Border Crossing Past

      This starts like many immigrant stories.   Miles and his family worked hard to have a good life, but were threatened by religious discrimination.  In desperation, Miles made the difficult choice to leave and start a new life in another country.  They crossed the border and made a new home in a different land.  He and his family had to learn a new language and a new culture.  It was not easy.  They were outsiders.  They built a community of people who shared the same past. They worked and built their own church. Miles applied for citizenship for his family, but was not accepted. 

       His family grew.  His grandson George was born in this new country.  Time passed, politics changed and this new home was no longer safe for them.  They moved back to their native country to try again.  The family was divided between two countries and became successful in both worlds.  What makes this story unusual is that it is about Miles Romney, an Anglo Mormon who immigrated to Mexico from the United States and then returned.  His grandson George Romney was born in Chihuahua, Mexico and crossed the border as a child to live in the US.  He went to college, became the head of American Motors and Governor of the State of Michigan. George Romney’s son is Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate for President. 

        With a border crossing family, why isn’t Mitt Romney more popular with Latinos?   Perhaps it is some of the things he said early in his race to become President.  When arguing against in-state college tuition for undocumented children who grew up in the US. He said "Illegal immigrants are takers. They take advantage of in-state tuition rates. They take spots in university campuses that should go to U.S. citizens. They take, take, and take some more."  Romney opposes the Dream Act and wants to make it much harder for undocumented workers to earn money so that they will “self-deport” from the US.