KOLD News 13 live, local and late breaking-SPECIAL REPORT: Border Personalities Right And Left

SPECIAL REPORT: Border Personalities Right And Left

By Bud Foster

There are two battles being fought on the US-Mexico border. One between the US Border Patrol and Mexican immigrants pouring into this country. The second one is between American citizens. Those who believe the US should open up its borders and those who believe the border should be patrolled by the US military.

The ideas on how to solve border problems vary 180 degrees. They are as different as day and night or black and white. The focal points for these two divergent issues are two people who don't have much nice to say about each other. Isabel Garcia, a Tucson activist for many years, supports the immigrants side. Glenn Spencer, executive director of American Patrol, supports militarization of the border. They really don't agree on much. But ,behind all the rhetoric, there is actually a meeting somewhere in the middle.

Glenn Spencer does not like Isabel Garcia.. "This woman is lying, dissembling the truth, misrepresenting the facts of the law, attacking individuals without foundation and all for the purpose of defeating any attempt to resist the Mexican invasion of the United States."

Isabel Garcia does not like Glenn Spencer calling his group, a hate group. "The KKK, Aryan Brotherhood, David Duke's people. Glen Spencer was thrown out of California and has taken up residence in Southern Arizona. All the growth of paramilitary groups has been the result of government inaction."

But, despite their extreme differences, they actually share a common bond. Both believe problems along the US-Mexican border stem from ineffective government policy.

Spencer recently gave a speech in Sierra Vista, where he handed out a videotape containing bits and pieces of news clips from networks and cable channels supporting his view that immigration is only a pretext of a real invasion. It's called "Conquest of Aztland", which according to Spencer will add the American Southwest to Mexico. Spencer says, "I believe the conquest of Aztland is the truth. I think it's the truth. And, I have for years, and years, and years asked for a congressional investigation into this whole movement." But, he hasn't gotten it.

Garcia is a member of the border organization, Direchos Humanos, which holds regular news conferences and meetings at a shrine in downtown Tucson. The shrine is graced with crosses which bear the names of Mexicans who have died crossing the border. Garcia, like Spencer, is asking for government help. "We're calling on our government officials to be held accountable. Their inaction has really caused this to flourish" she says.

"Both countries bear responsibility for this not just the United States." says Congressman-elect Raul Grijalva.

He inherits the issue which in some ways divides but in others brings people together. Grijalva is a long time Hispanic activist who now represents the government both Garcia and Spencer says has failed them. "The border policy is not stemming the tide the way they thought it would. Yeah, I agree with both of them on that. It's ineffective. It's not working." Grijalva says.

But, it is giving rise to paramilitary groups, like Ranch Rescue, which recently spent a week along the border. It's a very visible sign of discontent on both sides of the issue, but one which Congressman-elect Grijalva says shows no sign of ending soon. "As long as that policy is in play, it becomes a breeding ground for hatred. And it becomes a breeding ground for the types of activities you see for the vigilante groups right now. And that's got to stop."

Grijalva believes immigration problems will only be solved when it's nationalized. That is, when people in Ohio or Pennsylvania understand the problems along the US-Mexican border also affect them. He says problems with immigration are nothing new. He says new groups to the US, including the Irish and Italians faced some of the same problems. It's only now, the faces of the people coming here are Latin.

Spencer, by the way, wants Garcia fired from her job as a public defender in Pima County and has asked county officials to do that.

Garcia says she has received threatening e-mails from supporters of Spencer's group and says she fears for her life. As the mother of three children she says, she must worry about that.

But, underneath it all, it's hard to believe both of them are working towards the same goal. A safe border and a consistent border policy. They just want to get there different ways.