My Thursday representative Sensenbrenner immigration reform hearing photo essay

The Chamizal National Memorial was established in 1967. It was the culmination of over a century long border dispute between the U.S. and Mexico which originated when the Rio Grande River dividing the two nations shifted its course in 1864. The result was 600 acres, formerly in Mexico, now belonged to the U.S.

These 600 acres lost were a particularly sore point with Mexico, who had just a few years earlier ceded to the U.S. - as a result of the Mexican War - 525,000 square miles.

But as the National Parks website explains, "Chamizal National Memorial serves as an open door to... diplomacy and cultural values as a basic means to conflict resolution."

The U.S. generously returned 437 acres formerly belonging to Mexico as a result of the treaty formalized in 1967. While some may cynically see this as generosity the U.S. could easily afford after gaining all of Texas, California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming in the 1846 war with Mexico , Dada prefers to see it as a monument to successful conflict resolution by the U.S. through negotiation vs. its more usual approach to resolving international differences - war.

Four hundred thirty-seven acres returned after more than a 100 years of delicate, sometimes heated tête-à-têtes beats the hell out of 525,000 square miles gained by war in 16 months.

************

As I reported and promised last Saturday in my Passive Participatory Fascism blog, I joined my wife yesterday down at the Chamizal where congressman Sensenbrenner (R., WI) was holding the third edition of his immigration reform charades. Billed as a chance for citizens to voice their concerns, public input was the most important aspect missing. That's because public input was not allowed. In typical Sensenbrenner fashion, the message to citizens was "shut the hell up and just listen."

My wife was going as a member of one of several groups against the criminalization of undocumented immigrants and those who would give them aid or support.

As we parked and were walking to the visitor center where the hearing was to be held, we passed this SUV in the parking lot. I was so impressed I just had to take a picture. My favorite sticker was "My other auto is a .45."

It was nice to see someone unashamedly showing their proud support of strong values. I was a bit concerned, however, that with all those stickers plastered on the back of the vehicle, its driver was as blinded to what is behind him as he is to the vision of what's ahead for all Americans.

However, what we noticed next as we looked over the parking lot was the huge--I mean HUGE--number of law enforcement vehicles present. They were everywhere. I estimate there were at least 237 there. Led by the El Paso County sheriff's contingent, then border patrol, city police, national park police and other official federal vehicles, it was an impressive presence. I'm thinking they were probably the 17th largest armed forces in the western hemisphere yesterday.

But if I felt a tad nervous from our encounter with the SUV proclaiming the owner's "second auto was a .45," I felt much better seeing so much authority present to maintain order. I suddenly really felt really, really safe.

But it also occurred to me how such an enormous presence by authorities might indicate how afraid they were of my wife. Well, not just her, but her fellow impassioned citizens demonstrating there as well. This was a little empowering because, while the public would not be allowed to speak inside at the immigration hearing, their presence outside was sufficient for the El Paso County Sheriff to pull all his deputies into the Chamizal at risk of county security of national banks and 7-11 Stores in outlying areas.

By my estimate, there were far more police cars than protestors. This concerned me momentarily because, if disorder broke out and we all were arrested, how would demonstrators get down to city jail in one piece with 1 1/2 cars to transport each?

Truthfully, I was a little disappointed at the turnout of the demonstrators. I suspect these symbolic meetings of "democracy" are just that. Symbolic. That's because they're scheduled when the majority of people are at work and can't attend. And those who can are not allowed to speak. But maybe that's not it. Maybe it's just El Pasoans are apathetic? Or who knows, maybe it's the high lithium content of their drinking water?

(NOTE: If I was disappointed at their turnout, the total number of protestors in support of representative Sensenbrenner's gypsies who showed up was three!)

But of the small crowd gathered, I am pleased to report they were orderly and obedient in confining themselves to the *free speech zone* that had been roped off for them. Some came with nice signs.

As I looked over the park's lush, green landscape, thanks to recent floods, I was surprised to see the county sheriff had been thoughtful enough to have his deputies bring along some dogs. I assumed these were for the protestor's children to pet and play with. A nice gesture I thought.

Another point of amusement for the crowd were the people who must have arrived way before everybody else got there. That's because they got the very best possible seats of the whole crowd-- up on the roof! At least, that's what I thought.

Somebody else didn't think that was it at all. They speculated with dove season just opened, they were hunters there to get their choice of the flock. They didn't look real happy. Maybe because they weren't counting on the crowd below that would show up and scare off all the birds.

But perhaps most disturbing of all, however, was someone who voiced the opinion those weren't spectators or dove hunters on the roof. They were snipers! I couldn't believe this. Not in America. Pure fantasy, I thought. Besides, they weren't wearing recognizable uniforms of any of the many law enforcement agencies present. No problem someone pointed out, suggesting they might be members of one of those neoconservative contracted out private security armies immune to U.S. law, i.e., legal assassins!

Whoever they were, they sure had the best seats.

Finally, I'd just like to mention, while demonstrators were there to take a serious stand regarding immigration reform, I was at one point very disappointed as the vitality of the group seemed to sag.


Feeling a need to re-energize them, I yanked the sign from a nearby child much smaller than myself. Wending my way to the front of the *free speech zone*, I stationed myself next to a small group whom I felt were losing their zeal. To reinvigorate them, I hoisted my sign high and commanded them to follow suit.

"If you want to be heard," I said, "you have to stand tall, hold your signs up high and shout. And for Pete's sake," I pleaded, "please stop clowning around!"*

At the end of two hours, representative Sensenbrenner's road show had gotten what it came for, packed up and left. And sadly, I even forgot to go up to one of those police officers and ask if I could pet his dog.

*Note: As my wife later informed me, the clowns were really there as comment on representative Sensenbrenner's immigration reform circus.