Houston Democrats

Thank you Marguerite for bringing attention to Culberson's HR3622. When I took a look at the list of co-sponsors (47 as of 10:40 p.m.) I was not surprised to see my U.S. Representative, Ted Poe, on the list. This is way past my bedtime, but I just had to stay up and write a letter to Poe. Please take the time to make your own thoughts known to your Reps. Culberson needs to be removed from office and I hope that John Martinez will consider running against him once again. Poe also needs to be challenged, but since Nick Lampson is challenging Delay, we need a candidate in District 2. Any takers?

For those who are interested (and have the time), here is the text of my email to Poe:

Representative Poe:

I decided to write when I learned about your co-sponsorship of HR3622. Have you and your 48 colleagues co-sponsoring this bill truly considered the ramifications if this piece of legislation actually becomes law? Have you thought about the real consequences of having untrained persons patrolling the border areas of south Texas?

I am a 6th generation American who happens to have brown skin, brown eyes, brown hair and an Hispanic surname. I am a proud American, but I am equally proud of my Mexican ancestry. When I was growing up in south Texas (Crystal City), it was not uncommon for our family vehicle to be pulled over by Border Patrol officials for "random" checks; however, I never felt as if my life was in danger or that I would be summarily deported because I knew that these were trained law enforcement personnel. Aside from a derogatory comment or two and their sometimes surly dispositions, these Border Patrol Agents were trained professionals.

Representative Poe, I believe it is a mistake to give armed, untrained citizens the authority "to use any means and any force authorized by State law to prevent individuals from unlawfully entering the United States."

Although I now call Kingwood, TX my home, I frequently travel in south Texas to visit relatives, enjoy the sunsets, and hunt. Some of the best white-tail hunting in America takes place in Zavala County and the surrounding areas. I shudder to think that there may be some armed, racist, and psychologically unstable member of the "Border Protection Corps" (whose real reason for joining the militia was to declare open season on “Mexkins”), out patrolling the area that my family is hunting in. The thought of running into a member of the Minute Men Militia, Border Protection Corps, or some equally xenophobic “defender of homeland security” makes me shake in my hunting boots.

I am asking you, Representative Poe—no, I implore you—please reconsider your position on this bill. No good can come of this militia. Recent history teaches us that when you have people doing a job that they were not trained for, especially a job that involves the handling of weapons and personal discretion, bad things will happen.

Need I remind you of the senseless killing of an 18-year-old goat herder in Redford, TX in May of 1997? Ezequiel Hernandez, Jr. (an American citizen) was murdered on his own property by U.S. Marines conducting an anti-drug patrol. If U.S. Marines can make a mistake of this magnitude, what can we expect from untrained, gun-wielding, anti-immigrant (and possibly anti-latino) militias?

I look forward to hearing from you and pray that you will rescind your co-sponsorship of HR3622.

Respectfully,

Maria Antonia Medellin