Immigration Law and Human Rights

I am not going to bore anyone with a description of immigration law, and I don't intend to start a heated debate about immigration law or reform.  But this has been one of the topics I've been learning about this past week.  I didn't have anything specific scheduled since Monday, so I set my own schedule.  I went to immigration court and observed some hearings, including an asylum hearing case.  At first, I felt very dumb because I don't have a background in law, but after a few hearings, I started to understand the jargon that was being used.
Despite what people may think, the government really does what it can to help immigrants, the government just has to abide by the law as it is written.
The other topic I've been learning about is human rights, but specifically with regards to Mexico.  I was able to sit in on some meetings with members of a couple different NGOs talking about human rights and the need for U.S. help in Mexico.  It was very interesting and I feel like after the past several days that I am beginning to understand the major topics of interest in Mexico, though I feel like I've only seen the tip of the ice burg.  Still, it's a start, and I don't feel overwhelmed.  Hopefully that will stay that way.
Yesterday there was a happy hour for fellow FSOs going to CJ.  Beforehand, I stopped at a Safeway to use the restroom.  It was the oddest thing.  You literally had to go far into the backroom to use the "public" restroom.  It didn't feel very public.  But, I guess I've seen stranger things.  The happy hour was good because I was able to meet three new people with whom I will be working in CJ, though they are all leaving much sooner than me.  I guess that is what happens when so many people already speak Spanish and I do not!