Granny D on immigration

Truthout has a transcript of Doris "Granny D" Haddock's remarks at last weekend's Democracyfest in New Hampshire.

Granny D usually talks about campaign finance reform, but she took this opportunity to talk about "unauthorized immigration".

But why are so many people risking their lives to come into our country now? When did this big rush begin?

It began when Mr. Clinton approved NAFTA - the North American Free Trade Agreement - and when he militarized our southern border at the same time. Prior to these combined actions, families crossed the border very commonly and casually, especially during harvest seasons. After harvest, they would go home to Mexico or Central America because that's where they lived with their families in quite happy communities.

When the border was militarized, it became too risky to go back and forth. So they stayed.

Why did Mr. Clinton militarize the border? He did so because NAFTA was about to pull the rug out from under Mexico's small family farms.

Good point, Granny.