Border kids caught in drug war

Alice Weston, CT — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:00:08 GMT

Finally, some, coverage of the atrocities occuring daily. Thank you Mark and the asssignment editors.

Border kids caught in drug war

Sam Graham, Harrisburg, PA — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:56:39 GMT

What the heck are Mexican children doing in our school system? This is ridiculous. Mexicans are a weight on us even when they're not ILLEGALLY sneaking into our country and making us pay them welfare; they are doing it from their home! What an outrage!!!

Border kids caught in drug war

Josh, San Antonio, TX — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:56:56 GMT

It's sad that these kids are caught up in a dangerous situation. But can anyone explain to me why there are Mexican children coming across the border to attend US public schools? Mr. Potter just ignores this interesting question.

Border kids caught in drug war

Mona R NY,NY — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:59:16 GMT

Please explain to me why we are educating children in the US who live in a foreign country? Why can't they be educated in their country whether it be Canada or Mexico? Its enough we are educating children who are here illegally in the US. Our schools don't enough enough funds for students here in the US.

Border kids caught in drug war

Stephanie Smolik, Houston, Texas — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:03:44 GMT

As heart wrenching as it was to see those small innocent children having to face danger each and every day that they choose to attend school in order to learn and better themselves, I have to ask, why are they coming to the United States to attend school when they are Mexican citizens? Is this a common occurence in border towns for children from across the border to come to the US for school...and the taxpayer footing the bill?

Border kids caught in drug war

amtired — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:06:11 GMT

This broadcast shows the breakdown of our immigration laws. The "kids" parents were illegel immigrants and had their kids on U.S. soil. Presently, this just show how the illegals were educated on our laws by their government. The illegals have taken advantage and made a mockery of our country and laws.

Border kids caught in drug war

Anthony German, Austin, Texas — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:06:54 GMT

I live in Texas and travel to Mexico frequently on business. I am cautious where I go and ask about safety, especially when drug activity is strong, especially near the border. An interesting follow-up would be to show where these drugs are going and who is buying them. We may not directly see it, but Americans fund this activity through their high levels of drug use/abuse. I feel for the Mexican children, caught in the middle; I am also in the middle myself, as an American, when I travel for legitimate business reasons to one of the centers of the Mexican drug trade. In a way, I'm threatened not so much by Mexicans, but by my fellow Americans.

Border kids caught in drug war

B. Moore, Daphne, AL — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:07:58 GMT

I feel sorry for the kids but what makes no sense to me is that these children live across the border in another country yet go to American schools. My question is why? In most counties in the US you have to prove your address and where you live with a utility bill in your name to see what school district you live in. We who live in this country are not allowed to pick our schools or what school we want our kids to go to unless we want to pay more money besides our taxes for private schools. Yet these children do not live in this country or pay taxes and they are going to our schools and the American tax payers are once again flipping the bill. This is not right.

Border kids caught in drug war

Sharon Bolling, Clemmons, NC — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:13:37 GMT

I feel so sorry for those children caught in that situation. However, this is just another side effect of anchor babies - costing us millions of dollars. If they don't reside in this country, they should not be coming here to get educated for free. Our laws granting automatic citizenship to anyone born in the USA need to be revised to stop this "right" if the mother is here illegally.

Border kids caught in drug war

Mark Price — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:19:07 GMT

These kids are American citizens because they were born in the United States. Thnerefore just like you they are entitled to go to school in their native country. That is the law.
Mark Midland, Texas

Border kids caught in drug war

Mark Price — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:21:21 GMT

These kids are American citizens because they were born in the United States. Thnerefore just like you they are entitled to go to school in their native country. That is the law.
Mark Midland, Texas

Border kids caught in drug war

bjf182 — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:44:12 GMT

Why are these MEXICAN children being educated in an AMERICAN school? I don't recall a reciprocity agreement for property taxes to support US schools with Mexico. I feel for these children, but this is MEXICO'S problem, not the USA's.

Border kids caught in drug war

John Doe, Seattle, WA — Fri, 23 May 2008 01:05:12 GMT

Instead of speaking about how the children coming across the border fear for their lives, why don't we address the real issue. These are anchor babies, born in the US of Mexican parents. Not interested in being an American. They get food stamps (taxpayer supported) free education (taxpayer supported) free medical care (taxpayer supported). No politician or newscaster will talk what is really happening.

Border kids caught in drug war

Glen — Fri, 23 May 2008 01:26:20 GMT

Bring all the children, I would give them a spot in any classroom, anytime.

Such ignorance surrounds us these days, it shows here, again and again.

People are dieing because of a fake "War", and you are worried about helping children? I am disgusted with the people and the government in this country.

So easily lead down this path to a "War on Drugs", and here we are, hundreds of billions of dollars, 1 in 100 people in prison (up from 1 in 180 in 1996) 30 years later, nothing has changed put the prison population and the price of pharmaceuticals.

Legalize, tax, regulate. Treat addiction as an illness, not a criminal act.

All the gangs go away.
It's harder for kids to get hold of.
We can grow hemp for fuel and paper...
We have a natural remedy for over 100 ailments, that we can grow in our backyard.

Border kids caught in drug war

Bill, Arizona — Fri, 23 May 2008 01:56:39 GMT

Unbelievable! Children, living in Mexico, regardless of citizenship, are being educated in the USA. Clearly the parents of these children are not paying their fair share of taxes to send them to school across the border.

While we correct this major injustice we should also address the issue of foreign born children. The framers of our constitution and the basic fundamental laws of the USA should never allow children born from felonious intent, (stealing into the USA), becoming American citizens. It's against everything America stands for America to continue to allow this!!!

Border kids caught in drug war

Christy, California — Fri, 23 May 2008 03:15:53 GMT

I am glad to give my tax dollars to educate these poor children that may otherwise grow up to be a part of the drug problem themselves. It is a high likelyhood that these children will someday live in America as adults.

Border kids caught in drug war

Jane Doe, bordertown, america — Fri, 23 May 2008 05:52:15 GMT

A lot of these children are American citizens. There are many reasons why they still choose to live in Mexico but that does not change their citizenship. And those of you saying this is not our problem are part of the problem. Your are the same people who would most likely just walk over the dead body of a child and say how sad, not really meaning anything.

Border kids caught in drug war

Sal , Las Vegas, NV — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:20:43 GMT

When are all you haters going to stop. You people are ridiculous. Before you judge someone take a look at yourself. You better pray to god you and your children never find yourself in their situation. Unbelievable.

Border kids caught in drug war

Ole guy on the border — Fri, 23 May 2008 18:54:16 GMT

To all of the people who think it is right for Mexican kids to be educated in the US, I extend a hearty invitation to come live with us in the school district that coillects our tax money.

Border kids caught in drug war

Margaret Satran, Columbus, NM — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:00:39 GMT

We are so glad that people are finally seeing what is going on in ALL the southern US border towns. We have been residents of Columbus, NM, for 25 years and have seen all the abuse of our US government by the illegals entering our country illegally. We must put a stop to this NOW.

Border kids caught in drug war

Debbie,Washington State — Fri, 23 May 2008 22:45:42 GMT

I agree with all those questioning why these children are going to US schools. Nothing personal...and to you SAL in Las Vegas.....we are not haters, I love those children but there is a border for a reason AND there are laws for a reason. But for some reason these Mexican people seem to think its ok for them to break the law but not be charged or called a criminal.

Border kids caught in drug war

Debbie, Washington State — Fri, 23 May 2008 23:01:07 GMT

Glen.....amen to you brother

Border kids caught in drug war

Janet Sparks, Columbus, NM — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:39:34 GMT

Would like to clear up some misconception here: I suppose some of these children may have been born here illegally, however, most of them are born in Deming as a result of a very "legal" ambulance run.

In some instances one or both parents are citizens, but for financial reasons choose to live in Palomas. Quite a few of these parents work in Deming. But the majority just make it to the border with "need of medical attention" and the ambulance is called. The main problem here is obviously the lack of property tax going to our local schools. The base of this problem goes back to automatic citizenship if born here. Very few of these ambulance runs would occur if at least one parent had to be a citizen for the baby to qualify. There is no hospital in Palomas, so some would want to be transported to Deming anyway.

Border kids caught in drug war

M. L. Noyes, Lexington, KY — Sat, 24 May 2008 17:40:46 GMT

When my aunt in Deming, New Mexico, taught in the Columbus, New Mexico, public school system several decades ago, it was commonplace for Mexican parents in Palomas, Mexico, to pay tuition to the US government for their children to attend the US schools.

Border kids caught in drug war

Hank Jackson — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:43:25 GMT

Can I attend college in Mexico for free since I pay for Mexican children to get an education?

Border kids caught in drug war

Dan, Provo UT — Mon, 26 May 2008 00:28:25 GMT

So Sad. as a foster Parent, (& Foster Dad of the Year). it breaks my heart to see these kids suffering and developing a mental desensitization of the violence. I know that alot of people are going to hate me after the whole texas FLDS mess, But. if a kid is in danger, and they are a US citizen, then they should be put in a foster?adop home. maybe this will help stem the tide of illegals crossing the border to have their kids, if they Know they can lose them if they cannot show proof of citizenship, or at least legal employment in the US so that some of their taxes can at least help with the expenses. I know of many families like ourselves who cannot have kids of our own, that would sureley give them a healthy, Violence free home.

Border kids caught in drug war

Larry Robinson — Thu, 29 May 2008 01:12:50 GMT

Now let me get this straight. Illegal Mexican parents come to the US to have their children. US citizens pay for the birth and our government gives the child citizenship. Now since the child is a US citizen, US citizerns also have to pay for his/her education. What a deal!

Border kids caught in drug war

Sita Ram — Thu, 29 May 2008 02:35:31 GMT

Those who are saying that these kids in drug war zones should be brought over to the US out of danger zone and into safety and their lives are more important, blah blah, than American taxes paying for their free education - well, the lives of Iraqi children are just as important, there are a lot more of them, and they really DO live in a huge war zone - so why don't we all just invite all the children of Iraq to come to school in America for free? After all, it's all about safety and a kid's life, isn't it? NOT!
Anchor babies are all for that welfare system that drains the rest of America to feed the progeny of illegals! Tell them to leave America alone!

Border kids caught in drug war

gigi,boston,ma — Thu, 29 May 2008 06:05:04 GMT

These families have more confidence in the u.s.a. they are not getting the support from their own country. many of these childrens parents have and had not the opportunity. they are very scared and they dont want their children to be. Give everyone a chance. no one is taking anything away from you.

Border kids caught in drug war

shirley Pratt, Ozark, Mo. — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:21:25 GMT

brian the country should be made aware that the gas prices are hitting the elderly. I have a friend that after she gets her social security and pays medicare and supplement insurance she has 68.00 left for the month. How are these people suppose to survive..

Border kids caught in drug war

Wallace Maness — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:02:54 GMT

Approximately 380 billon dollars a year are spent on healthcare, welfare and schools for illegal aliens and their children, unless we change the law about illegal aliens who are having babies in the U.S. becoming citizens this will not stop. We should flood our Congressmen, Senators and Representatives with letters regarding this matter.

Border kids caught in drug war

Wallace Maness — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:16:23 GMT

Why does U.S. have a law that illegal aliens who have a baby on american soil is automatically an american citizen. Try to pull this in Mexico and see what happens. We need to flood our Congressmen, Senators and Representatives with letters to change this law. untill then we will continue to spent approximately 380 billion dollars in entitlements to illegal aliens.

Border kids caught in drug war

Carol, Chicago, IL — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:13:22 GMT

No. I believe there is still a war going on that has left thousands of Americans dead and a presidential candidacy that affects the future of our children; to consider children wanting a better future an economical threat....?

Border kids caught in drug war

juan calderon — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:02:10 GMT

How sad, many of these comments are not american priciples, they are idiotic and racist principles, children are not to blame for any of all the possible scenerios.

Border kids caught in drug war

juan calderon — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:04:29 GMT

Wallace, for you information anyone born in Mexico regardless of their parent's nationality can opt to accept Mexican citizenship. Inform yourself.

Border kids caught in drug war

Robert (Bob) Coate born in Pharr, Texas now residing in Waco — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:38:47 GMT

I am a 82 year old American born in extreme South Texas-- 8 miles and we were in Mexico and aproximately
m 70% of my graduating class were "Latinos".My oldest o son is "Brazilian" as he was born there while I wworked in that area and my younger son graduated from High School in Bogota, Colombia.I personally speak read and write Spanish having worked in Northern Spain, Brazil (Brazilian Portugese), Venzuela, Colombia, Ecuador,Peru and Bolivia...GET OFF these kids backs they deserve a chance for a good education and a decent life. If we can helpthem in some way we certainly should. Many Texans seem to forget Texas was part of Mexico for many years --- before our "War for Independance" earned us our freedom----"VIVA los Tejanos"

Border kids caught in drug war

T. Radtke — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:59:19 GMT

While you focus on the crimes happening due to the drug war on the American border with Mexico, perhaps you forgot about places like Salinas, CA which has equal levels of drug usage and street warfare. How about some reporting on that at the national level?

Border kids caught in drug war

Israel, Goshen,IN — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:18:51 GMT

If all of you guys did some more reading you would find out that most of these kids were born here and come across the border with their passports. Their parents are the ones who came illegally.

Border kids caught in drug war

Christopher — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:58:31 GMT

I am a born and raised American. I know Mexicans are coming over every day. Some do deserve to go back, however many deserve to stay. Many work harder than the average American and expect less for it. If Americans today weren't so busy thinking about themselves and there wants, instead of needs, maybe it wouldn't be as much of an issue. Think about it... Mexicans stand out today for getting jobs and getting tax money. Look at some of our very own Americans sitting at home not looking for a job just because they are allowed to live off of goverment checks. More mexicans work for the money than Americans without jobs. As for the tax money, it would be their tax money too if everyone wasn't so against them trying to get citizenship. We are going to have to face the facts that we are a growing America of different cultures, and that will NEVER change. You can adapt or complain, either way it's going to happen.

Border kids caught in drug war

John Costa Mesa Ca. — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:27:54 GMT

Just great, a lot of you people have great points, however the main point eas never touched upon:If those kids who are trying to get an education and become something in they're lives dont get an education, wheather its in the US or anywhere else in the world, what will they become????? A virus, a cancer that will spread all the to your doorstep

Border kids caught in drug war

jane — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:06:29 GMT

reading a lot of these conservative comments makes me worry that mccain will win and we'll all suffer through at least 4 more hears of gop hell.

Border kids caught in drug war

Johnny, El Paso, TX — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:25:55 GMT

If this country was founded on Christian princples, why is everyone calling foul on our southern neighbor? I understand the need for rule of law. I see it where I work, however, whatever happened to love thy neighbor? Mexico needs American support. Mexico needs us to be the American nation that helped Post Nazi Germany during the Marshall Plan and Berlin Airlift. We must help end the crime in Mexico. It has already spilled over. If Mexico had the same quality of life as the US, I guarantee they would not come to this Great and Rich country. They would stay, and in turn, I would go live down there. We are more interconnected in so many ways to that nation. In addittion, war on terrorism is a war on the ills of society. Mexico has a 40% poverty level. That could breed homes for al qaida support as well at the current moment supporting Narco-terrorism. BTW, ladies and gentleman, Americans are financing this terrorism. We are reaping what we sow. We must stop our selfishness and help calderon win this war, for Mexico's safety and our own. Injustice somewhere is an injustice everywhere. Our military should be ready to fight at all costs to kill this cancer that WE have caused.

Border kids caught in drug war

Judy — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:26:25 GMT

I recently heard that Palomas, Mexico contacted U.S. border towns i.e. Columbus, NM and Deming, NM to not to to Palomas, Mexico. A house was found to be full of dead bodies. A video was also sent out to random cell phone numbers which also shows an actual execution by decapitation of an individual. Has anyone heard anything about this/or is anyone covering this?

Border kids caught in drug war

Judy — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:36:29 GMT

The Mexican children who are coming from Palomas, Mexico and Columbus, NM for U.S. education in Deming, NM are running the schools. They are bullying U.S. children in the schools and telling them those are their Mexican schools. They are inflicting injuries on American children to the point that the American children are afraid to go to school. The schools are doing nothing to safeguard American children from the Mexican children. How are American children benefiting from education when they are afraid to go to their own schools because of the fear/hate/prejudice the Mexican children are causing? I know of 2 children personally who are victims of these acts of racial discrimination/violence in their own schools in Deming, NM. This is wrong--what happened to zero tolerance.

Border kids caught in drug war

Adrian Hernandez, El Paso, Texas — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:15:26 GMT

To all those people whining about the children in the article are living in Mexico and coming to schools in the U.S.: First off, read the article again, these children are U.S. born citizens. Second, children do not choose to remain in Mexico with their parents on all cases - do your research. Many of these children are too young to make that choice, their parents remain in Mexico for too many reasons to list here, again, do your research. Third, you are completely missing the point of the article, the article is about the Drug War that is now being faced in our border towns that puts not only those children in Mexico in danger, but ours as well. Stop your whining, become informed and become part of the solution. I say it one more time, do your research, you'll find out that things are not black and white. And just to point out, our "Founding Fathers" were not even "American," they were mostly British (European) - AGAIN, do your research and pray to God that those children's problems don't become your own.

Border kids caught in drug war

Rachael Gaona — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:00:29 GMT

To whom it may concern:

I’m saddened to read the racism posted on this website. If anyone is offended by what goes on in this our free county, which was built by immigrants “illegal immigrants” who entered the county and colonized it by steeling the land from the truly American people. To my understanding none of your ancestors had an American Passport when they settled in America. There was no Native American Consulate, or authorities to authorize entrance across the borders because there were no borders. Now, if you are discussed because of the U.S. Government does with Tax Moneys, you are welcome to write to congress about it.

A very sad U.S. Citizen.