I stand corrected...

Guardia Costera de EEUU sostiene que el grupo de inmigrantes se tornó hostil contra la Policía y que los agentes se mantuvieron alejados en espera de otras unidades.

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Yeah, the USCG says that they the "pourtorican" police could not help the victims because they were hostile, so they let then drawn, after they rammed and (according to the survivors shot) a bunch of helpless people.

I am angry, enforcing immigration laws is one thing, I have always said that we should enforce stronger immigration laws in the DR, however I had never said we should fire upon people just because they are illegal.

This whole incident is very unfortunate, not only for the poor soal who did but for all the people who now will be jailed for a period of time, then returned to the DR, even poorer than before.

What I dont understand is what would make people take this route. There are many countries looking for good immigrants, Canada, being on of them, and I am sure that the US takes a certain amount.

Why would these people not take the legal route and apply for independant immigrant status? With all the access to information on immigration websites ect. all of the guidelines are clearly provided.

Instead these people choose to believe a friend or family member abroad, who by hook or crook managed to leave the DR that they can also do the same. Now these people have probably sold all their worthly belongings home ect. to pay for the voyage..

I believe that the US immigration department can tell when a boat is headed there way long before it even comes close to their borders.

In this instance education is sorely needed, to tell people that this type of desperate measure is futile.

To the bravest men and women in the World whose sole duty is to risk their lives to save yours, then be accused of recklessly taking a life by ignorance. THey search in any weather, stop heavily armed desperate drug runners with the minimum of weapons and support, so your kids won't end up taking whatever it is you are on

They are owed an apology, I am awed an apology and the United States Coast Gurad is owed an apology by you ABE

ST

Just like CNN I apoligize.

It was not my intention to bring down anyones nationality, but to let the word out on this terrible acident. I was under the impresion the USCG was the only service patrolling the Mona Canal, I didn't realized there was a Puerto Rican Defense Force, (didn't know they have defense).

Middle class Dominicans can get visas easily, upper class doesn’t even have to go to the consulate to get them, their children are practically born with visas.

It's easy for us who have it relatively easy, to say why do they cross the Mona to Puerto Rico, why not going to the Consulate and ask for a visa. Well, that's easier said than done, this people are very poor, most of them are illiterate, they have not the specialized skills the US or Canada are looking for, so when they go to the US Consulate in SD, the second they step in the consulate’s window they are told (usted no califica el proximo) "you don't qualify, NEXT!", the consular officer won’t even see their papers. Then, the only chance they have it's a "machete" (a false US visa), but then there’s another thing you won’t understand, a false visa costs 80,000 pesos, 5,000 US Dollars, a valid US visa can cost FROM RD$150,00.00 TO RD$200,000.00, a huge amount of money even by US standards,

Now, you my ask how come a valid US visa cost that much?, there are people who somehow can have a Consul give them a 100% valid US visa (corruption is everywhere kiddies) I guess some consuls can’t resist U$2,500.00 for just sticking a stupid 5 inch stamp on somebody’s passport, they have 20 visas that’s 2,500 times 20, you have to be very rich or a real patriot not fall into this temptation.

Those who can’t afford that much, only have a yola, or sneaking into a “furgon” (container) as their way to the “promised land”.

The solucion to the problem?; Just like the solution to the Haitian problem in the RD, make living for these people easier in their own country. People want to live where there’s hope and opportunities. Who wants to leave their wife and kids to go to a foreign nation to be a 3-class citizen?

You say that upper class Dominicans children are born with Visas. How does the immigration department diferentiate them from a normal Dominicans in the line up. I have passed by the American consulate and seen line ups that scare me. So many people.

What I was talking about is independat immigration, where you can apply based on certain critera. It takes some time, but if you luck out you may find a country that needs immigrants such as the US and Canada.

>>What I dont understand is what would make people take this route. There are many countries looking for good immigrants, Canada, being on of them, and I am sure that the US takes a certain amount.<<

After living more than seven years in this country I will tell you why, because they are ignorant, kept this way (by rich peolple and politicians) and some of them also to lazy to take the slow route.
Here meanwhile everything has to go fast, even get rich, without care about the others, even their own people.

Look what those bastards did to the Cubans trying to arrive to Miami. Weakened, tired and hungry by trying to come to Miami and the USCG sprayed them with pepper spray. It caused riots in Miami by the Cuban population.
No Sir you ain't owed a dime for cruelty to humans. The USCG may have good people but there are a group of rascist pigs in there who have no respect for poor defenseless people.

Upper-class people send their kid's passports to the consulate they don't even had to interview, the US Consulate people know that being upper an class Dominican, there's little chance you will migrate to the US.

If you are lower middle class, you had to go to an interview, the long line is to apply for an interview, you pay 45 US$dollars, the interview is scheduled a few days after the application is filled, then you had to talk with a consular officer to get approval, the interview is taken through a glass window with a two-way microphone and a loud speaker.

The interview can take from 12 seconds (in the case of a poor "desaliñado" trying his luck, to 10 minutes when they are finding out if you are really "visa worthy") the consul asks you for your ID and the 28I-Form (pease correct), then they go asking where do you live, if you're you single, where do you work, how much do you earn, and so for, then the consular officer says "Thank you Mr.X you can come on Monday and pickup your passport" and then give you a little ticket, if you are reproved you are told "You do not qualify, we can't grant you a visa at this time".

Working in a large corporation means getting automatically approved (Codetel, Colgate, La Manicera, La Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana the company that makes Presidente beer)
in my case, I am a member of the American Chamber of Commerce, which means you don't have to go to an interview.