La Jornada (Mexico City) 6/30/09
(In this paper’s “Migration” section, a listing of things to watch out for in case one is thinking about emigrating to the United States)
(For State of Oaxaca natives) – “Please, if you think about coming to the United States, read or ask about the laws of this country so that you will know them and you will not get into serious problems. Due to the high increment of legal problems faced by indigenous migrants, the Bi-National Center for the Oaxacan Indian Development (“CBDIO”) has prepared a small, six point manual dealing with the most common problems that this group of immigrants face.”
“Six rules to avoid legal problems in the United States. This informative letter has been prepared by “CBDIO” due to the high increase of legal problems facing migrant Indians in the United States. Our hope is that it contributes to diminish those grave problems that affect indigenous migrant families.” (Each of the six numbered items below is then followed by the possible legal consequences, which we omitted from this report)
ONE – Legal age to have a mate: the law of the state of California says that persons under 18 years of age may not marry unless their parent(s) or legal guardians give their consent in front of a judge. It’s important to clear up that in California it is considered ILLEGAL for a person under 18 years of age to have sexual relations with someone older than 18; it doesn’t matter that the youth assents.
TWO – Domestic Violence. “Beating the woman, man or children” are grave crimes and are prohibited by the Penal Code, even more so when the mistreated ones show physical marks of the blows they have received.
THREE – Child abuse and negligence. (Goes on to list negligence and physical, emotional, sexual abuse as is commonly understood and followed in the U.S.)
FOUR – Driving under the influence of alcohol: “Having had drinks and then driving a car having .o8% of alcohol concentration in the blood is against the law and strongly penalized.”
FIVE – Throwing garbage on the street. It is strictly forbidden to throw any type of garbage on the streets and highways, from cigarette butts to papers and big furniture, among other objects.
SIX – Taking care of your bodily needs on the streets. Urinating or using the streets as a bathroom is a strongly punished violation of the law.
From the M3 Report:
http://m3report.wordpress.com/