Day One; Operation Streamline - June 28, 2010
First Day in the Desert: Hola!
To begin the day we had breakfast. Some chose cereal, some chose toast, but my favorite choice by far was Nathaniel's raw oatmeal with milk (not to mention it was Hazelnut Latte flavored).
Once everyone was fully awake and ready to go, we sat in the community area to chat about what the day would bring for us.
Today was a less physical day. We spent a lot of time listening, watching, and soaking up information. People say the best way to learn something is to experience it full on. I speak for the group when I say that is most definitely the truth. We spent about an hour talking with Elsbeth and MarieCruz (the group leaders) about what this trip holds for us. We discussed our hopes and fears, many of which included hoping that we make connections with the people we meet and here stories. Some of the fears were getting sick, seeing violence, or not being able to connect well with the people.
We discussed Operation Streamline; a court preceding that processes illegal immigrants from Mexico. It gives people the opportunity to plead guilty and receive a lesser mark on their record. It processes around 60-80 people each day, Monday-Friday. Each attorney has around 6 people they meet with and talk to before the real thing.
After a delicious lunch of pasta with pesto and a tomato-pepper salad, we packed ourselves into the van and headed into downtown Tucson to sit and watch Operation Streamline take place.
When we walked into the courtroom we saw around 60 Mexican men and 8 Mexican women sitting down. Their feet were shackled together and their arms chained behind their back also. A few people whispered to their neighbor, but most looked forward or down to the floor and remained silent. When I saw all of these people there, everything I had learned and everything I knew about illegal immigration suddenly felt very real. All of these people had families, possibly a husband or wife, and maybe kids. All of these people were facing time in prison and deportation. It was scary to think about.
As the trial began we listened to the Judge talk. She took attendance, established that these people had crossed the border illegally, let them know they had the right to appeal for a trial, but that it was in their interests to plead guilty and take the lesser offense. In groups of about 15, the Men and Women filed out of their seats. The chains around their ankles made them shuffle slowly. When we later reflected on this moment, someone said that seeing these people chained made them feel uncomfortable, almost guilty. Why do they need to be chained? What are they going to do?
They moved to stand in front of the microphones before the Judge. She asked questions such as, "Do you plead guilty or not guilty?", and each person answered individually: guilty. One of the questions that stood out to the group went something like this, "Did you enter this country as an alien and didja enter through places not designated by immigration regulation?" The use of the word 'alien' and the slang 'didja' is what made it stick out so much. We knew it was court procedure, and the Judge was required by law to ask those questions, but the use of slang made it somewhat mocking and degrading to the person. But the group agreed that the Judge did a very good job of making sure that every person was able to understand what was being said. She made sure that everyone could hear the translator and understood the questions that were being asked.
When all the questions had been asked, they were given their sentence - anywhere from 3 days to 6 months in prison. As they walked out they passed where we were sitting, and we saw each of their faces. Some looked scared, some upset, some didn't show any emotion, and a few were smiling hopefully.
This went on, with the next group of 15 people coming forward. Occasionally one of the attorneys would tell something to the Judge on behalf of their client. One that stuck out to the group was one man who wanted to come to the US to earn $5,000 so he could return to Mexico to care for his mother and pay for treatment for her heart disease. The Judge didn't take any time away from his sentence.
When Operation Streamline was over, every person was given a sentence. After completing this sentence, they would most likely be deported.
When it was over, we walked outside in the scorching heat, still around 100 degrees, to the adjacent building to meet Heather Williams, the head of the Public Defenders. She gave us an "Immigration 101" and discussed Operation Streamline with us a little more. She also talked about the new law being put into effect this Thursday [July 1, 2010] which states that officers are allowed to ask people for their papers if they are "being Hispanic". If they don't have these papers they will be deported. We discussed what the possible effects of this law could be.
After talking with the head of Public Defenders we made a quick stop at Walgreens. Nathaniel had one dollar and one cent in change. He gave it to David for a Peace Tea. Peace Tea costs a dollar and one cent! What kind of perfect day was this?! Everyone got a Popsicle called a michocana. They were delicious!
When we were done with dinner we watched a movie called Brother Towns. It was about a town in Florida and a town in Guatemala and their relationships because of undocumented men who want to go and work in the town. It showed the complexities of both sides of the immigration issue. It was very meaningful.
After a quick reflection David was so overcome by the "amazing deliciousness" of candy "swedish fish" that he collapsed. It was almost as good as the Peace Tea!
Tomorrow we head for the literal border, visiting the border patrol and heading into Mexico. Hopefully you will hear from us if we find a computer!
Thank you, and HELLO FROM TUSCON!
Written by Sarah Binau
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