MEDIA REACTION - PROPOSED WALL ON U.S. BORDER

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000192

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, WHA/CEN, WHA/PDA
AMEMBASSIES FOR PAS, POL, DHS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR ES KPAO IMMIGRATION
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - PROPOSED WALL ON U.S. BORDER


THE JANUARY 25 EDITION OF MODERATE DAILY LA PRENSA GRAFICA
(CIRC. 110,000),PUBLISHED AN OP ED ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE WALL IN THE US BY JOAQUIN SAMAYOA ENTITLED "WALLS,
HEDGES AND OTHER DIVISIONS." EXCERPTS FROM THE ARTICLE
FOLLOW:
"I CAN SEE A DOUBLE STANDARD IN SOME OF THE CRITICISM THAT
THE IDEA HAS PROVOKED. NO ONE WOULD SAY THAT THE WALLS AND
INNER DOORS WITH WHICH WE PROTECT OUR HOUSES CONSTITUTE AN
AGGRESSIVE GESTURE TOWARDS OUR NEIGHBORS.
THE WALL IS NEITHER THE PROBLEM NOR THE SOLUTION. THE ONLY
THING THAT IT WILL ACCOMPLISH IS THAT OUR PEOPLE WILL HAVE
TO THINK OF NEW WAYS AND DEVELOP NEW SKILLS IN DIGGING
TUNNELS. THE ONES THAT MANAGE TO CROSS WILL BE CALLED MOLES
INSTEAD OF WETBACKS. THAT IS SOMETHING OUR FRIENDS IN THE
NORTH SHOULD KNOW.
THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE MORE AND MORE WORRISOME SENSATION OF
INSECURITY AND FEAR THAT HAS SEIZED A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE
IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS A SENSATION THAT DOUBTLESSLY HAS
ITS COMPONENT OF RACISM, BUT ALSO IT HAS A LEGITIMATE
FOUNDATION.
OVERFLOWING IMMIGRATION IS CAUSING TENSIONS AND DIVISIONS
AMONG THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES BUT ALSO WITHIN
THEM. MANY SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN SEE THEMSELVES PRESSURED
BY THEIR OWN ELECTORAL BASES TO ADOPT EXTREME MEASURES OF
CONTROL.
WE CAN PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE WALL, BUT WE WOULD ACCOMPLISH
MUCH MORE BY HELPING TO CONTROL IMMIGRATION FROM OUR
COUNTRIES AS WELL AS MAKING BETTER EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE
BEHAVIOR AND THE IMAGE OF OUR BROTHERS IN THE UNITED
STATES."
BARCLAY