My Thoughts on ICE

My good friends that I used to work with, had a situation with a coyote (someone who is paid to bring illegal immigrants over the border) and they were threatening the life of his brother. They told him that if he didn't pay more money that they'd kill his brother. They were in Pheonix, Arizona at the time and we were here in Utah. My good friend decided to leave and go pick up his brother and just be done with the coyote. I offered to go along with him and drive since he did not have a vehicle. I drove straight there, non-stop. My friend paid for everything, the food, the gas, the drinks. Once there, we waited in a parking spot for about 2-3 hours until the coyote finally showed up. My friend had me wait in the car while he got out and spoke to him. Next thing I know he gets in the car along with his brother and another passenger that we had not planned on. Apparently, the terms were that if we were taking his brother, we were taking the other guy as well. I drove as far as I could back before my friend had us stop and get some rest. We spent the night in the car. Once morning came again, I drove the rest of the way home. Once again, my friend paid for everything. My heart was pounding the whole time, and I was scared we'd get pulled over and I'd get caught bring an illegal across the border. 

I came home after my trip and was kicked out of my mother's house, where I lived at the time. I was only 18, I think at the time. I lived with said friend and his brother and his other friend and his 3-year-old son as well, all of whom were illegal. I lived with them in 1 room, all of us together for about 2-3 months before we got our own apartment together. I was there for about a year until I recked my car and my mom offered me to come back to live with her so she could help me. 

In the time that I lived with them, I did ask how it was that they came to be here and why. They came from El Salvador and their country at the time was not good, very poor, war going on and they just wanted something better. My friends came over on a train and a lot of walking. The friend I traveled with to Arizona was actually separated from his son for a while and left him in the care of a woman who flew him over on an airplane. He told me he paid over $5,000 for just his son to be brought here.  Our travel companion that came back with us, I never heard or saw from again. I was just a free ride for him. 

A few years after, I was living with my boyfriend at the time, I was with that boyfriend for almost 8 years, and he was illegal as well. My friends from the previous story came knocking and asked if I'd go with them again, this time to California to pick up his aunt. I immediately agreed. Once again, my friends paid for everything, even the rental car this time. I did not drive the whole way; we actually took turns. On the way there I did get pulled over once for speeding. I did get a ticket, which to the day I don't even know if it was taken care of. I did write to the judge and let him know I lived in Utah and could not come for an appearance. I guess if I ever go to California and get pulled over, I'll find out when and if I get arrested. Other than that, the trip was good. We came back with his aunt. Once again, I was so terrified that we'd get caught and I'd go to federal prison for bring another illegal over the border. 

You may ask as someone who has brought an illegal over the border, not once but twice, how I can be behind what ICE stands for. It's simple. With positive, I've also had negative. My son's father was illegal and was actually deported back to Mexico. With him being illegal I was not able to get any child support from him. The state could not garnish his paycheck. My friend kindly pointed out to me that he has more than I do and is able to get loans and was wondering how that is especially since I am from here. I know they came here for a better life but if you think about it, they are taking opportunities away from us that were legally here, born here not to mention. With them coming over illegally, they are using someone else's social security, someone else's credit, someone else's good standing. That is how my friend was able to get and have more than I did since I hadn't established any credit at that time. 

We need to change the system and make it easier for illegals to come over legally. Our state, our country was built on immigrants and that will never change.