Border Patrol: Don't Help Sick, Injured Immigrants

Channel 10 News, San Diego ^ | October 24, 2002 | Staff

[Tancred]

Humanitarian Groups Express Outrage

SAN DIEGO -- The U.S. Border Patrol has issued new guidelines warning humanitarian groups not to transport illegal immigrants -- even if they are in need of medical attention.

The guidelines state that driving the immigrants to a hospital or another location can be viewed as "illegal and can result in prosecution."

The orders are already being protested by groups working to aide illegal immigrants who become stranded or exhausted trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

A pastor with the Tucson, Ariz., based Samaritan Patrol said the law provides for humanitarian assistance and that his organization will continue to help those in need.

The Rev. John Fife added that he has been open about the practice of taking immigrants to his church, where they are typically offered food, water, temporary shelter and medical care.

[goldstategop]

Illegals don't need such compassion. They need to be summarily deported and anyone helping them is breaking the law.

[MissAmericanPie]

Is there any way to get in touch with the good pastor?

[taxed2death]

It seems to me, if you wake up in the morning and decide to cross an international border illegally, you should be willing to suffer the consequences should things not go your way. A choice is being made by the perp, to disregard the law. If he / she becomes sick or dies, it is his / her own fault.

[TomGuy]

Check this link New Samaritan Patrol has roots in hidden Sanctuary Movement from azstarnet.com.

"One of the leaders and co-founders of the Sanctuary Movement was the Rev. John Fife, pastor of Southside Presbyterian, 317 W. 23rd St., who also is taking part in the Samaritan Patrol.

"Samaritan Patrol member William G. Walker was the lawyer who represented some of the Sanctuary workers in the 1980s when they were criminally charged for their actions. He is acting as legal counsel for the new Samaritan Patrol."

"How to join

* Anyone interested in becoming part of the all-volunteer Samaritan Patrol is invited to attend two training sessions this week. The sessions will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. today and Thursday at Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 W. 23rd St. Trainees must attend both sessions.
* The group is in particular need of nurses, doctors, Spanish speakers and people with four-wheel-drive vehicles.
* For more information, call 620-0725 or e-mail questions to, samaritanpatrol@aol.com."

[PatrioticAmerican]

Excellent!

[skeeter]

I'm fairly certain Channel 10 left out the part about the dangers to the 'good samaritans' involved in helping illegals from drug runners & coyotes.

Border Patrol is likely trying to protect their stupid lives.

[valkyrieanne]

They have no hospitals in Mexico?

[Tancred]

In this particular article, I think the Border Patrol is referring to those illegals who are injured on their way across the border: twisted ankles, dehydration, heat exhaustion, and the like from a long hike across the desert. In other cases, pregant women sometimes cross the border just to have the advantage of a baby being born in the U.S., and I've heard anecdotal evidence that some of our neighbors to the South don't mind at all going to emergency rooms across the border for treatment. (They do have hospitals in Mexico--just not free ones!)

[Chi-Town Lady]

"They have no hospitals in Mexico?"

They do have hospital in Mexico, however, if you don't have the money to pay for them they toss your ass back across the border and let the American taxpayers foot the bill for you. It works well for them.