#1446 – The Expat Files: Protests, Identity, and the American Dream

Automatically transcribed from the original recording; names and wording may contain errors.

[00:00] South of the border down Mexico way That's where I fell in love when the stars above came up to play and now I wonder Hello there all you ex-pad wannabes. I'm Johnny Mueller and you're listening to the expat files living in Latin America The show that tells you just what it's like to live work play and or retire down here in Latin America It's a mix of the good the bad the ugly and the great and it's all right here. So let's get started Alright, so what's in the news these days? What's on everybody's mind? Why those riots are so-called peaceful protests Yeah, right in Los Angeles and other big cities up in the states and now it's spreading worldwide Well, I'm not up there. I'm a couple of thousand miles away here in Latin America

[00:48] But I've got many listeners who are up in California right now and they're reporting in Here's one that came in last night from Darien in Los Angeles He says Johnny you want to know what's really happening in Los Angeles and the rest of big cities where there are immigration Protests and attacks against ice I see first he says as a third generation Latino myself Born raised and living in California. I'm able to tell the truth without being called a racist I can be honest and call out the problems migrant Latinos are causing Sort of like how blacks can use the n-word all day long I repeat as a third generation Latino living in California. I can tell you what's happening in Los Angeles I'll tell you who those people are. They're mostly first-generation Latino citizens who got their citizenship based on the current

[01:41] birthright Citizenship understanding of the 14th Amendment, although I think the Supreme Court will likely overturn that ruling soon Since it's gotten so out of control and has opened the floodgates the cause of what many referred to as an anchor baby business And it is a business Darien goes on to say I can tell you as a fact that most of the protesters parents Were mostly illegal immigrants who were in the country a long time and got legalized through one of the various presidential Pardons or decrees some of their parents did anyway back in a Carter Regan and Bush days All of those previous presidents had illegal alien amnesty programs and Johnny since most of the Protesters parents speak Spanish at home and most if not all live in exclusively Latin

[02:28] Neighborhood Spanish-speaking pockets and barrios in US big cities, etc. Etc Because of that fact and because of their culture at home the great majority of protesters have more kinship and alliance to their parents own native mother country and If you've ever visited those Latin pockets in American big cities, you know what? I mean, it is like stepping into or visiting a Latino country those Latino pockets in big cities Do not bear much cultural resemblance to middle-class white or black America You could live your whole life in one of those Latino big-city barrios and never have to speak a word of English those Latino barrios and bubbles are Basically cities within a city a lot of the people living there might be American citizens on paper

[03:16] But they have almost no allegiance or commonalities with America itself It's just a place they live do business and make money in their hearts. They're Hondurans Guatemalans Mexicans, etc Another thing those protesters mostly first-generation Latinos they solidly identify with their parents and relatives home country often a place they've never been to themselves and Yet, they're proud to raise that flag I repeat they feel their identity is closer linked with other countries most likely because their parents family members and friends are Illegal immigrants who are still living under the jurisdiction of those foreign countries the countries They left or emigrated from remember if they lack the proper legal documents to reside in America Then they are still under their foreign country jurisdiction and US law says they can be deported at any time for almost any reason

[04:06] But their u.s. Born children being American citizens They can protest all day long and can't get deported anywhere the advantage of being an anchor baby again, Johnny I don't have the actual numbers. No one does But it's fact and people are talking here on the streets of Los Angeles saying that it's not the illegal immigrants Who are doing the protesting but the children of illegals who are American citizens? The other groups of protesters in the mix are the free Palestine Antifa and BLM rabble and naturally Trump hating rabble rousers people who simply want to use any protest at all to cause chaos and destruction Many it's been shown are paid professional activists funded by the 501c3 and NGO

[04:53] organizations Then Darien says something very interesting. He says Johnny. I'm in marketing and sales And here's what I know for sure those pre-printed signs show what kind of organizational effort Serious effort that went into this those three color signs the protesters are holding take a minimum of 24 hours to print and ship He says I know the numbers for example the cost for a hundred three color signs that you might need urgently Like the ones the protesters are carrying is a minimum of $400 plus shipping Which means those three color signs were ordered printed shipped and paid for at the very latest last Sunday Ask yourself Johnny who's paying for these signs and who thought to order them who thought to pay for them who thought to organize this

[05:40] Who thought to receive them via shipping and pass them out so quickly someone should check the signs themselves They always have a tiny little production or manufacturing logo on them It would be easy enough to check back with that company and trace the order you think anyone might do that like a reporter Well, not a reporter from the LA Times. That's for sure They're woke and all in sympathy with the protesters And finally Darien says just a little fact most people don't know Are you aware is anyone aware that in Los Angeles 40% of all residents are foreign-born? Latinos that's right foreign-born Latinos and like me anyone that lives here knows at least half of those came illegally Anyway, Johnny. Love your show. Just wanted to give you my two-sensor. Should I say my two pesos since that's what California's turned into

[06:30] Darien thanks for that depressing analysis again that points us back to that all-important question. How is your plan B coming? The other question that comes up frequently from gringles and expats with plan B's still living up in the states They say Johnny what do Latin Americans living in Latin America think about the riots and the protests going on in LA and other cities up in the states. Yep. They're all hearing about it, too It's on their fake book and tick-tock newsfeeds. Well, guess what? It's creating a strange effect Most Latinos and Latinas have talked to aren't now having doubts about what they previously considered the American dream You know the idea that if you could only make it across the border to the United States Anywhich way legal or not opportunities are everywhere. The streets are paved with gold

[07:16] Well, I'm not hearing much about that old American dream concept anymore Latin Americans down here are not liking what they're seeing on their newsfeeds and I'll tell you just two days ago I was out at a coffee shop with my girlfriend and her Latina friend who happens to be married to a Spanish guy Yep from Spain and there was another Latina a psychologist who I didn't know tagging along And of course through the night to where lots of different conversations going on and I heard at least three times The Spanish guy the lady married to the Spanish guy and the psychologist Mentioned what was happening up in the US and saying that Trump was evil. Yeah, Trump is evil for tossing out illegal immigrants Well, I didn't add my two cents. I just let him talk because you know, it's fodder for this show then, isn't it? Anyway, when Latinos down here see on their newsfeeds the troops rolling into Los Angeles

[08:08] When they see the looting and the burning cars, etc. Etc. I'm hearing from Latinos down here Especially the women that so-called American dream concept is falling apart Which is a good thing that he turned to those vast waves of illegal immigrants that we saw in the news practically every day during the Biden administration because look every one of those illegals was motivated by the American dream Right and as that dream fades in the eyes of Latinos, it should voluntarily stem the flow of illegal immigrants Hey, nothing wrong with trying to immigrate legally But illegally, nope, that's breaking the law. I say kick the illegals out. Kick them all out Unless of course the Democrats and the woke winers would like to set up and adopt an illegal program That would work if you're a bleeding heart and you're all for keeping illegals in the country

[08:57] Then there should be a law that you have to adopt one. Hell. There's plenty to go around Practically an unlimited supply. Hell in Los Angeles alone. What's that number 40% man? If that makes me a racist everyone who doesn't want any legal living next door is a racist Racist man has that word lost its power. All right, speaking of gringo expats and illegal immigrants Here's a good rant from Wally. Just sent me this email yesterday. He said Johnny I'm a gringo expat living in Guatemala for six years now and loving it been thinking a lot lately about Residency and citizenship, you know every country in Latin America requires you to prove that you are financially independent to get residency They don't want freeloaders That's the huge difference between their immigration policies Latin American immigration policies and ours in the USA

[09:47] Funny how Latin American countries want immigrants with brains perseverance creativity, etc Not people with an eighth grade education whose only skills are having kids and picking pineapples and bananas Does that sound racist or classist Johnny? Well, sorry for you if it feels that way But it's written in Latin American immigration law common get residency you gringos and foreigners You're very welcome here, but you're doing it with your own money and resources not ours There will be no free medical no free welfare and no food stamps for you You've got to prove you can support yourself before we're gonna give you a residency By the way, Johnny, it's no coincidence You need to prove a constant permanent income of from 1,000 to 1,500 a month depending on the Latin American country

[10:37] You wish to apply for residency Oddly enough it turns out to be about three times the minimum wage in those particular Latin countries So obviously that dollar minimum for residency has been chosen for a reason Because three times the average wage is considered upper middle class in those Latin American countries If a local Latino makes three times the minimum wage in his country, he's doing very very well So it doesn't seem a coincidence that Latin American governments have chosen their minimum income requirements for residency at three times the current wage even though three times the minimum wage in Latin America is considered borderline poverty in the States Imagine if US immigration had the same standards saying to foreigners who want to get residency in the US

[11:24] They must prove a continuous permanent outside income of a hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year Three times the average United States income What a game-changer that would be if that were true only foreigners with brains and proven skills would need apply Though you can bet that would be deemed racist and classist by half the US population The woke half but no one calls Latin American countries racist for doing so It's totally normal for Latin American countries to set high standards when foreigners apply for residency I'm mentioning this Johnny because I had to jump through a number of hoops to get my Guatemalan residency It can drag on and on it took me about a year and a half I had a time-lapse problem with some of the documents

[12:10] I needed to get a past sealed when you start the residency process the clock is ticking on certain documents Guatemalan immigration authorities will only process those documents if they're less than six months old in My case because Guatemalan officials were sleeping on the job or whatever time ran out on my FBI report And I had to resubmit another one causing such a delay that subsequently pushed my marriage Certificate over the six-month time limit and I had to get another one of those A past sealed all over again. It all worked out in the end. The wife and I do have permanent residency All's well that ends well signed Wally M Alright Wally. Thanks for that and welcome to Latin America By the way, Wally you mentioned amnesty programs under different US presidents where tens of thousands even hundreds of thousands of illegals in the US

[13:02] With the stroke of a presidential pen were given amnesty and thus became permanent US residents Well, while you failed to mention that would never happen in a Latin American country There would never be a president that would one day say hey, here's an idea Let's let all the illegals in our country and all the Americans and Brits and Canadians and Australians who have overstayed their visas Let's give them amnesty and their legal residency papers Nope, that's never happened once in any of the 20 Latin American countries But it's happened four or five times now up in the US. What do you think about that? Well, I've got a theory that seems to explain it At least the reason why Latin American countries will never have amnesty programs for illegals in their country

[13:48] It's because when a tourist or first-world person overstays his visa in a Latin American country And believe me that happens all the time happen to me a number of times Anyway, that happens to so many visitors and tourists. It's a huge source of income for that country They count on that income they count on those fines For example, most Latin American countries give you 90 days if you're a first world person You can come to the country as a tourist for 90 days. You spend one day more You could find maybe 50 100 200 bucks They find you as you're leaving the country when you're in the airport or at the border And of course, there are many gringles and expats who overstay their 90-day visa by weeks months even years Well, you know if you get in a traffic accident or get stopped on the street The cops or government officials will never hassle you about overstaying your visa

[14:37] They'll look at your passport and see you've overstayed, but they don't care not my job, man It's not even on their radar, but it's on the radar at airports and border crossings you overstay that visa They won't let you out until you pay that fee and it's cumulative The more time you overstay your visa the more it adds up So that's my theory why Latin American countries are never gonna have amnesty program Gringos and expats and tourists overstaying their 90-day visa is a huge source of income a cash cow for these countries The fact is if you've traveled through some Latin American countries You've been to various Latin American airports You may have noticed when you stand in those lines at the airport to get your exit stamp on your passport There's a special booth Maybe two manned by people whose sole job is to collect those multis those fees those fines for people

[15:29] Overstaying their 90-day visa and they're happy and smiling as they take your money No tisk tisk naughty naughty and you know as hard as I look I still can't find any solid data on how much money they collect in fines and fees. I Can't find a single Latin American country that publishes that data I guess it's a card the government holds close to their chest would be an interesting news story though, wouldn't it? And as for me, yep, I've overstayed my 90-day visa in many Latin American countries though I do have residency in a couple of Latin American countries so I can go in and out as I please That's one great reason to have residency Still, you know, there are 20 Latin American countries And if you overstay one day you get fine and I'll tell you for sure

[16:15] I must have dished out over a grand in fines and multis for overstaying my 90-day visa here and there But hey after living in Latin America a couple of decades now if you break it down It's set me back about $30 a year. So I'm not whining about it, but it does exist I know a lot of people who've overstayed their Mexican visa by years Oh after 10 or 15 years down there living in a nice little Pueblo had to go back to the States or something like a Funeral whatever and on the way out they got nicked for a couple of thousand bucks No small thing when you're just living on a Social Security check Anyway, just in case you were wondering I've overstayed my visa in quite a few Latin countries and I've paid my fines Of course, I don't like it, but I'm not whining about it either Funny how third world Latin countries have the immigration thing under control in the US

[17:05] Military powerhouse of the world God's favorite country just can't get their immigration shit together Which brings us to an email I got quite a while ago from a longtime expat who remains anonymous Unfortunately, he didn't give me his name. So I don't know what's from except he states. He's a longtime expat. Anyway, here goes I think you'll like it. He says dear Johnny. Here are 12 reasons why 99% of Americans will never become expats number one. They care too much about what other people think For example, if they even bring up that they're considering a plan B They'll always be someone who says you're nuts to leave the good old USA When the world's uneducated poor and clueless are all trying to get in I hate to clue you But they're already in the USA and your own whole kids are rolling out the welcome mat

[17:54] Alright, the second reason why 99% of Americans won't ever become expats Because they think the government and politicians are smarter than they are that they know what they're doing They must be because they're in charge and you're not right third reason why 99% of Americans will never become expats They think they need the government to survive. In other words as in number 4 99% of Americans don't believe in themselves Number 5 99% of Americans don't like change. They don't like to experiment with different ideas or Develop their own solutions for problems whether it's life or business They get in a groove stay there and rarely venture out number 6 99% of Americans will never become expats because they don't Prioritize their own health and when they do have health problems or get sick

[18:42] They think only American doctors the best in the world can help them number 7 most Americans would never consider becoming expats because people on their stupid Facebook groups and social media platforms would mock and ridicule them number 8 99% of Americans would never consider becoming expats because they wish for things while sitting on their dead asses Instead of making the effort to create their own plan B and working towards it Reason number 9 that most people will never consider becoming an expat. It's because they're totally comfortable Chasing meaningless relationships and hanging with negative people. All right meet Johnny cutting in You know, you can do that down here in Latin America, too That is chase meaningless relationships and hang with negative people. I know lots of gringles and expats who are in that mode number 10 since most Americans waste their energy on mindless YouTube's Instagram's tik-tok X and Netflix shows

[19:35] Wasting endless hours scrolling along on social media There's just no incentive or time for them to consider becoming expats So they just never will by the way, let me throw something else into the mix You know every once in a while when I'm sitting down talking to a gringo or an expat or even a Latino or Latina They'll bring up the latest greatest Netflix series and start expounding on it I nod and let them ramble a bit then when I can get a word in I tell them you know What I don't know what you're talking about. I don't watch Netflix. My girlfriend has it, but she watches all the shows and span it I don't know about you But I like my movies books and shows to get right to the point and not be padded a lot of fluff and that's the definition Of a Netflix series 10 or 20 chapters or more that could have easily been condensed down to two hours

[20:23] To me those long drawn-out TV series are a waste of time. Oh, don't get me wrong I tried watching a couple of famous Netflix and other movie channel series Breaking Bad the three-body problem Reacher. I gave him a chance. I watched the first episode Problem is there'll be 15 20 seconds of dialogue then the camera will pan around the house and they'll play a song Burn a couple of minutes panning outside watching the sunrise Show a couple of woodpeckers pecking away at a tree a rat cross in the street a cat going through garbage Hay fields or corn fields blown in the wind pure fluff pure filler Then there'll be 10 or 15 seconds of dialogue again, then a couple of more minutes of padded fluff I mean, come on How many times do you have to sit through a long drawn-out drone shot of a car winding up a mountain road?

[21:11] No dialogue at all. Just an uninteresting song Droning away in the background. Anyway, that's my Netflix and other TV series rant and why I'll have a glazed look on my face If you mention Wednesday stranger things or the squid game, which I've never seen and have absolutely no idea what it's even about I admit it might be fun to load up on pizzas and junk food and binge on a Netflix series But given my background is kind of a B grade nerd, you know engineer and all that I'll tell you most all of my really intelligent nerdy friends have a million more important things to do with their time though they will sit through a Netflix series or rom-com if their girlfriends tell them they have to Though many of my nerd buddies have a different addiction besides porn. They love gaming which thankfully I never got into to me gaming's a big

[21:59] Waste of time too, but at least you're in there doing something. You're making it happen You're flipping the buttons and switches building civilizations and killing bad guys demons and monsters. It's interactive You're in control and I get that but binging on a 10 or 20 chapter Netflix series, man Your brains on idle you're being spoon-fed. Anyway, by now you're probably thinking I'm kind of a nutcase, but not so fast I do like a good movie, you know hour and a half two hours long In fact, I saw a damn good movie the other day called the accountant to Accountant one came out. I think eight or ten years ago. This is the second part. The thing is though I understand people get bored you hear kids and adolescents especially say that all the time I'm bored. The funny thing is I almost never get bored unless I'm sitting around with a bunch of people glued to their cell phones

[22:47] In fact, I got way too much shit to do when I get a little free time I read a book or watch a documentary Hell I've got four really nice guitars and a beautiful keyboard right in the next room And I haven't touched any of them in two months Why because I'm way too busy with other stuff right now Like I said, I never get bored and I don't understand it when people say they're bored because I've got a list of things To do that's a mile long. I've always had to-do lists and they seem to be never ending. I guess it's true I'm an eccentric. I can't sit too long in the same place. I've got to be doing something I just can't put my brain on pause. How about you? Are you built that way too? Lots of expats are maybe it's good Maybe it's bad, but you'll never be bored, but I digress. Where were we? Oh, yeah talking about that list The 12 reasons 99% of Americans will never consider becoming an expat number 11 on that list

[23:39] They'll never pull the plan beat trigger because they think their vote counts And finally number 12 The reason why most people will never become expats is because they think karma exists and that bad people that are harming and destroying the USA Will get theirs in the end. They believe in karma and think in the long run the universe balances things out that life is fair So will the bad boys and no goodniks get theirs in the end? Maybe in the world of Netflix fantasy But not in my world and finally since we're digging mostly in the email pile today comes this little rant from Roger He says Johnny. I'm so tired of pretending. I care about other people's kids When I'm at a house party or backyard barbecue my adult friends let their kids have the run of the place

[24:26] I'm so tired of those kids breaking up in adult conversations with their nonsense My idiot adult friends indulge their kids every whim what the f is wrong with parents today My own parents when I was a kid would never let us invade their parties or interrupt adults having conversations Roger says they never let us kids run wild through their picnics and barbecues We had our little designated space our designated little table and chairs where we sat all of us kids and didn't bother the adults Nowadays you go to a nice expensive restaurant and kids are sitting right next to mom and dad Grabbing stuff whining talking over them the kids are in control and the parents don't even notice look at Elon Musk a terrible example He goes to the Oval Office brings his kid with him and the kid sitting there quietly nice and polite

[25:15] But he's riding piggyback on his dad's shoulders. Here's a question for you Johnny Does that kind of stuff happen in Latin America do adults fawn over their genius kids and let them interrupt? Wedge themselves into adult conversations Do they jump out of their chairs in restaurants and run around tables playing cowboys and Indians are the kids in control or the parents? What's it like? All right, Roger. Thanks for that. All I gotta say is are you kidding in? Your average Latin American family kids simply do not interrupt adults Sure, they're around at house parties and barbecues, but they go off somewhere with the other kids in play They have the sense not to cut in on the adult crowd They seem to know their diminutive place in society much more than American kids do

[26:02] But remember I'm talking about middle-class Latin America I have to say when you go to a really nice restaurant and you're mingling with upper-class Latinos Remember their extreme gringo wannabes and so they treat their kids like gringos treat their kids You'll see the same thing in high-end neighborhoods at grocery stores and such moms with shopping carts their kids tagging along Whining about some candy they want or just grabbing stuff off the shelves and throwing it in the basket Again, we're talking about high earning Latin families extreme gringo wannabes. So that's what you get Roger It sounds like you were brought up in the same kind of environment. I was when parents ruled I remember being at the doctor's office once with my dad. He was up paying the bill at the receptionist I must have been about eight. I was tired Nancy and I was grabbing on his pants pulling him. Let's go daddy

[26:50] Let's go and he looked down at me for a split second put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed hard and man I knew what that meant shut the hell up and let me get out of my business and then we'll go Yep, you know back then kids knew their place in society. We knew we weren't equal to an adult By the way about Roger who wrote this last email Remember he started the email by saying Johnny. I'm tired of pretending. I care about other people's kids Well, he's got a PS to this email and I think you're gonna like it or maybe not He says PS Johnny. I'm also tired of pretending. I like other people's cats Hmm. Wait a minute. Wait a minute Roger. You can't mean that I'm a cat lover. I love him with ketchup You've been listening to the expat files living in Latin America

[27:37] If you need some help with your own plan B We can schedule a one-on-one phone or skype consult Just send me an email the expat files at gmail dot com And if you want to get on the waiting list for my next week long expat insider seminar in central America Where you're guaranteed to get a two to five year head start on your plan B Send me an email the expat files at gmail.com