCY AND SIMPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE AT WORK IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST.

TECHNICALLY, THAT SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
IN PRACTICE, IT IS REMARKABLY SIMPLE.
ALL EMPLOYERS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A FEDERAL FORM ASSURING THAT THEY ARE NOT EMPLOYING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
BUT THE FORMS ARE NOT SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT. THEY ONLY COME INTO PLAY IF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES RAID AN EMPLOYER.
WHILE THE NUMBER OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED IN THE PAST TEN YEARS. . .OBSERVERS CLAIM THE NUMBER OF FEDERAL RAIDS AGAINST EMPLOYERS HAS DECLINED.

WAYNE CORNELIUS : THE EFFORT TO ENFORCE PENALTIES AGAINST EMPLOYERS WHO KNOWINGLY HIRE UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRANTS HAS VIRTUALLY COLLAPSED DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS. WE PROBABLY AS A NATION MAKE LESS OF AN EFFORT TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS IN THE WORK PLACE THAN ANY OTHER MAJOR INDUSTRIAL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. AND THAT’S SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE IS NO POLITICAL CONSTITUENCY FOR A SYSTEMATIC CRACKDOWN ON EMPLOYERS. AND THAT’S WHY THE BORDER ENFORCEMENT BUILD UP OF THE LAST TEN YEARS HASN’T HAD THE DETERRENT EFFECT. JOBS CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE TO WOULD-BE MIGRANTS.

VERDOIA : IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT HAS PASSED TO THE NEW DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, HEADQUARTERED IN THIS NAVAL BASE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
DHS WAS CREATED IN THE WAKE OF THE SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH ATTACKS AGAINST THE NATION.
THE TOP PRIORITY FOR D-H-S HAS BEEN TO STOP TERRORISTS. . . AND THE EFFORT AGAINST PEOPLE RUNNING THE BORDER LOOKING FOR WORK SEEMS TO PALE IN COMPARISON.

ASA HUTCHINSON : WE DO HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES. ITS NOT JUST TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY FROM ECONOMIC MIGRANTS THAT ARE HERE ILLEGALLY, BUT ITS ALSO TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY FROM TERRORISTS. AND SO WE HAVE A BROAD MANDATE, BUT OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE, AND THAT’S BOTH FOR WORK SITE ENFORCEMENT IN WHICH OUR ‘05 BUDGET WILL BE MORE THAN DOUBLE IN THAT REGARD, TO PROTECTING THE BORDER.

VOICEOVER: "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES."

VERDOIA : BUT THE COMMITMENT TO AGGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT AGAINST EMPLOYERS WAS CALLED INTO QUESTION IN 2004, WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNALED A NEW DIRECTION.

GEORGE W. BUSH: THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. OUR NATION NEEDS AN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT SERVES THE AMERICAN ECONOMY, AND REFLECTS THE AMERICAN DREAM.
I PROPOSE A NEW TEMPORARY WORKER PROGRAM THAT WILL MATCH WILLING FOREIGN WORKERS WITH WILLING AMERICAN EMPLOYERS, WHEN NO AMERICANS CAN BE FOUND TO FILL THE JOBS. THIS PROGRAM WILL OFFER LEGAL STATUS, AS TEMPORARY WORKERS, TO MILLIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED MEN AND WOMEN NOW EMPLOYED IN THE UNITED STATES. . ."

VERDOIA : WITHIN DAYS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT THERE WAS A SURGE IN ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS AS WORD SPREAD OF THE BUSH INITIATIVE.
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD THE DETAILS WRONG, THE PEOPLE ON THE BORDER FELT THE TIME WAS RIGHT TO GET ACROSS.

"SILVIA" : ". . .NOW I WAS LISTENING ON THE TV THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE SOMETHING LIKE A PASSPORT TO CROSS LEGALLY AND NOT HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS. THAT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE MEXICANS SO THAT THEY AREN’T RISKING THEIR LIVES, ESPECIALLY SOME LIKE US THAT HAVE KIDS. IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE KIDS YOU WOULD FIND A WAY TO CROSS, BUT WITH KIDS ONE WOULD LIKE TO PASS LEGALLY SO THAT THE KIDS DON’T SUFFER IN THE DESERT."

VERDOIA : PATROL AGENTS CONFIRMED A SPIKE IN ATTEMPTED BORDER CROSSINGS IN THE WAKE OF THE BUSH ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT DECLINED PUBLIC COMMENT.
EVEN AS THE ADMINISTRATION WAS INCREASING MANPOWER ON THE BORDER, "HELP WANTED" SIGNS FROM THE INTERIOR WERE ADDING TO THE FLOW OF HUMANITY.

VERDOIA : UTAH EMPLOYERS SAY THEY WELCOME ANY NEW DIRECTION THAT WILL TAKE THEM OUT OF THE LINE OF FIRE, AND WILL ALLOW THEM TO KEEP A LOW-COST WORKFORCE.
EVERY EMPLOYER WE INTERVIEWED INSISTS THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE LEGAL, AND THEY RESENT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT.

GARY ZWAHLEN : I DON’T FEEL I NEED TO BE THE POLICE. I ASK FOR THE PAPERS THAT THE GOVERNMENT ASKS ME TO HAVE, AND THE COPIES OF THOSE, AND IF THEY HAVE THOSE I’LL PUT THEM TO WORK.
I JUST DON’T FEEL THAT ITS MY RESPONSIBILITY IF THEY HAVE THE RIGHT PAPERS, THEY HAVE A UTAH DRIVER’S LICENSE, THEY HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, THAT I HAVE TO DO ANY MORE THAN THAT TO CHECK THEIR BACKGROUND.

VERDOIA : A DRIVER’S LICENSE AND A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ARE TWO OF THE BEST TICKETS TO EMPLOYMENT.
AND IN UTAH, BOTH ARE EASILY OBTAINED BY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
UTAH IS ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF STATES THAT ISSUES DRIVER’S LICENSES TO APPLICANTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR LEGAL STATUS—EACH STATE HAVING THE RIGHT TO SET THEIR OWN STANDARDS FOR ISSUING A LICENSE.
UTAH DEFENDS ITS POLICY AS A REASONABLE APPROACH TO IDENTIFYING WHO IS DRIVING ON STATE ROADWAYS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION, LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AND PERMANENT RESIDENCY PAPERS KNOWN AS GREEN CARDS, ARE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO LEGALLY OBTAIN.
BUT THEY ARE EASY TO BUY ON THE IMMIGRATION BLACK MARKET.
WE SENT A SPANISH SPEAKING RESEARCH ASSISTANT INTO SALT LAKE CITY TO TEST THE WATERS.
WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS HE HAD NEGOTIATED THE PURCHASE OF FULL IDENTITY CARDS. . .SOCIAL SECURITY CARD AND AN IMMIGRATION GREEN CARD, BOTH ISSUED IN AN IDENTITY WE HAD MADE-UP. TOTAL PRICE: TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS.

[IDENTITY PROTECTED] : YOU KNOW PLACES AND THEN THEY COME UP TO YOU AND THEN YOU GET TO PICK WHO YOU WANT TO GET IT FROM. AND THEN YOU SAY, ALRIGHT I NEED SO MUCH, HOW MUCH IS IT. AND THEY SET YOU UP. . ."

VERDOIA : NOT LIKELY TO PASS MUSTER WITH AN IMMIGRATION INSPECTOR, THE FORGERIES ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO MEET AN EMPLOYER’S REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
IN EFFECT, FOR TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS, WE PURCHASED THE TICKETS TO WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES.

DOCUMENT FORGERY IS SUCH A BOOMING BUSINESS THAT THE UTAH CRIMINAL FORENSIC LAB HAS MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED CASES ON BACK LOG.
THIS IS THE HAUL FROM ONE ARREST ALONE. NINETY BAGS OF BLANK DRIVER’S LICENSES, SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS, PASSPORTS, LEGAL FORMS AND NOTARY STAMPS FOR THE APPEARANCE OF AUTHENTICITY
THE GREAT LEAP FORWARD IN COMPUTER GRAPHICS AND PRINTING TECHNOLOGY HAS TURNED DOCUMENT FORGERY INTO A BIG-MONEY COTTAGE INDUSTRY.
THE AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTS DOES NOT MEAN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT HAS ENDED IN UTAH.
WORKPLACE RAIDS HAVE OCCURRED IN UTAH IN RECENT YEARS.
BUT THERE HAS BEEN INCREASING FALLOUT IN THE WAKE OF THE RAIDS, AND A REACTION TO THE FAMILIES THAT ARE DISPLACED.
THE FAMILIES ARE DROPPED AT THE BORDER. WILLING WORKERS WHO THOUGHT THEY HAD FOUND WILLING EMPLOYERS.

JUAN : MY INTENTIONS WERE TO GO TO WORK HONORABLY LIKE A MEXICAN WORKER, NOT TO DO ANY MALICE, JUST WORK. MAKE A LITTLE MONEY AND THEN GO BACK TO MY COUNTRY. BUT YOU SEE THEY DIDN’T HAVE ANY COMPASSION OR SYMPATHY FOR US. THEY KNEW WE CROSSED THE DESERT AND THEY ACTED AS IF WE HADN’T SUFFERED. THATS WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE. THEY ACTED AS IF THEY WERE NOT CHRISTIANS. THEY ACTED AS IF THEY WERE INHUMAN.

MIKE MARTINEZ : THE PEOPLE WHO GET THE SHAFT IN THE RAIDS ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE ILLEGALLY DOING THIS WORK FOR MENIAL WAGES WHO ARE BEING ABUSED AND USED ANYWAY, AND THEY’RE JUST REPLACED BY OTHER PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE, JUST LIKE THEM, TO TAKE THEIR PLACE. THERE ARE SO MANY IN UTAH.

VERDOIA : IN 2003, THE TOP FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR IMMIGRATION IN UTAH ANNOUNCED THAT WORKPLACE RAIDS WOULD NO LONGER BE A PRIORITY.

MIKE MARTINEZ : THE PROBLEM IS THAT NO ONE WANTS TO EXPOSE THE EMPLOYER BECAUSE THEY’RE USUALLY UPSTANDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SECONDARILY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HANGS TOGETHER VERY TOUGH TO RESIST ANY FINES OR PENALTIES ON EMPLOYERS FOR HIRING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SO THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE, THE U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE. . .THEY DON’T WANT TO TAKE ON THE UTAH BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

VERDOIA : BUT BUSINESSES WARN THAT A CRACKDOWN ON EMPLOYERS WOULD ACTUALLY BE A CRACKDOWN ON LOW-COST LABOR.
FORCED TO HIRE SO-CALLED "UNWILLING" WORKERS AT MUCH HIGHER WAGES, BUSINESS OWNERS SAY CONSUMERS WOULD FEEL THE PINCH.
HIGHER COSTS FOR CONSTRUCTION. HIGHER COSTS FOR RESORT AND TOURISM SERVICES. AND DEFINITELY HIGHER COSTS FOR FOOD.
ANOTHER PRACTICAL CONSIDERATION IS THE GROWING IMPACT OF UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRANTS IN THE ECONOMY. IMPACT NOT JUST IN THE UNITED STATES. . .BUT THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

ROBERTO SURO : "IN 2003 THE BEST ESTIMATES ARE THAT ABOUT THIRTY BILLION DOLLARS, THATS BILLION WITH A B, WAS SENT HOME BY IMMIGRANTS FROM LATIN AMERICA LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES.
". . .MEXICO TOOK IN OVER THIRTEEN BILLION DOLLARS LAST YEAR. AND EVEN IN A VERY BIG ECONOMY, IN A VERY BIG COUNTRY THAT A LOT OF MONEY. I MEAN, ITS MONEY THAT COMES IN AT NO COST TO THE HOME COUNTRY SPECIFICALLY. IT FEEDS MARKETS."
VERDOIA : BUT IN THE HEART OF MEXICO, MONEY SENT HOME BY THE NORTENOS DOES MORE THAN FEED MARKETS. IN JUCHIPILA IN THE STATE OF ZACATECAS, IT FEEDS PEOPLE.

RAFAEL JIMENEZ NUNEZ, MAYOR OF JUCHIPILA : THE ECONOMY HERE IN JUCHIPILA HAS BEEN STANDING FOR MANY YEARS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO STAND THANKS TO THE MIGRATION OF OUR PEOPLE TO THE UNITED STATES. PRACTICALLY NOTHING IS PRODUCED HERE. THERE AREN’T ANY TYPES OF JOBS. THE ONLY ECONOMIC MOVEMENT THAT YOU SEE HERE IN JUCHIPILA AND IN ALL OF SOUTHERN ZACATECAS COMES FROM THE MONEY THAT IS SENT BY OUR COUNTRYMEN TO THE FAMILIES THAT ARE HERE, WHO WERE LEFT HERE. . .

VERDOIA : ON A RECENT VISIT TO HER HOME IN JUCHIPILA, ANA ABOITE TAKES HER DAUGHTER ON A VISIT TO THE SCHOOL ANA ATTENDED AS A CHILD. . .BEFORE SHE CROSSED TO THE UNITED STATES.
THE SCHOOL HAS HAD MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN RECENT YEARS, AND MORE CHILDREN ARE ATTENDING CLASS- - -ALL BECAUSE OF THE MONEY BEING SENT HOME BY THE NORTENOS. MONEY THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE EXIST FOR THINGS LIKE SCHOOL LUNCH AND PENCILS. . .EXPENSES THAT HAVE KEPT CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL IN JUCHIPILA.

ANA ABOITE : WHEN YOU CAME TO CLASS, THEY DIDN’T FEED YOU. YOU WOULD HAVE TO BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH LIKE A TORTA TO EAT. YOU WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BRING YOUR OWN PENCIL OR YOU COULDN’T TAKE ANY NOTES. YOUR UNCLE ANDRES LEFT TO THE UNITED STATES. HE WOULD HELP US, AND THAT WAS HOW MY MOM WAS ABLE TO BRING US AND FEED US, PAY FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES. THATS HOW WE WERE ABLE TO COME TO SCHOOL.

VERDOIA : LIKE CLOCKWORK, EACH MONTH ANA AND MOISES ABOITE TRAVEL FROM THEIR HOME IN WENDOVER ON THE UTAH-NEVADA STATE LINE TO SALT LAKE CITY. THEY SEND MONEY HOME TO FAMILY IN JUCHIPILA.
ANA CONTINUES THE FAMILY TRADITION ESTABLISHED BY HER OLDER BROTHER ANDRES.

ANA ABOITE : ". . .BECAUSE ITS LIKE MY BROTHER. WE HAVE NO MORE CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY, BUT MY PARENTS AREN’T ABLE TO WORK. SO WE STILL HELP THEM. SO ITS LIKE A CHAIN. MY BROTHER HELPS ME OUT ONE TIME, NOW I’M HELPING OUR PARENTS OUT, AND HE IS STILL HELPING THEM OUT. ITS LIKE A CHAIN. AND THERE ARE NO JOBS, BENEFITS OR RETIREMENTS. SO ITS LIKE, HOW ARE THESE PEOPLE GOING TO SURVIVE?

VERDOIA : THIS YEAR, FOURTEEN BILLION DOLLARS WILL BE SENT HOME TO MEXICO BY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WORKING IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS NOW THE SINGLE LARGEST ANNUAL FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN MEXICO.
BEYOND PROVIDING FOOD AND MEDICINE FOR FAMILIES LIKE ANA’S, THE MONEY WILL SERVE TO STABILIZE THE MEXICAN ECONOMY. . .AND THE MEXICAN POLITICAL LANDSCAPE.

RAFAEL JIMENEZ NUNEZ : I FEEL THAT IF WE WEREN’T A BORDER COUNTRY WITH THE UNITED STATES, WE WOULD BE LIKE CENTRAL AMERICA, WITH GUERILLAS, HUNGER AND SEVERE SOCIAL PROBLEMS. WE ARE GOING FINE, THANKS TO OUR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN IN THE UNITED STATES. THE COMMERCE THAT MOVES HERE IN JUCHIPILA IS THANKS TO THE DOLLAR. IN FACT, EVERYTHING IS BOUGHT IN DOLLARS. IF YOU WANT TO BUY LAND, THEY SELL IT TO YOU IN DOLLARS. IF YOU WANT TO BUY A HOUSE, THEY SELL IT TO YOU IN DOLLARS. IF YOU WANT TO BUY A CAR THEY SELL IT TO YOU IN DOLLARS.

VERDOIA : SENDING MONEY HOME TO FAMILY IN LATIN AMERICA IS NOW VERY BIG BUSINESS IN THE UNITED STATES.
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY PASS THROUGH AN UNLIKELY FINANCIAL NETWORK ROOTED IN SMALL STORES.
THROUGH WIRE ACCOUNTS, IMMIGRANTS TRANSFER MONEY TO THEIR FAMILIES BACK HOME.
SUDDENLY. . .THEY ARE A TARGET MARKET.

ROBERTO SURO : THIRTY BILLION DOLLARS IN TRANSFERS. IF YOU THINK OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST TAKE ONE OR TWO OR THREE OR FOUR PERCENT OFF THAT IN PROFIT, ITS VERY ATTRACTIVE. AND, IN FACT, THE PROFIT MARGINS ARE EVEN HIGHER THAN THAT. SIGNIFICANTLY. AS A RESULT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AS THE AMOUNT OF REMITTANCES HAS BEEN MOUNTING, ALL KINDS OF PLAYERS HAVE GOTTEN INTO THIS MARKET.

VERDOIA : ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT NEW PLAYERS IS THE AMERICAN BANKING INDUSTRY.
AT ONE TIME RELUCTANT TO WADE INTO THE POTENTIALLY MESSY REALM OF WORKING WITH UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS. . .A LARGE NUMBER OF BANKS, LIKE THE UTAH-BASED ZIONS BANK, ARE AGGRESSIVELY MARKETING SERVICES FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS

ZIONS BANK REPRESENTATIVE : YOU KNOW THAT MOST OF THEM COME TO THE UNITED STATES TO WORK AND SEND MONEY BACK TO THEIR COUNTRIES. WHAT THEY WANT IS EASY ACCESS FOR THEIR FAMILIES TO WITHDRAW THE MONEY IN THEIR COUNTRIES. WHAT ZION IS DOING NOW TO HELP THEM IS TO CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT WHERE THEY CAN DEPOSIT MONEY HERE, AND THEY CAN CALL THEIR FAMILIES AND WITHDRAW THE MONEY AT ANY ATM.

VERDOIA : WHAT MIGHT SOUND LIKE A BANK COMMERCIAL IS ACTUALLY AN INDICATION OF HOW GROUNDED THE IMMIGRANTS HAVE BECOME IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.
THEIR WORK IS IN DEMAND. . .THEIR DOLLARS DESIRED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER.
AND EVERY WIRE TRANSFER HOME
IS A GUARANTEE THAT THE PIPELINE OF HUMANITY TO THE NORTH WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW.

ROBERTO SURO : AND YOU’VE GOT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL LEFT BEHIND BEING REMINDED WITH EVERY REMITTANCE CHECK THAT THERE’S ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO THE NORTH BECAUSE THAT RELATIVE TO THE NORTH IS NOT ONLY MAKING ENOUGH TO LIVE AND TO LIVE BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE HE LEFT BEHIND, THAT PERSON ALSO MAKES ENOUGH MONEY TO SEND SOMETHING BACK.

VERDOIA : THE LURE OF JOBS. . .OF MONEY. . .OF MAKING IT, REMAINS POWERFUL IN COUNTRIES LIKE MEXICO.
POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DRAW PEOPLE THROUGH THE DANGERS OF THE BORDER.
POWERFUL ENOUGH TO BLIND THEM TO THE DOWNSIDE THAT CAN EXIST FROM BEING IN THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY.

"ANITA"** : THATS WHEN ALL THE PEOPLE GET IN THEIR HEAD TO COME TO THE U-S. THEN, WHEN THEY GET HERE IT HITS THEM THAT IT IS MAYBE MORE DIFFICULT HERE IN THE STATES THAN IN MEXICO. HERE YOU HAVE THE LANGUAGE BARRIER AND EVEN THE RACISM OF SOME PEOPLE. ITS VERY DIFFICULT IN THE FIRST DAYS.

FATHER HUGO RODRIGUEZ** : THE MAJORITY OF THEM LIVE A VERY ENSLAVED LIFE. THEY PAY THEM REALLY LOW, AND THEY HAVE TO WORK OVERTIME. THEY HAVE TO GET UP EARLY AND WORK TWO JOBS, BECAUSE ONE IS NOT ENOUGH. OVER THERE EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE, AND ASIDE FROM SAVING A LITTLE THEY STILL HAVE TO PAY THEIR LIVING EXPENSES. THEY ONLY ARRIVE HOME TO SLEEP. THE PEOPLE SUFFER A LOT. THEY ARE NOT WANTED. THEY ARE UNDOCUMENTED.

VERDOIA : MARIA FOREMAN IS AN OUTREACH WORKER IN CAVE CREEK, OUTSIDE OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA.
LONG AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, SHE NOW WORKS WITH UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS NAVIGATING THE DIFFICULT WATERS OF TRYING TO BLEND IN TO AMERICAN SOCIETY.
HERE SHE WORKS WITH AN IMMIGRANT WHO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.
BUT FIGHTING A TERMINAL ILLNESS IS RARE COMPARED WITH THE DAILY BATTLES SHE HELPS IMMIGRANTS FACE.
NONE ARE MORE DRAMATIC THAN ISSUES INVOLVING HOUSING.
MARIA OFFERS TO SHOW US THE DESPERATE LIVING CONDITIONS ENDURED BY IMMIGRANTS.
BUT AS SHE NEGOTIATES HER WAY INTO A RUNDOWN TRAILER COURT, SHE IS CONFRONTED BY WORK CREWS EVICTING THE UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS.

THE OWNER HAS DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN THE TRAILER COURT. THE MEN SAY THEY WERE JUST TOLD TODAY TO GET OUT.
IN AN IRONIC TWIST, THE CREW CHIEF OF THE EVICTION HAS HIRED UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AS DAY LABOR TO MOVE THE EVICTION ALONG.
THE MEN TELL MARIA THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN.

CREW CHIEF : THEY EITHER GET THEIR STUFF OUT RIGHT NOW, OR I CALL THE COPS.

MARIA : CALL. I’LL WAIT RIGHT HERE.

VERDOIA : FOREMAN STANDS HER GROUND, BUT THE MEN WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE POLICE. THEY THROW EVERYTHING THEY OWN INTO PLASTIC GARBAGE BAGS AND LEAVE BEFORE THE POLICE ARRIVE. THE FEAR OF POLICE. . .OF DETECTION. . . OF DEPORTATION IS A DAILY PART OF LIFE FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

JOHN FIFE : IF SOMEONE KNOWS THAT A PERSON IS UNDOCUMENTED, OR A FAMILY IS UNDOCUMENTED, WHY NOT STEAL THEIR CAR? WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO, GO TO THE POLICE? WHY NOT BREAK INTO THEIR HOUSE? WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO GO TO THE POLICE? WHY NOT GRAB THEIR DAUGHTER AND SEXUALLY EXPLOIT HER. WHAT IS SHE GOING TO DO, REPORT IT TO THE POLICE? THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMIZED ALL THE TIME, AND BY EMPLOYERS WHO SAY WELL I CAN’T AFFORD TO PAY YOU THIS WEEK AND BESIDES WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? IF YOU TRY AND RAISE HECK ABOUT THIS, I’LL JUST CALL IMMIGRATION ON YOU. IT IS A SYSTEM THAT IS FAILING EVERYWHERE, AND ITS ANATHEMA TO ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT HUMANITY AND HUMAN BEINGS AND HUMAN DECENCY.

"MARIA"** : WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, I WOULD NOT GO OUT. I WOULD FEEL THE POLICE WOULD PICK ME UP AND TAKE ME. I WAS SCARED OF THEM. I DIDN’T GO OUT FOR THE FIRST YEAR I WAS HERE.

VERDOIA : WE’LL CALL HER MARIA. SHE CROSSED THE BORDER ILLEGALLY A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO. HER DREAM WAS A BETTER LIFE FOR HER DAUGHTER.
FOR MARIA, THE PATHWAY TO THAT BETTER LIFE RUNS THROUGH HER NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL, AND IT FORCED MARIA OUT OF THE SHADOWS.

MARIA** : SHE LOVES SCHOOL. SHE LOVES TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY, SO THAT SHE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH HER FRIENDS IN SCHOOL THAT SPEAK ENGLISH.
AS MY DAUGHTER LEARNS ENGLISH, SHE TELLS ME WHAT THEY’VE SAID. I ASK HER HOW TO SAY IT, AND SHE TEACHES ME.

VERDOIA : WHEN MARIA ENROLLED HER DAUGHTER IN OGDEN’S DEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SHE WAS NEVER QUESTIONED ABOUT HER LEGAL STATUS. IN 1982 THE U-S SUPREME COURT RULED UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS HAD A RIGHT TO ACCESS PUBLIC EDUCATION.

LINDA BROWN : WE ARE USING TAX DOLLARS TO EDUCATE CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS ARE NOT YET LEGAL CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES. WE KNOW THATS CONTROVERSIAL. BUT THATS WHAT OUR DISTRICT DOES. WE TAKE THEM IN. IF THEY LIVE IN OUR AREA, WE WILL EDUCATE THEM. THIS SCHOOL HAS A STAFF THAT BELIEVES IN THAT.

VERDOIA : ONE STAFF MEMBER WHO BELIEVES IS ANN WIDMAR.
SHE IS TEACHING MARIA’S DAUGHTER. HER ENTIRE CLASS IS "E-S-L"–ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.

ANN WIDMAR : I DON’T DO THIS FOR THE MONEY. AND I DON’T DO THIS BECAUSE ITS EASY. AND I DON’T DO THIS BECAUSE ITS LESS TIME CONSUMING. I DO IT BECAUSE I LOVE WHAT I DO. THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE.

VERDOIA : DEE ELEMENTARY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PROPORTIONS OF E-S-L STUDENTS IN UTAH. VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY LIVES IN HOMES BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.
ANN WIDMAR’S CLASS IS BILINGUAL. . . SHE SLIPS BACK-AND-FORTH BETWEEN SPANISH AND ENGLISH.

ANN WIDMAR : EVERYTHING I SAY IS DONE ONCE IN ENGLISH, ONCE IN SPANISH. AND ONCE I PULL AWAY FROM SPANISH THEN THEIR FACES TELL ME, FOR THE MOST PART, OR THEIR BODY LANGUAGE. I START TO LOSE CONTROL DISCIPLINE-WISE, AND I KNOW ITS TIME TO GO BACK AND TRANSLATE. BRING THEM BACK IN.

VERDOIA : IN SOME CIRCLES, BILINGUAL TEACHING IS CONTROVERSIAL.
TWO YEARS AGO ARIZONA PASSED A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE, BANNING BILINGUAL EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. . .MANDATING ENGLISH AS THE TEACHING LANGUAGE.
AGAIN, EACH STATE IS LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES IN FORMULATING POLICIES TOWARDS EDUCATING THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
THE POLICIES NOT ONLY VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. . .BUT AT TIMES VARY FROM SCHOOL DISTRICT TO SCHOOL DISTRICT.

ONE POLICY THAT IS UNIFORM THROUGHOUT THE NATION IS THE FEDERAL "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT"
—A PROCESS THAT HOLDS SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PROGRESS EACH CHILD MAKES.
SCHOOLS ARE MEASURED BY STUDENT PERFORMANCE. . .AND THE CHILDREN OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE MEASURED AGAINST THE STANDARD OF A NATIVE-BORN ENGLISH-SPEAKING CHILD OF THEIR SAME AGE.

LINDA BROWN : "...THE KIDS AT DEE HAVE AS MUCH NATURAL INSTINCTIVE ABILITY TO LEARN AS CHILDREN IN ANY SCHOOL. BUT WHEN THEY COME IN SO FAR BEHIND BECAUSE OF THE POVERTY AND WE TIE IN THE LANGUAGE OVERLAY ON THAT, COMING RIGHT IN FROM A FOREIGN COUNTRY, THEN IT IS ABSURD TO THINK THAT AN EIGHT YEAR OLD AT DEE, A TYPICAL EIGHT YEAR OLD AT DEE, WHO WILL LIVE IN A HOME CLASSIFIED AS A HOME OF POVERTY, MAYBE HAS HAD ENGLISH NOW FOR TWO TO THREE YEARS, CAN SCORE THE SAME AS A WHITE MIDDLE CLASS KID IN DAVIS COUNTY WHO HAS HAD ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT GO WITH BEING MIDDLE CLASS."

VERDOIA : BUT IF SCHOOLS LIKE DEE FAIL TO BRING THE UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS TO THAT STANDARD, THE SCHOOL COULD BE PENALIZED.
EDUCATORS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PRESSURE COULD EMERGE IN DISTRICTS AND STATES TO EXCLUDE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL. AT DEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SUCH PROSPECTS ARE PAINFUL. . .AND CALL INTO QUESTION THE ROLE OF THE NATION’S SCHOOLS. . .AND THE VALUE OF WHAT IS MEASURED.

LINDA BROWN : PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE FOR A BETTER LIFE BECAUSE THEY HAVE HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN. AND SHAME ON US IF WE DON’T HELP. AS A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR AND A PERSON WHO BELIEVES THAT EVERYONE DESERVES A CHANCE, EVERYONE. THE JOY IS IN SEEING THESE KIDS LEARN EVERY DAY. HAVING A LITTLE BOY WHO WAS SPEAKING ONLY SPANISH WHO LAST WEEK COULD SIT AND READ A WHOLE BOOK TO ME IN ENGLISH. NOW THATS WORTH ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY.

VERDOIA : BUT EVEN WITH A LOW ESTIMATE OF TEN-THOUSAND CHILDREN OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN UTAH PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AN EVEN GREATER CHALLENGE EXISTS IN ADULT EDUCATION.
MANY CROSS THE BORDER WITH LITTLE OR NO ABILITY IN ENGLISH. . .AND THEIR SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE.

MARIA** : ". . .IT INTERESTS ME BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE STORE AND COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE. I HAVE TO LEARN ENGLISH SO THAT I CAN COMMUNICATE IN THE STORE, IN THE HOSPITAL. SOMETIMES AT THE HOSPITAL THEY CAN’T HELP ME BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE ANYONE STAFFED THAT SPEAKS SPANISH. MOST IMPORTANTLY NOW, I HAVE TO LEARN SO THAT I CAN HELP MY DAUGHTER WITH HER HOMEWORK.

VERDOIA : MARIA ATTENDS E-S-L CLASSES OPERATED BY THE OGDEN HEAD START PROGRAM. THE CLASSES ARE PACKED.

LAURA TRAUM : WE RUN THE LARGEST E-S-L PROGRAM IN WEBER COUNTY...AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE PRETTY FULL.
...WE ARE OPERATING, LETS SEE. . .FOUR FIVE, SIX, SEVEN CLASSES HERE AT THIS AGENCY. AND I’LL BET ANOTHER TEN, FIFTEEN ARE NEEDED IN OUR COUNTY. BUT THATS TEN OR FIFTEEN TEACHERS.
UNFORTUNATELY, ADULT EDUCATION WHETHER IT BE E-S-L, ADULT LITERACY, THE GED PROGRAMS ARE CONSIDERED ADULT EDUCATION AND OUR EDUCATION BUDGET IS REALLY FOCUSED ON CHILDREN. . .SO THATS WHY THE FUNDING HAS BEEN CUT. ITS BECAUSE IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A PRIORITY WITH OUR PARTICULAR STATE.

VERDOIA : THERE IS AN ADDED WRINKLE.
IN 2000, UTAH VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED AN ENGLISH-ONLY INITIATIVE— IN EFFECT REQUIRING ADULTS TO DO OFFICIAL BUSINESS IN ENGLISH.
SO, THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGLISH ABILITY ARE HIGHER NOW IN UTAH. . . AND THE NUMBER OF ADULTS NEEDING E-S-L TRAINING IN UTAH IS EXPLODING. . . WHILE FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING FOR ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS HAS DECLINED.

LINDA TRAUM : IF WE MADE THE DECISION TO BE AN ENGLISH ONLY STATE, WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO HELP THOSE IMMIGRATING TO OUR STATE IN ORDER TO ACCLIMATE THEM INTO OUR CULTURE AS WE ARE CHOOSING IT TO BE.
WE ARE NOT INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE.

VERDOIA : THE EDUCATION WATERS BECOME EVEN MORE MUDDIED WHEN THE SCENE SHIFTS TO UTAH’S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
TWO YEARS AGO, UTAH JOINED THREE OTHER STATES IN OFFERING IN-STATE TUITION TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
DAN CAIRO ILLEGALLY CROSSED THE BORDER WITH HIS FAMILY WHEN HE WAS FIVE YEARS OLD. THE IN-STATE TUITION BREAK ENABLES HIM TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, WHERE HE IS MAJORING IN COMMUNICATION.

DAN CAIRO : ". . .BUT YOU’RE AN IMMIGRANT. YOUR UNDOCUMENTED. YOU BROKE THE LAW. BUT I’M TRYING TO HELP IT NOW. I’M TRYING TO HELP SOCIETY. I MIGHT HAVE BROKEN THE LAW WHEN I WAS FIVE, BUT LOOK AT ME NOW. YOU KNOW, I AM TRYING TO PROVE TO YOU THAT I CAN HELP THIS COMMUNITY GROW. . "

REP. TOM TANCREDO : AGAIN. . .WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? IF PEOPLE ARE HERE ILLEGALLY, THERE IS A PENALTY THAT SHOULD BE PAID. ARE WE A NATION OF LAW OR NOT?

VERDOIA : CONGRESSMAN TOM TANCREDO OF COLORADO IS A SHARP CRITIC OF THE MIXED SIGNALS BEING SENT ON IMMIGRATION.
HE BELIEVES UTAH IS ONE OF THE LEADING EXAMPLES OF A STATE CREATING A HAVEN FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

TANCREDO : AND WHEN YOU HAVE STATES DOING WHAT UTAH AND SOME OTHER STATES ARE DOING, DRIVERS LICENSES, HIGHER EDUCATION BENEFITS AND ALL THE REST, THEY ARE HELPING PEOPLE ESSENTIALLY BREAK THE LAW. THEY ARE AIDING AND ABETTING PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ILLEGALLY. AND FRANKLY, THAT IS THE WORST POSSIBLE KIND OF MESSAGE TO SEND..."
[PROTEST RALLY]

VERDOIA : DURING THE 2004 UTAH STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, TANCREDO’S SENTIMENTS WERE ECHOED BY GROUPS PROTESTING AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
THEY ENDORSED A BILL AIMED AT BARRING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FROM RECEIVING DRIVER’S LICENSES, AND ANOTHER DENYING IN-STATE TUITION.
THE TURN-BACK IN SERVICES NEVER CAME TO A FINAL VOTE. . .BUT FOR A STUDENT LIKE DAN CAIRO, THE DEBATE FORMS A WALL OF OPPOSITION TO OPPORTUNITY.

DAN CAIRO : WITHOUT HIGHER EDUCATION, THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTOR TO SOCIETY WILL NOT BE ACHIEVED. . .I WANT TO BE THE LAWYER. I WANT TO BE THAT, YOU KNOW, ADVISOR. I WANT TO BE THE PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HELPS OUT. BUT I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THOSE POSITIONS BECAUSE I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET PAST THE LABOR JOB, OR THE CONSTRUCTION YOU KNOW, OR THE BURGER FLIPPER. THERE’S JUST THIS WALL THAT STOPS YOU FROM PROGRESSING. . .

VERDOIA : PERCEPTIONS OF THE WALL HAS BROUGHT CAIRO AN ALLY IN THE FORM OF UTAH’S CONSERVATIVE SENIOR SENATOR, ORRIN HATCH.
HATCH IS SPONSORING THE DREAM ACT— WHICH WILL ALLOW UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN-STATE TUITION BENEFITS, AND CREATE A PATHWAY FOR CITIZENSHIP.

SEN. ORRIN HATCH : "IT’S A WAY OF SAYING LOOK, WE’RE NOT GOING TO IGNORE YOU. WE’RE NOT GOING TO TREAT YOU LIKE DIRT. WE’RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY. WE’RE NOT GOING TO SAY YOU CAN’T WORK. WE’RE NOT GOING TO SAY YOU CAN’T GET EDUCATED. WE’RE NOT GOING TO SAY YOU HAVE TO GO INTO CRIME TO EARN A LIVING. NO. ITS JUST A SMART WAY OF MAKING SURE OUR SOCIETY WORKS.

VERDOIA : ORIGINALLY PROPOSED IN 2002, THE DREAM ACT HAS NOT MADE MUCH
PROGRESS IN CONGRESS.
CONGRESSIONAL OBSERVERS SAY THE 2004 ELECTION YEAR MADE IMMIGRATION INITIATIVES THE "THIRD RAIL". . .WITH OFFICIALS UNWILLING TO TOUCH SUCH A CONTROVERSIAL AREA OF PUBLIC POLICY.
CONGRESS DID ADDRESS ONE PRESSING ISSUE RELATED TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION, WHEN IT VOTED TO PUMP ONE-BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS INTO HOSPITALS IN BORDER STATES.
FOR HOSPITALS LIKE THE IMPERIAL VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER IN EL CENTRO CALIFORNIA, IT’S A MATTER OF FINANCIAL LIFE-OR-DEATH.

VIRGIE GALINDO, RN : WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE BORDER. WE ARE ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES AWAY, AND WE HAVE ABOUT THIRTY THOUSAND PEOPLE CROSSING THE BORDER EVERY DAY. THATS ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF OUR POPULATION FOR THE WHOLE IMPERIAL VALLEY.
LAST YEAR WE HAD ABOUT TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN UNCOMPENSATED CARE, AND THAT INCLUDES UNDOCUMENTED CARE.
WHEN A PATIENT PRESENTS TO THE LABOR AND DELIVERY ROOM AREA TO DELIVER THEIR BABIES, OR WHEN A PATIENT PRESENTS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR EMERGENCY CARE, WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO MEDICALLY SCREEN THEM AND TO PROVIDE TREATMENT. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO ASK THEM WHAT THEIR CITIZENSHIP STATUS IS, OR FINANCIAL ABILITY TO PAY. WE ARE OBLIGATED TO RENDER THE CARE THAT THEY DESERVE.
PATIENTS WHO SHOW UP AT OUR DOOR ARE USUALLY NOT SEEN BY A PHYSICIAN. THESE MOTHERS ARE USUALLY THE ONES WHOSE BABIES END UP IN OUR INTENSIVE CARE UNIT FOR THE NEWBORNS. AND THEY ARE ALSO VERY COSTLY, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE BABIES WITH A LOT OF COMPLICATIONS AND REQUIRE A LOT OF CARE.

VERDOIA : BUT WHAT WAS ONCE PERCEIVED AS A BORDER HEALTH CARE ISSUE HAS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
WE FIRST MET THE WOMAN WE’LL IDENTIFY AS JUANITA AS SHE WENT FOR PRE-NATAL SCREENING AT A PUBLIC CLINIC IN SALT LAKE CITY OPERATED AS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE SALT LAKE VALLEY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER.

KAREN BUCHI, MD : WE STARTED IN 1995 AS A WAY TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE TO WHAT WE WERE SEEING AS AN INCREASING NUMBER OF UNINSURED WOMEN WHO WERE SEEKING PRENATAL CARE.
BEING AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT, WE DON’T ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AT A MEDICAL CLINIC. WE’RE NOT REQUIRED TO. WE DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE. WE JUST WANT TO TAKE CARE OF WHO IS LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY. . .
BUT, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRENATAL CLINIC, OUT OF THE FIVE HUNDRED WOMEN THAT WE SERVE A YEAR WHO DELIVER BABIES THROUGH OUR PROGRAM, NINETY-FIVE PERCENT OF THEM ARE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING AND FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. THE VAST MAJORITY ARE FROM MEXICO.

VERDOIA : JUANITA IS FROM MEXICO, UNDOCUMENTED AND PREGNANT.

JUANITA**
Q: DO YOU THINK YOU COULD AFFORD HEALTH CARE?
A:NO.
Q: WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?
A: I DON’T KNOW. I REALLY DON’T KNOW.

VERDOIA : BECAUSE LABOR AND DELIVERY IS CONSIDERED A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, THE COST OF DELIVERING JUANITA’S BABY AT THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL WILL BE PAID FOR BY UTAH’S EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROGRAM FOR NON-CITIZENS. IT’S A MEDICAID PROGRAM USING FEDERAL AND STATE TAX DOLLARS TO DELIVER EMERGENCY CARE.
WHILE NOT A STRICT BAROMETER OF UNDOCUMENTED HEALTH CARE NEEDS, THE FUND HAS EXPLODED IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE DRAMATIC GROWTH OF THE UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRANT POPULATION.
IN 1998 NEARLY EIGHTEEN HUNDRED PEOPLE WERE SERVED, AT A COST OF NEARLY SIX MILLION DOLLARS.
BY 2004, OVER SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE SERVED, AT A COST OF OVER 18-MILLION DOLLARS.
THOSE FIGURES DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDED BY UTAH HOSPITALS THAT IS CONSIDERED CHARITY CARE.
IN FACT, THE TEN MOST EXPENSIVE CHARITY CASES TREATED LAST YEAR BY PRIMARY CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER WERE CASES INVOLVING THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
JOSE CROSSED THE BORDER ILLEGALLY FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF HAVING HIS SON TREATED FOR LIFE-THREATENING HEART DISEASE.

"JOSE"** : I HAD SOME FRIENDS THAT LIVED IN CALIFORNIA. THROUGH THEM I HEARD OF UTAH. THEY TOLD ME THAT UTAH HAD A GOOD HOSPITAL, AND THATS WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE. ON THE OTHER HAND, IN MEXICO I DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO TREAT MY SON. IT IS A PROCEDURE THAT IS TOO EXPENSIVE IN MEXICO.

VERDOIA : THE OPERATION IN SALT LAKE CITY ON JOSE’S SON WAS A SUCCESS. THE LIFE-SAVING PROCEDURE PAID FOR BY THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROGRAM FOR NON-CITIZENS.
BUT THERE ARE FEW PROGRAMS TO MEET THE DAILY, LESS DRAMATIC MEDICAL NEEDS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROGRAM WILL NOT PAY FOR MONITORING DIABETES. . .BUT WILL PAY FOR AN EMERGENCY AMPUTATION OF A LIMB WHEN THE DISEASE IS UNCONTROLLED.
THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROGRAM WILL NOT PAY FOR PRE-NATAL CARE. . .BUT WILL PAY FOR THE NEWBORN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

KAREN BUCHI, MD : I THINK IT’S A TRAGEDY, AND FRANKLY I’M QUITE EMBARRASSED THAT THE MOST POWERFUL NATION IN THE WORLD CAN’T FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE ACCESS TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE COUNTRY. AND THATS US. WE’RE THE ONLY INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT CAN’T DO THAT. AND WE’VE CHOSEN NOT TO, AND I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY THOSE CHOICES HAVE BEEN MADE THAT WAY. SO I THINK THE COST TO SOCIETY IS HUGE.

VERDOIA : IN THE FALL OF 2004, JUANITA GAVE BIRTH TO A HEALTHY BABY GIRL. . .HER DAUGHTER, BY LAW, A NEW CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.

JUANITA** : THE CLINIC FILLED OUT ALL THE PAPERS FOR ME AND WHEN I ARRIVED TO THE HOSPITAL THEY HAD ME SIGNED IN AND IT WAS PRETTY FAST. MEDICAID PAID FOR THE BIRTH.
I DIDN’T ENCOUNTER ANY DIFFICULTIES TO HAVE MY BABY, OR ANY TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION FOR NOT HAVING DOCUMENTS.
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT HARD. BUT THE GIFT IS WORTH IT. TO HAVE YOUR DAUGHTER IN YOUR ARMS IS SOMETHING PRICELESS.

VERDOIA : OTHER CHALLENGES FOR THE NATION ARE TIED TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION.
ON THE BORDER, HUMAN SMUGGLING AND DRUG SMUGGLING RUN THROUGH THE SAME CORRIDORS, AND SOMETIMES ARE PART OF THE SAME OPERATION.
IMMIGRANTS WAITING TO CROSS THE BORDER ARE ROUTINELY OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK OFF THEIR EXPENSIVE COYOTE FEES BY SERVING AS DRUG COURIERS. ONLY A SMALL FRACTION ACCEPT THE OFFER, BUT MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF MARIJUANA, COCAINE, METHAMPHETAMINE AND HEROIN WILL CROSS THE BORDER ON THE BACKS OF HUMAN MULES THIS YEAR.
THIS GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWS A STRING OF SUSPECTED DRUG SMUGGLERS CROSSING THE BORDER NEAR THE TOHONO O’ODHAM INDIAN RESERVATION IN ARIZONA.

SGT. JOE DELGADO : LAST CALENDAR YEAR, 2003, WE SEIZED APPROXIMATELY 700,000 POUNDS OF NARCOTICS ON THE RESERVATION. WE HAD I BELIEVE 160 SOME CASES OUT OF THOSE CASES. A LOT OF ITS IS ABANDONED. BUT THERE IS A LARGE INCREASE IN THE NARCOTICS COMING ACROSS THE RESERVATION. . .

REV. ROBIN HOOVER : THERE ARE SOME BAD PEOPLE THAT COME ACROSS THE BORDER. I HAVE BEEN IN AREAS WHEN THE BORDER PATROL PASS ME AND COME UP "HI DOCTOR, HOW ARE YOU DOING? WE NEED TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE THIS AREA. WE JUST JUMPED UP SOME GUYS HERE WITH FULLY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE THE AREA. THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO ASK ME TWICE. I AM FULLY AWARE OF THIS AND I AM OUT OF THERE."

VERDOIA : LAW ENFORCEMENT ESTIMATES THAT EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE NARCOTICS SOLD IN THE SALT LAKE VALLEY COMES THROUGH THE BORDER SMUGGLING NETWORK.

[SHERIFF AARON KENNARD] : "...THERE IS A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEALING IN THE DOPE TRADE. NOT ONLY MARKETING IT, BUT TRANSPORTING, MOVING DOPE FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, AND MOVING MONEY FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER. ITS BIG BUSINESS AND THEY ARE CHEAP LABOR.

VERDOIA : AT ANY GIVEN TIME BETWEEN FIVE-AND SEVEN-HUNDRED UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE HELD IN UTAH’S PRISONS AND JAILS.
IT COSTS UTAH TAXPAYERS BETWEEN TWELVE AND FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO PROVIDE A LOCK-UP FOR UNDOCUMENTED CRIMINALS.
IN THE 1990S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGREED TO REIMBURSE STATES AND COUNTIES FOR A PORTION OF THE EXPENSE.
BUT WHILE THE NUMBER OF UNDOCUMENTED INMATES HAS NEARLY DOUBLED. . .FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN CUT IN HALF.

VERDOIA : BUT THERE ARE OTHER FLAWS IN THE SYSTEM.
CONVICTED CRIMINALS THAT ARE DEPORTED ARE OFTEN DROPPED AT THE BORDER, RE-ENTERING THROUGH A REVOLVING DOOR WITH FUGITIVES AND DRUG SMUGGLERS. THE BORDER PATROL IS DEALING WITH FAR MORE THAN FAMILIES SEEKING JOBS.
BORDER PATROL AGENT

STEVE MACPARTLAND : "...WE’VE GOT CHILD MOLESTERS, PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTED FOR MURDER IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED ALL KINDS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ROBBERY AND NARCOTICS CRIME. WE FIND THESE PEOPLE A BUNCH. AND THIS ISN’T INCLUDING THE PEOPLE THAT COMMIT CRIMES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE. ALL WE KNOW ABOUT IS THOSE PEOPLE WHO COMMIT CRIMES IN THE UNITED STATES.

VERDOIA : AND THERE ARE INSTANCES OF DEPORTATION ORDERS FOR CONVICTED CRIMINALS NOT BEING CARRIED OUT. BREAKDOWNS IN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STATES THAT DO THE ARRESTING AND CONVICTING, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT DOES THE DEPORTING, HAS RESULTED IN CONVICTED, VIOLENT FELONS WALKING FREE.

SHERIFF AARON KENNARD : WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW FOR A FACT NEED TO HAVE A HOLD PLACED ON THEM, OR THE INS IS ATTEMPTING TO GET A HOLD THROUGH A FEDERAL JUDGE. BUT FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER THEY HAVE SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS OR THE PAPERWORK HASN’T BEEN DELIVERED DUE TO A MYRIAD OF PROBLEMS THAT MAY BE GOING ON THROUGH THE SYSTEM. ONCE THAT SYSTEM HAS BOGGED UP WITHIN THE FEDERAL LEVEL, I CAN’T CONTINUE TO HOLD THEM. SO I HAVE TO KICK THEM LOOSE. IF THEIR JUSTICE HAS BEEN DEALT WITH ON A LOCAL LEVEL, I KICK THEM LOOSE.

VERDOIA : THE SYSTEM IS FURTHER MIRED BY AN UNEASY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ON IMMIGRATION.
D-H-S WANTS LOCAL POLICE TO BE PART OF THE FRONT LINE IN ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAWS.

ASA HUTCHINSON : WELL I THINK WE HAVE A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. SO WE’RE TRYING TO PUT MORE INFORMATION IN THEIR HANDS AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, NOT DO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S JOB, BUT TO USE THAT INFORMATION TO HELP US HAVE A BETTER IMMIGRATION POLICY AND A BETTER ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILLEGALLY IN THE COUNTRY.

VERDOIA : SOME POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE PURSUED SPECIAL TRAINING FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. BUT OTHERS, SUCH AS THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, HAVE REJECTED A DIRECT ROLE.

LOU SCANLON, SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPT. : WELL, LIKE MANY GATEWAY CITIES WE HAVE A LARGE IMMIGRANT POPULATION, MANY OF WHICH ARE UNDOCUMENTED. WE LOOK AT THIS AS A PRIORITIZATION OF RESOURCES. OUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ENFORCE LAWS AGAINST CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WITHIN THE CITY, AND WE JUST DON’T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IF WE WERE TO FOCUS ON ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAW, WE WOULD JUST BE OVERWHELMED AND UNABLE TO ADDRESS THE OTHER MAJOR ISSUES THAT TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE CITY.

VERDOIA : ONCE AGAIN, NEIGHBORHOODS, CITIES AND STATES ARE LEFT TO DEAL WITH THE PRACTICAL, DAILY REALITIES OF IMMIGRATION.
AND THEIR STANDARD IS SIMPLE. . . WHATEVER WORKS.
WHATEVER WORKS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WHAT WORKS IN BUSINESS AND ON THE JOB SITE AND IN LABOR CENTERS.
WHAT WORKS IN HEALTH CARE AND THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
WHAT WORKS IN THE CLASSROOM.
THEY ARE, AT BEST, GLUE HOLDING A SYSTEM TOGETHER.
A SYSTEM PLAGUED BY THE INCONSISTENCIES, MIXED-MESSAGES AND OUTRIGHT CONTRADICTIONS THAT ARE THE NATION’S RESPONSE TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION.
AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE ISSUE. . .FROM EVERY SIDE OF THE ISSUE. . .THE SENTIMENT IS THE SAME: THE STATUS QUO IS FAILING.
THE MOST ADAMANT OPPONENTS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION SAY THE SOLUTION WILL BE FOUND IN A TOUGH CRACKDOWN.

CHRIS SIMCOX : LETS FIX IT. SHUT DOWN THE BORDER WITH THE MILITARY. YOU MAKE EMPLOYERS RECRUIT THE WORKERS. IF THIS IS ABOUT CHEAP LABOR AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, WELL THATS GREAT, THATS FINE. ITS OUR GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO SHUT, TO KEEP US SAFE WITHIN OUR OWN BORDERS. YOU USE THE MILITARY AND YOU SAY WE ARE GOING TO SHUT DOWN OUR BORDERS. THEN YOU ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND COME UP WITH A GUEST WORKER PROGRAM THAT WORKS.

MARK KRIKORIAN : TO GET CONTROL OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WE NEED TO TURN OFF THE MAGNETS THAT ATTRACT IMMIGRANTS. NOT JUST JOBS, BUT MAKE IT HARD FOR ILLEGALS TO GET BANK ACCOUNTS, CAR LOANS, BUSINESS LICENSES, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN MODERN SOCIETY, AND HELP PERSUADE THESE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY NEED TO DEPORT THEMSELVES, IF YOU WILL. AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO STEP UP THE CONVENTIONAL ENFORCEMENT MEASURES OF ARRESTING AND DEPORTING PEOPLE.

VERDOIA : BUT OTHERS SAY MILITARIZING THE BORDER AND CONDUCTING ROUND-UPS ARE UNLIKELY STEPS.

ROBERTO SURO : I DON’T THINK THIS COUNTRY’S GOT THE STOMACH FOR FORCED REMOVALS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, LIVE ON TV EVERY NIGHT, MOTHER’S SCREAMING AS POLICE ARE DRAGGING THEM OFF AND PUTTING THEM IN THE BACKS OF TRUCKS. I JUST DON’T SEE THAT AS A NATION WE’RE GOING TO SAY ALRIGHT WE’RE GOING TO FORCE YOU TO LEAVE. AND WE’LL FORCE YOU TO LEAVE AT GUNPOINT IF WE HAVE TO.

VERDOIA : THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE MIDDLE GROUND IS TO LET PEOPLE LEGALLY WORK. . .BUT NOT GRANT THEM PERMANENT LEGAL STATUS THROUGH AMNESTY.

SEN. ORRIN HATCH : BUT ALLOWING THEM TO WORK AND TO BE LEGALLY EMPLOYED SEEMS TO ME TO THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. AND IT’S A LOT BETTER THAN THE CURRENT SYSTEM WHERE WE HAVE EIGHT MILLION ILLEGALS HERE THAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHO THEY ARE OR WHERE THEY ARE OR WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THEM.

REP. CHRIS CANNON : EITHER THEY COME, THEY EARN SOME MONEY AND THEY GO HOME AND MAKE MEXICO A BETTER PLACE, OR THEY COME, THEY EARN SOME MONEY, THEY GET AN EDUCATION AND THEY MOVE UP THE SYSTEM AND THEY MAKE AMERICAN RICHER, WISER AND BETTER PLACE. ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WE HAVE TO DO THAT WITH A REORDERING OF SOCIETY.

VERDOIA : BUT HOW FAR SHOULD THE REORDERING GO? IN A STATE LIKE UTAH, RAPIDLY EMERGING AS A NEW DESTINATION, CAN THE RESPONSE TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION END ON THE JOB?

WAYNE CORNELIUS : THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE GOING TO SET DOWN ROOTS. THEIR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE BORN AND RAISED HERE. THEY ARE DEFACTO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THE LABOR FORCE. AND THE QUICKER ONE OF THESE NEW RECEIVING AREAS ACHIEVES THAT RECOGNITION, THEY CAN’T JUST EXPLOIT THE LABOR. THEY HAVE TO ACT IN A POSITIVE, PROACTIVE WAY TO INTEGRATE THESE PEOPLE INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES, INTO THEIR SOCIETIES, THE SOONER THEY WILL REALIZE THE FULL BENEFITS OF THE MIGRATION.

REV. ROBIN HOOVER : THESE KINDS OF THINGS GO TO THE HEART OF WHO WE WANT TO BE. WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE DO WE WANT TO BE?

REV. JOHN FIFE : MAKE IT LEGAL, MAKE IT ABOVE BOARD, AND MAKE IT RECOGNIZED AS SOMETHING THAT IS BENEFICIAL TO BOTH NATIONS. IT DOESN’T SEEM TO ME THAT IT WOULD TAKE A GENIUS TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

GRACIELLA ITALIANO : IF WE WORRY ABOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE SHARING OUR RESOURCES, THEN WE MAY DECIDE THAT YOU KNOW THERE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY. HOWEVER, IF WE LOOK AT THE ABILITY OF THESE PEOPLE TO CREATE NEW RESOURCES AND NOT ONLY FOR US IN THE UNITED STATE BUT FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD. THEN WE MAY GO IN THE DIRECTION OF BEING BETTER PEOPLE. ARE WE GOING TO EMBRACE THIS, OR ARE WE GOING TO RESIST IT?

VERDOIA : WHATEVER THE DECISION, THE CONSEQUENCES WILL DRAMATICALLY PLAY OUT IN EIGHT-TO-TWELVE MILLION LIVES IN THE UNITED STATES.
EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE THE HEART OF THE ISSUE, THEY WILL NOT SIT AT THE TABLE TO AID IN THE DECISION-MAKING. THEIR VOICES ARE UNLIKELY TO BE HEARD.

MORONI PLANT WORKER** : WELL AT ONE POINT I THOUGHT I WAS HERE ONLY FOR A WHILE. NOW I HAVE THREE KIDS THAT WERE BORN HERE, AND NOW I WANT A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEM.

JOSE** : WHILE THE OPPORTUNITY IS HERE, WITH JOBS AND SURVIVAL, I WILL STAY HERE. MEXICO HAS NO STABILITY AND EVERY EXPENSE IS GOING UP, AND THERE ARE NO JOBS. ESPECIALLY FOR FARMERS AND EVEN MORE SO IF YOU ARE NOT EDUCATED.

MARIA** : SOME AMERICANS THINK THAT WE ARE HERE SO THAT WE CAN BE COMFORTABLE, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE. THE REALITY IS THAT WE COME TO THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE OF NECESSITY OF SOMETHING TO EAT. NOT BECAUSE I AM SO COMFORTABLE, AND HAPPY TO HAVE GONE THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT I DID.

ANNA ABOITE : I THINK ONCE YOU COME HERE, ITS HARD TO BE YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR MIND. YOU HAVE TO BE ANOTHER PERSON BECAUSE IT’S A DIFFERENT COUNTRY. YOU JUST HAVE TO ADAPT. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKES FUN OF YOU BECAUSE YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND OR YOU WILL SAY THINGS IN A FUNNY WAY. BUT THEY DON’T SEEN WHAT YOU SUFFER TO GET WHATEVER YOU GET. . . .

NARRATOR : THE UNRESOLVED ISSUES CARRY WEIGHT FOR THE NATION, OUR STATES, CITIES AND BUSINESSES.
IN THE END, IT IS NOT JUST UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IMPACTED BY THE UNCERTAINTY. PERHAPS OUR VERY SENSE OF SELF WILL BE REDEFINED EN LA SOMBRA DE LA ESPERANZA. . .IN THE SHADOW OF HOPE.

ONE THING IS CERTAIN.
TODAY, THOUSANDS OF NEW FACES HAVE GATHERED AT THE BORDER.
TONIGHT, THEY WILL CROSS.

(read the script from hour 1: The Border )