[Dryerase] Eye on the INS

[Alarm!Wires]

Eye on the INS, July 26
A weekly forum to discuss the INS and immigration policy

Picnics and Bureaucrats

By Michelle Stewart
The Alarm! Newspaper Collective

A few weeks ago, I was stunned to hear about the 150-year-anniversary 
celebration at San Quentin State Penitentiary. Just as I began to come 
to terms with my frustration over that event, I was shocked again by a 
story out of El Paso about the pending Paso al Norte Immigration Museum 
being created by the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) and the 
Smithsonian. But how do the celebration of the anniversary of a 
death-row prison and the creation of a borderlands museum relate to each 
another?

My frustration about both of these items is that they rely on such an 
overwhelming sense of denial. How does one decide to “celebrate” a 
prison’s anniversary, go to events, eat cake, and go on tours of the 
“public” areas? Especially considering that during these festivities 
there are people locked up inside, serving time, possibly sitting on 
death row. I realize that for some the bare bones of the matter is that 
criminals are criminals, and they must serve their time. Well, I am not 
the first to say it, but the actual fact of the matter is that the 
criminal justice system is inherently flawed. Statistics in the US read 
that one out of every three African American men under the age of thirty 
has served or is serving time in jail; this is a statistic that demands 
that we explore the fundamental flaws in the justice system and the 
socio-economic conditions that allow for such statistics—not celebrate 
the anniversary of a jail.

When I began reading about the Paso al Norte Immigration Museum, I was 
initially excited. I thought a museum being built along the border in 
the coming years would be really dynamic. However, as I read through the 
supporting documentation, I became less than impressed and began to 
recall my outrage at the San Quentin event. At an event last year Diana 
Natalicio, the president of UTEP, told the story of how she came up with 
the idea for the museum after reading a solicitation letter for the 
Ellis Island Museum. “I was suddenly struck by the fact that there was 
no place where immigration across the southern border was commemorated, 
as immigration from Europe is celebrated—and honored—at Ellis Island.” 
She was struck by the obvious and missed the complexity of the matter, a 
fact that shows quite prominently in the planning stages of this museum.

The Paso al Norte Immigration Museum is being referred to as the Ellis 
Island of the Southwest. I don’t know why. As an immigrant processing 
center, Ellis Island is closed.  Its deeds are referred to in the past 
tense. El Paso, on the other hand, is still a very active border. As for 
Natalicio’s comment about the celebration of the southern border (and 
its migrants), does she really believe there is a national celebration 
occurring? Perhaps the UTEP president needs to read the headlines more 
often to recognize the current rhetorical tone toward the southern 
immigrant. To compare today’s Southern border to yesterday’s Ellis 
Island is preposterous for numerous reasons.

Last year after the president of UTEP spoke at an event to announce the  
project, the Smithsonian came forward with a rather ridiculous 
statement: “... UTEP is currently coordinating a binational effort to 
develop the museum, but ultimately, the project is envisioned as an 
independent institution symbolizing the aspirations of all immigrants.”  
How in the world can the Smithsonian think that this one museum can 
summarize the aspirations of all immigrants—all of them? This is either 
a case of absolute ignorance when it comes to the actual experiences of 
many southern border crossers and other immigrants, or the Smithsonian 
truly believes that what the US offers (insert some nationalist’s pride 
item) creates a baseline experience for every single border crosser. I 
could go on, at length, about how ridiculous that statement was, 
however, with a little thought anyone can tear it apart.

My chief concern is the way in which ignorance will influence this new 
project. Just as blind belief in the justice system allowed for people 
to celebrate the anniversary of a prison, I fear this museum will allow 
for people to position immigration issues as things of the past.

All of the information available about the Paso al Norte Immigration 
Museum indicates it will be a museum dedicated to preserving local and 
family history. The museum is currently drafting a feasibility study 
while also beginning to solicit historical documents from locals. For 
all intents and purposes, it seems that the stories of immigrants will 
be told through a historical lens. What, then will be said about today’s 
immigration policy? Will there be two wings: one for the past, and 
another for the present? But most importantly, will there be a critique 
of the INS?

Will there be a section called “La Migra Today?” The walls could be 
filled with pictures of bodies lying in the desert, a small sign post 
could state “Operation Gatekeeper: Death Toll 600 and rising...”.  
Another area could have dramatic, mounted pictures along with a photo 
essay to tell the story of families split apart. Maybe there could be an 
enclosed interactive space to highlight the feel of an INS raid; there 
could be another closed off area with an audio relay of deportation 
hearings. Could there also be a dark room at the end of a hall, that no 
one is allowed to enter or that people are chosen at random to be forced 
to enter—which would be the detainment camp?

How do we build a historical, immigration museum in today’s immigration 
environment? I fear this museum will open in the coming years without 
unpacking contemporary immigration policy. The museum is also just a 
short-distance drive from Ciudad Juarez, the site of one of the largest 
serial killings in North America. The body count continues to rise, 
while both the border and its industries are implicated in the crime. 
But perhaps the deaths of nearly 300 women,  and the disappearance of 
hundreds more, is not good for a museum’s image. Perhaps the installment 
would be disturbing—the road to a maquiladora lined with grave markers 
and women’s bodies.

I think the idea of a borderlands museum is amazing. However, it would 
require guts and wisdom to critique the southern border and immigration 
policy.

In the next five to ten years, the Paso al Norte Immigration Museum will 
open its doors. Hopefully, at that point the vision of these planners 
(today) will not influence the entire project. For I fear people will 
sit on the lawn of this museum and have a picnic, thinking how silly the 
INS used to be and how quaint the southern border crosser was in the 
1890s. This would be no less disturbing than the people who packed cake 
into their mouths while “touring” San Quentin just a few weekends ago.

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Beginning next week this column will shared between two columnists: 
Carlos Arment and Michelle Stewart. Thematically the column will remain 
the same; however, the voice of the commentary will rotate weekly. 
Carlos will be wrting in Spanish, and I will continue writing in 
English. The intention of this column from the get-go was to provide a 
means to instigate dialogue on issues surrounding immigration and the 
INS. I am excited to have Carlos join me in this forum and hope you find 
our different perspectives and voices to be thought-provoking. Please 
remember your comments are welcomed at michelle at the-alarm.com.

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