WE ARE FACING A CRISIS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER. THOUSANDS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE FLEEING THEIR HOMES IN CENTRAL AMERICA, HOPING TO CROSS THE BORDER INTO THE U.S.

WHY?

HONDURUS, EL SALVADOR, AND HATI ARE DRAPED IN POVERTY SO PROFOUNDLY THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE HOPE. THE INCOME THAT MOST EARN IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO GET BY. SO THEY HAVE TO BORROW FROM LOAN SHARKS. THE GANGS AND LOAN SHARKS FEED ON THE POOR, WITH DISMEMBERMENT AND DEATH TO THE RELATIVES OF THOSE WHO ARE LATE ON THEIR PAYMENTS. THE WOMEN FACE BEING RAPED IF THEY ARE TOO SLOW TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY OWED TO THE PREDITORS. BASICALLY THEY ARE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES AND THOSE OF THEIR FAMILYS TRYING TO ESCAPE TO A CHANCE OF HOPE.

TO GET TO THE U.S. THEY MUST PAY A "COYOTE" TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH MEXICO ALIVE. MANY ARE TURNED OVER TO GANGS AND DRUG CARTEL MEMBERS IN MEXICO, WHO HOLD THEM FOR RANSOM. THEY ARE FORCED TO CALL A RELATIVE IN THE U.S. AND THEY WON'T BE RELEASED UNTIL THE MONEY IS WIRED TO THEM. MANY OF THE VICTIMS THAT CAN'T COME UP WITH THE MONEY ARE TORTURED AND KILLED. THERE BODIES ARE COOKED AND FED TO THE OTHER CAPTIVES, WHO ARE BEING STARVED. THE LUCKY ONES ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE A GOOD COYOTE TO HELP THEM OR A RELATIVE THAT CAN COME UP WITH THE MONEY FOR THE CAPTIVE ONES. FOR THE MIGRANTS SAFETY THEY TRAVEL IN LARGE GROUPS, BUT THIS DOES NOT INSURE THEIR SAFE PASSAGE. I'M SURE ANY MOTHER WORTH HER SALT, WOULD TRY TO GET THEIR FAMILY OUT OF CENTRAL AMERICA. NOT MANY OF US WOULD SIT AND WATCH OUR FAMILIES BEING TORTURED, RAPED AND MURDERED, AND DO NOTHING. THE GOVERNMMENT AND POLICE ARE TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE AS MOST ARE BOUGHT BY THE CARTELS.

THESE PEOPLE WANT TO COME HERE AND WORK. WITH THE HUGE LABOR SHORTAGE IN THIS COUNTRY AND BUSINESSES CLOSING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND HELP, HERE IS A POSIBLE SOLUTION.

YES, THERE WILL BE A FEW BAD APPLES IN THE BUNCH. AND YES THERE WILL BE SOME CONSEQUENCES FROM THEIR BEHAVIOR, WHICH WILL BE OSTRACIZED BY THE MEDIA FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.

REMEMBER, WHEN OUR ANCESTORS CAME TO THIS COUNTRY, IT WAS TO ESCPAE PERSECUTION, DEATH, AND POVERTY.

AMERICA USED TO BE THE BEACON OF HOPE AND FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD. 

LET'S LET LOVE BE OUR GUIDE.

UNTIL NEXT TIME

STAY SAFE AND SANE

THE BEGGAR'S APPRENTICE