By Teri H. P. Nguyen
Daily Bruin Contributor
Four years ago, Oscar Chavez walked through a wet, rodent- and
robber-infested tunnel for a chance at life in the United
States.
“Those of you who don’t pay us, we will take you out
into the desert and kill you,” said a smuggler helping Chavez
escape from Mexico. With no money, Chavez, along with a friend, saw
a crack in the door and escaped, running into a woman’s lawn
to hide.
Four years later Chavez, now a jornalero, or day-laborer, shared
the story of his dangerous tunnel exodus at a “Dia de los
Muertos: Death on the Border” presentation last Thursday in
Fowler Auditorium.
The presentation, sponsored by Conciencia Libre, a group which
advocates social justice and education in Latin America, was part
of a three-day event in remembrance of those who died while
crossing the U.S.-Tijuana border. The events were held in
observance of last week’s Day of the Dead.
During the event, Conciencia Libre expressed opposition to
Operation Gatekeeper, a project established by former Attorney
General Janet Reno and the Immigration and Naturalization Services
in 1994 to increase border control.
Tonantzin Esparca, a fourth-year theater student and co-leader
of Conciencia Libre, said Operation Gatekeeper is not only
ineffective but has increased the death rate of immigrants crossing
the border by 500 percent.
She said the heavily militarized border under Operation
Gatekeeper forces individuals to choose dangerous deserts and
mountain ranges to cross. Since 1998, the last year figures were
made available, 1,284 patrol agents have been added to the 980
previously existing agents, according to the INS Web site.
Conciencia Libre’s border exhibit, which included 120
crosses along Bruin Walk last week, illustrated the story of
individuals who risked their lives for greater opportunities in
America.
“This (exhibition) is a strong statement because it puts a
face on the dead. These are human beings, not animals,” said
Andy Ramiez, a second-year English and Chicano studies student.
The event also established a partnership between Conciencia
Libre and the Muslim Student Association to increase immigrant and
cultural awareness.
MSA member Ghaith Mahmood said the need to understand the
current struggles of immigrants seeking better lives is great.
In light of the Sept. 11 attacks, organizations are not only
focusing on isolated struggles in the United States, but also in
other nations.
“People all over the world are suffering, not just at the
borders. The main problem is that people are not treating others as
human beings,” said MSA President Bilal Khan.
Since the passage of the Anti-Terrorist Act of 2001, which will
increase the power of government enforcement agencies, issues of
border control have been raised. Members of Conciencia Libre are
concerned the INS will now have an excuse to strengthen
restrictions and to further militarize borders.
“This is a critical moment ““ it is to say that all
immigrants are potential terrorists,” Esparca said.
She said immigrants come to escape the poor working conditions
in Mexico.
“Immigrants come here to work; they are not
criminals,” she said.
Raleigh Leonard, a supervisory border patrol agent for the San
Diego sector where Operation Gatekeeper was first launched, said he
realizes immigrants are not all criminals, but there is a need for
immigration management.
“About 1 percent of individuals we apprehend are
criminals, the other 99 percent are decent people wanting to better
their lives. But it is worth catching the 99 percent to stop that 1
percent from getting in,” he said.
According to the INS Web site, with a 140 percent increase in
personnel since 1998, border patrols in the San Diego sector have
apprehended more than 110,000 individuals in the 2001 fiscal
year.
But Conciencia Libre members said Operation Gatekeeper increases
deaths.
“The operation is ineffective because people are still
coming over through the desert at the risk of dehydration,”
Esparca said.
Leonard said his frustration is more so with the smugglers who
try to help immigrants cross.
“Smugglers aren’t humanitarians. They are a
service for hire that takes full advantage of these individuals by
leading them into the desert and taking their money. They
don’t care what happens to them afterwards, the border
patrols do,” Leonard said.
The INS is initiating a plan with the Mexican media to educate
potential immigrants of dangerous areas. In addition, border patrol
agents are enhancing their search and rescue proficiency to prevent
deaths of people in the desert or those left on the streets by
smugglers, according to border patrol officers.
Fourth-year philosophy student Jacob Mojarro said he realized
after attending Thursday’s presentation that people cross the
borders because they are desperate.
“It reminds me not to take what we have here for granted.
Lots of people wish to be here,” Mojarro said.