Immigration, criminals and "journalism"

Maria, at Dream Act Texas points out an article that I also read in the Los Angeles Times this morning that identifies family members of a murder victim as third generation San Franciscans in an article by staff writer Maria LaGanga, "'Sanctuary city' no haven for San Francisco family's grief.” Marie-Theresa Hernández relates her own story of a comment by a customs officer at the airport and then the author of Dream Act Texas then asks how many generations does it take for a family to be in a country to be respected? This is that answer that I posted as a comment:

I often tell the story of my immigrant family. Three brothers: Gideon, Frances, and Philip set out for a new life in a new country to plant and harvest crops. The journey must have been difficult as Gideon, the oldest of the three, died on the way, he must have been in his early 30s. Frances and Philip came here, married, planted and harvested crops, started businesses, had children. Some of their great grand children fought in a war--the American Revolution. These guys immigrated to the Americas in 1647. I cannot remember telling anyone that I am a 12th or 13th or 14th generation anything. It has never occurred to me that it was of any value how many generations my ascendants have been inhabitants of any certain geography. There are parts of this story that give me credibility with friends who are themselves immigrants.

In reference to your previous post about the LA Times article, I am completely baffled by why any legitimate news outlet is identifying suspected murderers by their immigration status. It makes as much sense to me as telling us what kind of shampoo they use. It does remind me of another time, when I was a child, in the 1960s when certain criminals were identified as negroes in the press. As if that explained it all.