Jackson Free Press

Colonial Terrace Apartments resident Angella Rector speaks with a slow southern drawl that drips of mobile home and Larry the Cable Guy. The redhead married her husband, Juan Espanoza, two years ago. They lived on a tight family budget with their three children before U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested Espanoza last weekend for being in the country illegally.

Rector said Espanoza worked hard on various construction jobs in and around the Jackson area before ICE busted him during a four-day raid last weekend that included Rankin County, specifically in the apartment complexes and trailer parks near or in the city of Pearl. Together, Rector said, she and her husband managed to keep their bills paid and avoid the need for government assistance for their children, who, like Rector, were born American citizens. Without him, however, her income isn't enough.

"It irritates me how they say Mexicans are coming over here taking public assistance, but when they're taking daddies away (and) that ... leaves the Momma," Rector said. "If I go to work—I (work) right now—but if I go to work now how am I supposed to pay a baby-sitter to take care of my three kids and pay my bills, my rent?"

ICE announced the arrest of 57 men and one woman, ranging in ages from 17 to 71, over the course of the weekend: 40 from Mexico, nine from Guatemala and four from Honduras. Other people arrested come from Panama, Peru, Costa Rica and El Salvador. ICE reports that seven of those arrested this past weekend had returned after being deported previously.

Brown University's US 2010 project, which uses Census 2010 data, reports that the city of Pearl's Hispanic population increased from 446 individuals in 2000 to 1,598 in 2010. A portion of the new population consists of undocumented immigrants working temporary jobs. Mississippi Immigrants Rights Community organizer Ulises Hernandez Rincon said the majority of unregistered workers do not jump a fence to enter the country but, instead, managed to land steady work, and could not bear to surrender their jobs after their temporary work visas expired.

Rector's children, who are ages 1, 3 and 5, will be going to school soon, if she decides to stay in Pearl. However, the city of Pearl may not be happy to have her or her kids in town if her single-parent income can't sustain a two-bedroom apartment.

The city passed an ordinance last year limiting bedroom occupancy in residential premises to two occupants per bedroom. It applies to houses, apartments and manufactured homes, restricts a man and wife who are expecting a child from living in a single-bedroom apartment without a special permit from the director of community development in the Department of Code Enforcement.

The director can refuse to grant the permit if other property with more sufficient bedroom capacity is available within city limits, without regard to the potential price increase residents face for multiple-bedroom apartments. The fine for violating the ordinance can be up to $1,000 or 90 days in jail, and each day of noncompliance counts as a separate offense. The price for applying for a Pearl Code Enforcement special permit is $50.

Pearl City Attorney Jim Bobo said last year that the ordinance targets unscrupulous landlords who attempt to pile numerous beds into a single dwelling, creating an unsafe environment, but Chandler said the ordinance clearly targets low-income Latinos.

Bear Atwood, interim legal director for the ACLU of Mississippi, said the ordinance gives too much power to the community development director who may value traditional families and could restrict unmarried, gay and lesbian couples, and large extended families.

"We want to be treated as humans, not as trash," said Herrero, a recent U.S. citizen.

Conservatives in the Mississippi House and Senate have pushed laws in previous sessions and new bills this session that discourage undocumented residency. The Legislature passed a law in 2008 that makes holding a job while being an undocumented resident a felony carrying a prison term of up to five years, a fine of up to $10,000 or both. That same law, is more forgiving to employers of undocumented workers, who suffer the risk of canceled state contracts and ineligibility for future contracts for up to three years and the possibility of the revocation of the employer's business license for up to one year as a consequence of non-compliance, but no jail time or fines beyond covering the costs to the state for canceled contracts.

This year, the House and Senate are considering different versions of a controversial Arizona law that force police in the state to request residency documentation at routine traffic stops and public interdictions. The House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 2179 last month, but stripped a section that would allow citizens to sue local law enforcement and public officials for not enforcing federal immigration laws. House members say the section puts undue legal pressure on municipalities and local governments. The House inserted a provision allowing citizens to take a business to court for hiring undocumented workers.

Senate Republicans, including bill author Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, said last month the new House-inserted section now puts undue legal pressure on businesses.

Previous Comments

ID

162375

Comment

Miss Rector ought to mad at "Daddy" for being here illegally and she wouldn't have to turn to public assistance. Totally his fault not ICE's.

Author

BubbaT

Date

2011-03-02T19:05:00-06:00

ID

162390

Comment

"...that drips of mobile home and Larry the Cable Guy." Really?

Author

Krystal

Date

2011-03-03T14:01:07-06:00

ID

162430

Comment

Nice editorializing there, Mr. Lynch. Where's the objectivity that journalists are supposed to employ in reporting the news? It's neither necessary nor proper to make such comments about this lady's speech or her living situation. You should offer an apology.

Author

Darryl

Date

2011-03-06T16:25:19-06:00

ID

162432

Comment

Krystal and Darryl, For once the JFP sounds politically incorrect and you get offended? Grow up or grow a pair. It's just words. Yet, you aren't offended by our government wasting taxpayer's money by attempting to remove hardworking labor.

Author

jbreland

Date

2011-03-06T16:42:16-06:00

ID

162433

Comment

To jbreland, I have a pair, thank you. And if a similarly worded article was submitted by another news source the readership on this forum would be all up in arms wailing at the insensitivity being bandied about. And, regarding the crux of the article, I am delighted to see my taxes going to enforcing the rules of this country. Hardworking or not, if someone is here illegally then that is not fair to the citizens and workers who are here legally.

Author

Darryl

Date

2011-03-06T18:05:32-06:00

ID

162434

Comment

jbreland - I don't recall voicing any opinion on immigration at all in my comment. My comment was about a style issue in the article. And politically incorrect is not the way I'd choose to describe the characterization to which I was referring. I feel that beginning the whole article with that sort of characterization had the effect distracting the reader from anything else that follows. Either this issue is a really hot button for you, otherwise you wouldn't make it your business to make assumptions about people's genitalia and/or maturity over an argument that doesn't exist. I also think it's telling you feel "it's just words." Words are powerful and move people to great things and to terrible things. Very powerful, indeed. This fact speaks to the success of this publication whose readership finds the simple power of validity in an environment where they may otherwise feel powerless. Words carry a hefty weight and often do more to characterize the speaker/author than the subject of description, especially when the chosen words jolt you from engaging in the meat of the article, and instead, cause you to speculate on the motives of the author. This was my experience in this particular case.

Author

Krystal

Date

2011-03-06T18:54:25-06:00

ID

162435

Comment

And I really have to recuse myself on the subject of the article anyway. I'm a product of hardworking Mexican immigrant labor in this country. Two generations ago my great grandfather came here to work the railroad It was terrible job that killed him in his fifties, leaving 13 children and a widow. Some of his progeny have gone on to do amazing things for this country, and I just can't extract myself from this intimacy with the subject to make an objective decision about my stance.

Author

Krystal

Date

2011-03-06T19:00:34-06:00

ID

162436

Comment

Jackson, quit telling other people what is supposed to offend them or not. That's not your proclamation to make; speak for yourself. As for the characterization, I believe Adam was trying to be descriptive, not offensive (it's not like he or I or most people at the JFP come from folks who look down on people who live in mobile homes (I spent much of my childhood in trailers, and I suspect he did, too.) I apologize to anyone who found it offensive, and I can see that it wasn't the best way to describe Ms. Rector, and I will speak to him about it. As for the idea that any journalist can possibly be "objective," that's a lie foisted on you by people who are pretending to be, but show subjectivity in every journalistic decision they make. We don't play that game; we focus on reporting the truth, in very descriptive ways, and let the chips fall where they may. As for "politically incorrect," that phrase is so bastardized that it's meaningless at this point. It is usually used by someone who is defending very offensive speech as a way to change the subject. The phrase doesn't belong in intelligent dialogue in the 21sth century.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-06T21:08:11-06:00

ID

162437

Comment

"Jackson, quit telling other people what is supposed to offend them or not. That's not your proclamation to make; speak for yourself." -- Donna I really, really, really, like this statement. Really!

Author

Queen601

Date

2011-03-07T09:29:42-06:00

ID

162438

Comment

"Reporting the truth." What a concept! Makes sense to me though... We need more of that. I just read an article about Canada's Prime Minister's attempts to repeal a law that forbids lying on broadcast news so Fox News could broadcast up there. That's priceless! They can't exist in Canada because it is illegal to LIE on broadcast news! Wow! LINK

Author

Tre

Date

2011-03-07T09:35:52-06:00

ID

162445

Comment

"Senate Republicans, including bill author Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, said last month the new House-inserted section now puts undue legal pressure on businesses." So the house allowing citizens to sue a business for hiring illegal workers puts legal pressure on businesses? Far from undue legal pressure IMO. When you break the law isn't feeling the legal pressure as a result of it a big part of what is called justice served? Employers that hire illegals do so for bigger profit at the expense of legal workers in the community. It results in less competitive wages, tax revenue loss resulting in decreased quality and higher costs of public services. Also results in less jobs for legal workers which may have to draw on social assistance which impacts legal immigrants and US citizens on state and national levels with higher taxes and deficits. It's the "people" living legally in this country that should have as much or greater rights to go after these crooked businesses through the judicial system causing them to feel the legal pressure for screwing us over.

Author

HooYoo2say

Date

2011-03-07T22:17:37-06:00

ID

162446

Comment

Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall either has stunted vision or he's backing business to give them wiggle room to hire or retain illegal workers with only public officials allowed to decide how much pressure they should feel for screwing all legal workers in America. That is a very lame argument and he deserves to be called out for it If these fat cat businesses follow the law instead of their illegally gained profits they won't have to worry about "undue legal pressure". If they didn't hire illegals our country's immigration troubles would be minimal. If they can't make a living or receive gov't asst how many would leave? It's elected officials like Sen. Fillingane who continue to run cover for the businesses that have contributed most to our illegal immigration woes. Of course they will stay beyond their visas if employers allow them to keep working. We've got a politician problem much bigger than an immigration problem.

Author

HooYoo2say

Date

2011-03-07T22:28:41-06:00

ID

162447

Comment

I think the trailer and cable guy characterization was out of line. That would be appropriate if running a series of articles or reporting on a person or family's life in general. ei; Diane Sawyer's special on the lives of the struggling and generational poverty that exists in Appalachian Mountain communities.It would have a place if you were writing a novel and needed a character description. Would you have inserted your little "trailer trash" characterization if this woman lived in a low rent apartment in Madisan, Flowood Brandon etc.? Believe it or not they have them maybe just not as many as Pearl. Somehow I personally believe you would not have added that as a preface. The woman doesn't even live in a mobile home but you succeeded in offending everyone in MS who does. And that's a lot. Personally I believe you owe Angela Rector and apology.

Author

HooYoo2say

Date

2011-03-07T22:52:48-06:00

ID

162448

Comment

They say filling out the census no matter whether you are here illegally or not will not carry any repurcussions. If Brown University is making public exactly how much the hispanic population has increased even is such a small town as Pearl it sounds like micro targeting. I would think that cities have more information and data on their residents in the name of the Patriot Act and heavy Homeland Security expansions than most think. If a city like Pearl sees their records don't jive with census information it seems there may be repurcussions. Sounds like they may have sought out an apartment community with a larger number of Hispanic residents than what was on record and could have followed them to their place of work. I'm just saying it could be possible with access to detailed residence information. I'm not a proponent of illegal immigration. My concern is this census information that they claim is used solely for population information,redestricting and determining representation in Washington may be being used for more purposes than disclosed. That's a little concerning.

Author

HooYoo2say

Date

2011-03-07T23:30:37-06:00

ID

162457

Comment

There are a lot of questions to be asked in this. How was she able to marry someone that's in this country illegally? Do they not ask for ID or documentation when you apply for a marriage license? If they do, his would obviously have been fake, no? And if they're married, why isn't her last name Espanoza instead of Rector? While I feel for her and the kids, the fact is her husband was here illegally. He broke the law. When you break the law, you suffer the consequences. The ACLU and the Mississippi Immigrants Rights organization can fuss all they want but it's the current law and it's being broken. And who is the Herrero person quoted in this article? He's not mentioned anywhere else in the article except a one-line quote. And regarding his quote, "We want to be treated as humans, not as trash", I'd say you should be treated as humans anywhere and everywhere, but if you aren't here legally, you should also go back to your country. I know it says he is a recent U.S. citizen so that's fine, but for the others that aren't, it applies.

Author

LambdaRisen

Date

2011-03-08T13:37:23-06:00

ID

162459

Comment

I don't know about any of you, but I think if I happened to live in some parts of Mexico, I would do ANYTHING to go somewhere else.

Author

Krystal

Date

2011-03-08T14:26:36-06:00

ID

162463

Comment

Lambda, there you go again about immigrants. Please know that I know who you are, and you don't need to go off the deep end against immigrants as you did under a different name in the past. As for having a different last name from your spouse, people do that a lot these days, you know. I even know some gay married couples who use different names. Speaking of, I'm really happy that many people out there interested in rights of all sorts of people aren't as quick as you are to defend laws no matter how heinous they are toward particular groups. And, you know, we've discussed the whole problem with "illegal" in the past, although you anti-immigrants just ignore the little problems with your logic.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-08T14:43:38-06:00

ID

162464

Comment

I don't know who you think I am but I assure you this is the first time I've said anything about immigrants, illegal or otherwise, on this site, that I recall. And to be honest, I don't know of any married gay couples with the same last name since last I heard, it was against the law in Mississippi for gay couples to be married. I also don't know of any married straight couples who use different last names. When did this start happening? I was always under the assumption that upon marriage and by law, the wife took the last name of the husband.

Author

LambdaRisen

Date

2011-03-08T15:00:37-06:00

ID

162465

Comment

Ah, perhaps a state of mistaken identity, or perhaps not, Lambda. ;-) I didn't say gay couples could legally marry in Mississippi; I believe you've said in the past that you'd like them to be able to, no? I also don't know of any married straight couples who use different last names. When did this start happening? LOL. That's all.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-03-08T16:13:35-06:00

ID

162483

Comment

I was always under the assumption that upon marriage and by law, the wife took the last name of the husband. Bless your heart! NO. Not law. In fact, my mother retained her maiden name when getting married. Her legal name and her husband's are not the same. Also, it is up to the couple to decide the last name they will use. After I was married, I went to social security and was able to change my name based upon my marriage certificate. If I had not gone, my name would still be my maiden name. There is no name change involved in 'marriage' that is mandated by law. But, I just LOVE that you think there is!! Patriarchy at its BEST!

Author

Lori G

Date

2011-03-09T10:32:22-06:00

ID

162490

Comment

Larry the Cable Guy isn't even Southern--he's from Nebraska. Keep your stereotypes straight! :P

Author

JDLW

Date

2011-03-09T15:00:25-06:00