Photo courtesy Arizona Highways Magazine
Award-winning journalist Terry Greene Sterling has lived in Arizona most of her life, and has long reported on the political brawls and human tragedies that have made Arizona the epicenter for the national immigration debate.
She was born into a cattle-ranching family that owned ranches on both sides of the border, and learned to speak Spanish at the same time she learned English. She has been a journalist for over 25 years, and has been honored with 49 national and regional journalism awards. She was named Virg Hill Journalist of the Year, Arizona’s highest journalism honor, three times. She was a staff writer for Phoenix New Times for 14 years, and then branched out on her own.
She is currently a contributor for The Daily Beast, and Writer-in-Residence at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Her work has also appeared in The Washington Post, Newsweek.com, salon.com, The Nieman Narrative Digest, PHOENIX Magazine, The Arizona Republic, Arizona Highways, High Country News, and Preservation Magazine.
She tweets @tgsterling and blogs about immigration in Arizona at terrygreenesterling.com.
Hi,
I discovered you via Twitter and really appreciate your perspective and information you provide (plus great photos that make me homesick).
I am a Latina raised in Tucson and Michigan, and I really really appreciate having a white ally who clearly cares about what is happening to immigrants, esp. on the southwestern border.
As a Latina who grew up in the SW and married an Mexican national, I have experienced racism my whole life. To see a white person openly recognize it….that it exists and is wrong…well it is a balm to the wounds I endure and gives me hope that justice will prevail. I was so surprised to see the content of your site and the twitter posts that I actually had to do a double-take at first. Then I followed you!
Thank you.
i finally got the chance to sit down and read a good hunk of this blog, and not surprisingly, it’s TERRIFIC and IMPORTANT and HONEST. terry is an amazing writer and reporter — you are in good hands, readers!
I’m honored to know you.
Terry –
Really enjoyed your website. Interesting, insightful, well-done. Congrats.
I’m the Gulf Coast Correspondent for USA TODAY, based in New Orleans. I’ve written about immigration issues in the past and I’m interested in doing some more, particularly out of Arizona or Texas.
What would you say are the top issues or stories out there at the moment? Any other people I should connect with?
Feel free to contact me via email: rjervis@usatoday.com.
Thanks in advance. Hope to hear from you.
Rick Jervis
USA TODAY
Your writing is compelling, as usual. Is there a solution to the “drug wars” or “war on drugs”? In the final analysis, do politicians on either side of the border really care? The deaths just become statistics and have become meaningless to other than family members.
I saw the “hate” mail you got. I’ve received similar “comments” when I write blog entries that are not in line with something like S.B. 1070.
It is a battle, as I see it. Hatred v. Compassion. Which will prevail, I cannot say.
I say hatred because just about all anti-immigrant people I have met absolutely refuse to take into account the integral human component. Let’s hope Brewer vetoes.
Thank you so very much for your blog. As a Mesan I and my family are constantly astounded and embarrassed by our ignorant elected monkeys. (Did you catch Cecil Ash on Anderson Cooper?!) We continue to fight against their tyranny. Their absurdity is stunning! Keep speaking out and know our family in Mesa is continuing to do the same. Thanks again so much!
I read the book – I could not put it down. I read it every chance I got – except sleeping, driving, and working. God Bless.
C
Thank you so much!
Hi there,
I found your website through a friend who added your page on Facebook. I am currently writing my dissertation on the “Coyote Statute”, and the social organization of smuggling groups that operate in Maricopa County. I was a criminal investigator for several years and I am relying on court case files and testimonies to provide an alternative analysis of human smuggling. After the news on the incident in Tamaulipas I was saddened and angered by our lack of memory and understanding of the processes involving migration, and the demonizing of smugglers by the states globally who have failed to assume responsibility for their roles in the death of migrants worldwide. While we cannot and should never forget violence occurs, and that it is a reality of migrant life, we must also understand it does not occur in a vacuum. I am convinced part of our discussion on im/migration has to include a better analysis and understanding of the migratory journeys and the social processes they involve. Good luck with your project!
The poll you have on the side bar is too complex to give a yes and no. We have problems in the USA with finances. It is not easy to say an unequivical no to “should the illegal immigrants be able to stay.” We have immigration rules. They allow about 1,000,000 people in a year. Mexico is fixing its problems by exporting its poverty. It is not fair to the USA to have to support people who stay past their visas, or come accross illegally. I believe that if an illegal immigrant wishes to stay here, they need to do what every other immigrant needs to do. I believe in helping the people be safe but they need to go to the end of the line. I have an “adopted” son (not legally) with whom I went to school. He went on and received a PHD in materials physics. He has been here since 1987. He got his PhD and then had to do what is called a “post doc” He was not able to get a green card until he had a “real job”….He worked for one of our National Labrotories (for the government!). A job came up from Sydney Austrailia. He is working with Grenoble France to build and implement a machine that only he can do. He had to move to Sydney and travel a lot to France….do you know that he will have to start all over again when he comes back. It will be 8-10 years again until he gets his citizenship. This man is a nuclear phycisit and has to wait….yes, I think that our illegal immigrants need to start from scratch. But that does not mean we should demean them in anyway. It does not mean we should not help them with food and water if they get into trouble. But they need to comply with the law, or the law needs to be changed for everyone.
Terry… I am proud to be related to you! Keep us informed in your most compelling, passionate way.
cousin Barbro
We are not doing our Mexican neighbors a favor by giving them a place to run away to. Why don’t they have the conviction, the fortitude and courage to stand up and fight for their country? Americans had to fight for this country and for the freedom and opportunities we have EARNED. We fought and died by the thousands against incredible odds, and most people at that time did not believe that we would prevail. My father fought two wars to preserve our freedom. He and other members of my family gave the ultimate sacrifice to preserve democracy and hold up a banner of freedom and liberty to the entire world!
Mexico could be a wonderful country. They have natural resources, a rich cultural heritage, a winter climate that would attract worldwide tourism, a coast line that could be a southern Riviera. They have a work force that could be used to build a world class manufacturing and agricultural dynamo. These people can be industrious and hardworking if they have a goal of prosperity and national pride. Why do they turn tail and run to America where they complain of being discriminated against and forced to hide under rocks? They need to organize and revolt within Mexico. They need to get rid of the corrupt Mexican government that is destroying their country. Kill the drug lords and stop the destruction. By giving the illegal Mexican immigrants this “compassionate” escape – we have defeated them – and permanently placed them in the category of “second-class” unwelcome and undocumented criminals. Instead of the Amnesty Dream Act – we should encourage college graduates to return to Mexico and save their own Country!! We should develop programs that encourage our Universities and our governments work together to strengthen democracy and freedom in Mexico. That is a win/win scenario. Repeated rounds of amnesty and the current Federal “open border” approach will destory both of our countries.
I have long believed that if the Mexicans were to organize a grass roots militia, create serious civil unrest in Mexico, and take down their corrupt government through revolution – many Americans would wholeheartedly support their efforts with money, arms, and technology. I think that what we need to have is “Operation Mexican Freedom” as opposed to going over to Iraq and Afghanistan, and trying to give freedom to people who obviously don’t want it, and don’t believe in it. We are wasting our resources trying to live next to corrupt nation that will do nothing but continue to deplete our resources and invade the U.S.A.
If Mexicans want what we have in America – why don’t they get off their butts and build up Mexico instead of tearing the United States down and bankrupting the border states of America?
I agree. Kill the sons of bitches and their families. ALL OF THEM. Make them afraid to show their punk ass faces. Make Escobar a better example. Better yet…why don’t you sob’s come to my town and let me show you punks how we can deal with the piece of shit you and your shitty family can and WILL be dealt with. Bring it on assholes!!!!!!!!!
I do a small section for the local newspaper and have written about Illegal Immigration many times. I spent many hours researching the problem of Illegal Immigration and I need to know one thing:
You do understand that they are breaking the laws of the United States Right ??
There are laws that hold people accountable, Ex. Drive to fast on the road;Get a ticket.
Rob a bank; Get Arrested, Shoplift from a store; Get Arrested, Don’t pay a parking ticket; lose your license,
Yet…..Cross the border Illegally; And nothing really happens.
I am for lawful immigration, Not Illegal.
Andy Williams
Terry:
You and I go back a long way, to the 80s, when you were with New Times and I was with Salt River Project. I ran across your story about Sheriff Dupnik. Good to see you are still calling things as you see them and trying to keep everyone honest.
My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
While I have your attention, thank you for your efforts to bring reason to the debate about immigration. If a simple solution existed, we’d be there already. It’s far more complex, and your work helps us understand it so we have a chance of moving forward.
We all appreciate what you’ve done for Arizona.
LC
Spare us all your liberal, bleeding heart for all ILLEGAL hispanics in this country. Those of us who are REAL Americans, who didn’t jump a fence to get here are SICK and TIRED of paying for these no good ILLEGAL lowlifes….WE will get OUR message heard over your pathetic crap. NO more ANCHOR BABIES!!! NO more having our Tax Dollars go to ILLEGAL SPICS!!
G Sanchez. Have you read Moving Millions by Jeffery Kayes?
I stumbled upon you while reading about Deborah Laake. Just by chance I came across
her book recently. I didn’t know anything about her life after the book, or death.
But finding your writing about her death was not surprising. Hers was a book more
about her than the LDS. Glad to know she had friends who knew who she was.