# Who is organizing/supporting the "caravan"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 22, 2018, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326 "2018-10-22T12:25:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/101 "2018-10-24T15:39:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How about the whole world? How about the whole galaxy? How about the _Entire universe?_ > > How about dropping the ridiculous extremes, and how about talking about what is actually going on here? How about you explaining what your point is? Surely you’re aware that policies have ramifications. And surely you’re aware that the thousands trying to make a run on America now are not the totality of people who would like to move here. You are aware of those two things, right? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/102 "2018-10-24T15:40:53Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > Oh no!!! Not Africa!! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/103 "2018-10-24T15:44:52Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > How about you explaining what your point is? Surely you’re aware that policies have ramifications. And surely you’re aware that the thousands trying to make a run on America now are not the totality of people who would like to move here. You are aware of those two things, right? I am aware that trying to draft a universal policy that pertains to any group of people in any situation is folly. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/104 "2018-10-24T15:55:44Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > With people coming here _legally._ Millions of people came through Ellis Island. Each was checked, tens, probably hundreds of thousands were denied entry. Presenting yourself at the border to apply for asylum is legal. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/105 "2018-10-24T15:59:47Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Presenting yourself at the border to apply for asylum is legal. I’m aware of that. The people I’m talking about here, as per about ten posts ago, are not those seeking asylum. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/106 "2018-10-24T16:01:02Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I am aware that trying to draft a universal policy that pertains to any group of people in any situation is folly. What do you think a “law” is? What do you think “policies” are for? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/107 "2018-10-24T16:12:24Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > What do you think a “law” is? What do you think “policies” are for? The law is an extremely large collection of rules and regulations designed(supposedly) to deal with many different situations and/or circumstances, said collection of rules and regulations being subject to changes and/or additions and/or subtractions as situations and/or circumstances change. Policies-pretty much the same. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/108 "2018-10-24T16:27:07Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The law is an extremely large collection of rules and regulations designed(supposedly) to deal with many different situations and/or circumstances, said collection of rules and regulations being subject to changes and/or additions and/or subtractions as situations and/or circumstances change. Policies-pretty much the same. So, the comment you made earlier than just makes no sense. Unless you think we should not have a policy for people trying to come into the U.S. Thanks for the confirmation. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/109 "2018-10-24T16:33:56Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > So, the comment you made earlier than just makes no sense. Unless you think we should not have a policy for people trying to come into the U.S. Thanks for the confirmation. No, we shouldn’t have “a” policy that covers all people despite the current circumstances/situation. I’m sorry that this makes no sense to you. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/110 "2018-10-24T16:44:45Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No, we shouldn’t have “a” policy that covers all people despite the current circumstances/situation. I’m sorry that this makes no sense to you. No one said that we need ONE policy to cover ALL people. We have multiple policies to cover different groups of people. And each of those policies has ramifications, which was my original point that you seemed to find problematic. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/111 "2018-10-24T16:48:56Z")
How about a policy that says anyone who makes it to the US or a US Port of entry can ask for asylum? ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/112 "2018-10-24T16:59:21Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Crazy talk. Why, that has only worked in the past every single time and literally defines the reason that the vast majority of us are here debating this in the first place. But, by god, these migrants are different. +1 ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/113 "2018-10-24T17:02:43Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > How about a policy that says anyone who makes it to the US or a US Port of entry can ask for asylum? That’s the law, but that’s problematic. If we were talking about those who have legitimate petitions for asylum, fine. But it invites great abuse. I think I read that the percent of people in the last year or so who had their potions granted was around 20%. The remainder are just trying to game the system. And that is the problem with the caravan. They are not all asylum seekers\> and an even smaller number are people seeking asylum who will be granted asylum. The reality is that they just want to come here because their home country sucks. That’s a legitimate reason for them to want to leave and try to come here, but not a legitimate reason that the U.S. must accept them. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/114 "2018-10-24T17:03:43Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > That’s the law, but that’s problematic. If we were talking about those who have legitimate petitions for asylum, fine. But it invites great abuse. I think I read that the percent of people in the last year or so who had their potions granted was around 20%. The remainder are just trying to game the system. And that is the problem with the caravan. They are not all asylum seekers\> and an even smaller number are people seeking asylum who will be granted asylum. The reality is that they just want to come here because their home country sucks. That’s a legitimate reason for them to want to leave and try to come here, but not a legitimate reason that the U.S. must accept them. I’m curious on how it is you know whether or not the people traveling in that caravan have a legitimate petition? ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/115 "2018-10-24T17:36:26Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I think I read that the percent of people in the last year or so who had their potions granted was around 20%. Well, if you think you read it, it must be a fact. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/116 "2018-10-24T20:49:18Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I know, bad idea. Although I dont know what we could do to help them. People mention the war on drugs but would making drugs legal really help the mass poverty down there? Making it advantageous for companies to move low paying manufacturing jobs to these blighted countries would go a long way towards helping their economies, but we seem to be moving in the opposite direction. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/117 "2018-10-24T21:05:40Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Making it advantageous for companies to move low paying manufacturing jobs to these blighted countries would go a long way towards helping their economies, but we seem to be moving in the opposite direction. Can you imagine being a politician in the U.S., touting, “If elected, I plan to move 300,000 low-paying manufacturing jobs to Guatemala?” Even “low-paying” won’t sugar coat that message. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/118 "2018-10-24T21:23:09Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > That’s the law, but that’s problematic. If we were talking about those who have legitimate petitions for asylum, fine. But it invites great abuse. I think I read that the percent of people in the last year or so who had their potions granted was around 20%. The remainder are just trying to game the system. Surely this is true, as you use the phrase, for anyone who tries something and is rejected by another: they were merely trying to “game the system”. That kid who applied to a college he didn’t get admitted to? Gaming the system. That guy who tried out for the NFL but didn’t make the cut? Gaming the system. Hillary Clinton was just “gaming the system” when she ran and lost, right? Just like Ted Cruz and John McCain and George Bush and Bob Dole… “system gamers” all, right? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/119 "2018-10-24T21:26:44Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > How about a policy that says anyone who makes it to the US or a US Port of entry can ask for asylum? I’m not sure about the “makes it to the US” part. If someone sneaks across the Rio Grande, spends the next 4 years living in Detroit (for example), finally gets detained by ICE, should they be able to then ask for asylum as they’re getting hauled away in cuffs and be treated the same as someone who presented themselves at a port of entry and requested it? ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326/120 "2018-10-24T21:28:44Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Can you imagine being a politician in the U.S., touting, “If elected, I plan to move 300,000 low-paying manufacturing jobs to Guatemala?” > Even “low-paying” won’t sugar coat that message. Of course not, that’s why it won’t happen. It could possibly be spun as “a trade agreement that would enable American manufacturers to lower prices for American consumers”, but probably not even then, Republicans are too invested in the lies about how millions of Americans need a minimum wage job making car batteries. But there doesn’t seem to be any acknowledgement of the fact that “bringing back” a lot of low paying jobs from Mexico and other countries hurts the economies of those countries and increases illegal immigration. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-organizing-supporting-the-caravan/823326.md?page=7)