There is an interesting dilemma regarding the Roma and immigration here in Mexico. I was just reading a printed article in some Catholic propaganda about the subject. This is not normally my preferred reading material, but the mention of Roma in Mexico caught my attention.

This document told the story of one Romani family whose situation is not unique. They were caught begging for money on the streets of Mexico City and were subsequently brought into Immigration offices. They did not have their papers in order and so were lined up to be deported to their country of origin.

Their country of origin? Where? India? You see this poses a problem because this particular family had been in Argentina. They left town for the same reason: deportation due to begging. In this family of 8, 2 children were born in Romania, another in Germany, another in Spain and the youngest in Argentina. The only legal documents they had were birth certificates from various countries. So the authorities decided to hold this problematic, itinerant family until they decided where to send them.

Roma do not fit into the neat and tidy immigration compartments we have created for them. We are talking about a people whose history is based on a nomadic lifestyle. Passports, visas and border crossings all pose significant challenges to the Roma who still travel.

There has been some talk among the leaders of Romani civil rights organizations of creating a new passport for the Roma or some kind of official document that takes their unique circumstances into consideration. There are other groups of Roma, such as Travellers, that are even more hindered by our political barriers than those in Mexico. However, given our ever-growing fear of terrorists, political insurgents and, well, even the poor, special consideration doesn’t seem very plausible.

I imagine that this family will experience what so many other Roma have experienced. They will be kicked out of one home after another without ever really having their cultural identity recognized. They will be unable to rise above poverty level and unable to create deeper ties with other Roma. They will be made invisible by our political institutions and left to find their way through the political limbo that we, as a society, have created for them.