San Diego-Tijuana border is now closed

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Just to be clear, the use of tear gas in war is banned not under the CWC (which banned the production of certain chemical weapons, but not tear gas) but under the Geneva Protocol of 1925 which banned the use of all gases in war.  In any case, this was not war, so there was no breach of international law here.

[Green Line]

Its unclear to me what exactly the left-wing critics here want the US to do otherwise.  Shoot them?  Club them to death?  Oh right, most here just want the mob to be allowed to storm the border and waltz right in.  Unfortunately that was never an option and is non-negotiable.

[ag]

Its unclear to me what exactly the left-wing critics here want the US to do otherwise.  Shoot them?  Club them to death?  Oh right, most here just want the mob to be allowed to storm the border and waltz right in.  Unfortunately that was never an option and is non-negotiable.

I am not a "left-wing" critic, but I will try.

Set up a properly staffed booth on the border to accept asylum applications the same day people arrive. Schedule court dates reasonably soon - with hearings right on the border if necessary (it is ok if applicants are asked to wait for their hearings in Mexico). Do all this politely, explaining people the procedures that will be followed - of course, being clear about the likelyhood their applications will, in fact, be rejected. Basically, follow the US law and treaty obligations in a polite and professional manner, without deliberately provoking a riot.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Its unclear to me what exactly the left-wing critics here want the US to do otherwise.  Shoot them?  Club them to death?  Oh right, most here just want the mob to be allowed to storm the border and waltz right in.  Unfortunately that was never an option and is non-negotiable.

It's such a relief to know some Hillary voters still stand with her on immigration. Crazy how much the left diverges from their politicians on this subject!

[Person Man]

So many simultaneous issues to be easily offended about.

Bringing a cute little child into the fight is PR genius for the lefties.

The righties now need to film som menacing bearded men in Middle Eastern garb and call them ISIS.

Just like Palestine and Israel, this will be won and lost in the TV news studios of Rupert Murdoch.

Hope this does not become a perpetual problem.

Between this, Mueller, and the economic volatility, there seems to be sh**t clouds on the horizon.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Its unclear to me what exactly the left-wing critics here want the US to do otherwise.  Shoot them?  Club them to death?  Oh right, most here just want the mob to be allowed to storm the border and waltz right in.  Unfortunately that was never an option and is non-negotiable.

I am not a "left-wing" critic, but I will try.

Set up a properly staffed booth on the border to accept asylum applications the same day people arrive. Schedule court dates reasonably soon - with hearings right on the border if necessary (it is ok if applicants are asked to wait for their hearings in Mexico). Do all this politely, explaining people the procedures that will be followed - of course, being clear about the likelyhood their applications will, in fact, be rejected. Basically, follow the US law and treaty obligations in a polite and professional manner, without deliberately provoking a riot.

All well and good, and what should be done.  Unfortunately, none of that is something CBP can do, so cursing them for doing what they can under the situation they have been placed in when the problem lies elsewhere is at minimum unproductive.

[ag]

Its unclear to me what exactly the left-wing critics here want the US to do otherwise.  Shoot them?  Club them to death?  Oh right, most here just want the mob to be allowed to storm the border and waltz right in.  Unfortunately that was never an option and is non-negotiable.

I am not a "left-wing" critic, but I will try.

Set up a properly staffed booth on the border to accept asylum applications the same day people arrive. Schedule court dates reasonably soon - with hearings right on the border if necessary (it is ok if applicants are asked to wait for their hearings in Mexico). Do all this politely, explaining people the procedures that will be followed - of course, being clear about the likelyhood their applications will, in fact, be rejected. Basically, follow the US law and treaty obligations in a polite and professional manner, without deliberately provoking a riot.

All well and good, and what should be done.  Unfortunately, none of that is something CBP can do, so cursing them for doing what they can under the situation they have been placed in when the problem lies elsewhere is at minimum unproductive.

I am not "cursing CBP" . In fact, you will easily find my comment making that point slightly above. I am, however cursing

1. The current administration, which has deliberately engineered this crisis for public consumption.
2. The American public, for whose benefit this has been engineered.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Since you chose to answer on behalf of "the left" I addressed my reply generally, not specifically.

[ag]

Since you chose to answer on behalf of "the left" I addressed my reply generally, not specifically.

I explicitly said that I am not part of the left. Then, again, I am, probably, among those here most disgusted with the US on this.

[fhtagn]

Didn’t Mexico already offer to settle the refugees in Mexico? As determined by international human rights organizations, Mexico is considered a safe location for refugees. You’re only supposed to relocate to the next closest safe country unless specifically offered refugee resettlement by a different nation state, thereby making these Central American refugees unworthy of claiming refugee status in America.

Yes, Mexico did offer asylum to the migrants, but it seems no one here wants to address that point.

Clearly their situation can't be that bad if they are in a position to turn down asylum in the first place that offers it. It's the equivalent of a starving person turning down a free meal because they don't like that kind of food.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

Its unclear to me what exactly the left-wing critics here want the US to do otherwise.  Shoot them?  Club them to death?  Oh right, most here just want the mob to be allowed to storm the border and waltz right in.  Unfortunately that was never an option and is non-negotiable.

I am not a "left-wing" critic, but I will try.

Set up a properly staffed booth on the border to accept asylum applications the same day people arrive. Schedule court dates reasonably soon - with hearings right on the border if necessary (it is ok if applicants are asked to wait for their hearings in Mexico). Do all this politely, explaining people the procedures that will be followed - of course, being clear about the likelyhood their applications will, in fact, be rejected. Basically, follow the US law and treaty obligations in a polite and professional manner, without deliberately provoking a riot.

All well and good, and what should be done.  Unfortunately, none of that is something CBP can do, so cursing them for doing what they can under the situation they have been placed in when the problem lies elsewhere is at minimum unproductive.

If only there were some reserve of manpower that could be drawn upon - people familiar with bureaucracy and organization and logistics, who could, in temporary extreme cases, be sort-of "called up" and have their expertise drawn upon to show everyone what America at it's best can be and do.

Oh well, that's a pipe dream. Guess we just need to throw up our hands and let our illegitimate fascist government bring out the concertina wire and tear gas.

[Badger]

The invasion has begun.

Yeah. God knows what the country would be like if we let Irish, Italians, Jews, Polish, Chinese, and Cubans immigrate here. They should stay in their own poor countries. It's not like America destabilized and ruined any of these countries, so we owe nothing.

This is just dumb. We did absolutely nothing to the Irish, Italians, Jews, Polish, Chinese, or Cubans. Yes.

So what you're saying is we owe modern-day immigrants even more leniency and emigrating this country then all the aforementioned "good" immigrant countries. Well put, Sanchez. I couldn't agree more.

[Badger]

Innocent little girl attacked with tear gas by the fascist CBP. There really is no bottom for the criminal CBP.

Oh, boo hoo. Just because a couple kids are crying doesn't make the caravan less dangerous.

Is this your womp womp moment? It really is just as, well, insensitive really doesn't touch it.

You really should be ashamed of believing that. Please develop some empathy.

[Chinggis]

Didn’t Mexico already offer to settle the refugees in Mexico? As determined by international human rights organizations, Mexico is considered a safe location for refugees. You’re only supposed to relocate to the next closest safe country unless specifically offered refugee resettlement by a different nation state, thereby making these Central American refugees unworthy of claiming refugee status in America.

I fully support them being settled in a safe location where they can be free from physical harm and have opportunities to improve their lives. I also acknowledge that the crisis in Central America is largely of America’s making. So, if anything, a refugee resettlement sharing plan should be drawn up by the Mexican and American (and, arguably, Spanish) governments should this refugee situation continue to grow. We simply cannot allow them to be trapped in a dire situation, but we also can’t simply throw open borders either. It’s not helpful for anyone involved.

As for the violent altercations at the border, it strikes me as an excessive use of force as a way of signaling to others not to bother trying to cross from Mexico to the US. They could’ve prevented people from crossing without resorting to such methods as tear gas. And the refugees could’ve prevented this occurring by accepting Mexico’s offer.

The best post in the thread goes all but ignored. I do have one question- why were they waving the flags of their countries of origin? You'd think they would fly the United States flag for PR if nothing else.