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Perusing the internet this morning I spotted this headline: "Man accused of selling daughter for cash, beer." Immigration related I wondered? In 2009, after almost 17 years of working for immigration reform and enforcement, I would bet on it.

The AP story didn’t identify any of the subjects of the story, only gave the name of the town, Greenfield, CA. Central Valley, Monterey County? “Yeah,” I’m thinking. “Immigration related.”

It turns out that 36 year old Macelino de Jesus Martinez arranged a marriage for his 14 year old daughter for $16,000, 100 cases of Corona beer, 50 cases of Modelo beer, several cases of meat, two cases of wine, 50 cases of Gatorade and 50 cases of soft drinks.

Police only learned of the deal after the father went to them to get his daughter back because payment wasn't made. He was arrested Sunday on suspicion of human trafficking.

The local police chief says that the father and the 18 year old “groom” face the possibility of being deported as illegal aliens. Big surprise, there.

Now, this is not a big story. It’s not a dozen illegal aliens abandoned by their coyote to die of thirst in the desert or the back of a hot truck in July. It’s not thousands of Americans displaced by illegal alien workers. It’s not a massive drug haul that slows the delivery of narcotics to America’s streets, if for only a little while.

This is just one 14 year old girl, an 8th grader. Probably an anchor baby which makes her a U.S. citizen, sold into sexual servitude by her father. And that is outrageous! This child should be going to the mall with her girlfriends and swapping music from their MP3 players. She should be looking forward to her last semester in 8th grade and moving on to High School in the fall. Instead she was…well, you know what she was doing.

Where is the National Organization of Women? Where are the civil libertarians decrying this outrage? One can be sure that if this child were to get pregnant and be prevented from getting an abortion they would be springing into action. But, human trafficking? Child selling? Child rape? Nothing.

To quote the police chief, “I just don’t think it occurred to him that he was breaking any laws.” Now, I suppose the chief had to veer into political correctness when he said, “We respect the cultural differences, but we enforce the laws.” I don’t blame the chief, he has to live and work in his community. But, can you remember a time in America where one would never have used that phrase, “We respect the cultural differences,” while describing a case of child selling and child sexual assault? Well, I don’t respect this “cultural difference.” It's not particularly enriching.

Now, think for a minute. How long had that father lived in California? I would guess at least 14 years, hmm? And yet, he is so unassimilated that he goes to the police when he doesn’t receive payment for his daughter? Not connected to America in anyway. Not to our values or our decencies. Just living in a colonia, oblivious to the culture of the country.

Well, here we have another anecdotal side effect of the federal government’s purposeful failure to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws. And we all know the arguments against enforcement.

BTW, how’s that head of lettuce tasting? Pretty cheap too, isn’t it?

For some people, I guess.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDLQp2vNenU

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28629054/?GT1=43001#storyContinued

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28639645#28639645

Please go to the CAPS home page: http://www.capsweb.org

1-13-09

Rick some things I can agree with you like this story. Other things you write I don’t agree with you. The reference to “I’m thinking immigration related.” Because it is a Mexican name involved, speaks Spanish, looks brown and dresses differently must be an undocumented immigrant. Profiling is wrong.

The story you brought to light is a good story but keep in mind culture differences can be found with any religionist beliefs, race, and nationality. “Respect cultural differences,” of course, however I do not accept what happen to the fourteen year old girl and the practice of arraigned marriages with underage children should be stopped by the indigenous Mexican Trique Community.

The girl as you say it “This child should be going to the mall with her girlfriends and swapping music from their MP3 players. She should be looking forward to her last semester in 8th grade and moving on to High School in the fall.” Instead she was faced with this 18 year old man, the rent, electricity, water, trash pick up, gas needs to be paid; washing his clothes, making dinner, cleaning the house and other duties coming from a relationship. Those responsibilities should come later on in life. Signed by Ray Askins

RE: ras6057 on Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:12 am

What new here ras6057? Right, Nothing, I would also think the same thing as Rick and it is often true. Ras6057 I always disagree with you.

Your culture is so prone to breaking the law and morality it is almost synonymous with a Latin surname especially in California and border towns. When one breaks the sovereign laws of a nation upon entering, they will probably continue to do so. These people should not be here in the first place. As jobs disappear, they want to maintain their former lifestyle and obviously will try to continue it even at the cost of their daughter.