Posted on 08/04/2005 7:15:48 PM PDT by Graybeard58
PHOENIX - When burglars broke into U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe's house in late July, they ignored most of his valuables.
"The biggest thing that caught my attention was an antique rifle that was just laying around," said Tom Schenek, an officer with the Patagonia Marshal's Office who responded to the break-in. "I don't think the congressman would have left it laying around where it was."
However, the rifle was left in the house. Instead, it appeared that whoever broke into the congressman's cabin in Sonoita, Ariz., less than 30 miles from the Mexican border, ate some food, used the shower, took some of Kolbe's clothes and left.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office attributed the break-in to illegal immigrants.
Sheriff Tony Estrada regularly hears about migrants burglarizing homes near the border as they cross the Arizona desert, the nation's busiest corridor for illegal entries.
Immigrants usually aren't after valuables, Estrada said Thursday. Instead, they generally look for food, water, a place to rest, and perhaps a change of clothes.
"It happens. And it probably happens more than we get reports on," Estrada said. "It stands to reason. We have a lot of people going through Santa Cruz County and all the border counties."
Two or three such burglaries are reported in the county each month, whereas people complain about trespassers every day.
Kat Rodriguez, coordinating organizer for the human rights group Derechos Humanos, said residents in southern Arizona have come to expect occasional stories of migrants who need food or a place to rest breaking into homes.
"It's frustrating for them and no one likes it, but they know it's desperation," Rodriguez said.
While Rodriguez said she has never heard of an immigrant stealing jewelry or other valuables, burglaries do contribute to homeowners' negative feelings toward migrants. "They feel violated and there's no way around it," she said.
Kolbe, R-Ariz., had no comment on the break-in at his cabin, said his spokeswoman, Kristen Hellmer.
The Rev. Robin Hoover, president of the humanitarian group Humane Borders, said the burglary at the congressman's home was ironic but not unusual.
"Congressman Kolbe has very attentively tried to do things about the border and enforcement and now you have this big irony of someone breaking into his house," Hoover said.
But when put in perspective, Hoover said burglaries weren't a huge border issue.
"Considering there's 1.2 million attempts (to cross the border) made every year, it's a relatively minor problem," he said.
Tell that to the people who's houses are broken into. I don't think they consider it a minor problem.
Kat Rodriguez, coordinating organizer for the human rights group Derechos Humanos, said residents in southern Arizona have come to expect occasional stories of migrants who need food or a place to rest breaking into homes.
"It's frustrating for them and no one likes it, but they know it's desperation," Rodriguez said.
While Rodriguez said she has never heard of an immigrant stealing jewelry or other valuables, burglaries do contribute to homeowners' negative feelings toward migrants. "They feel violated and there's no way around it," she said.
ping
""When burglars broke into U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe's house in late July, they ignored most of his valuables""
JUSTICE
I sure as hell would! They are breaking immigration laws and breaking into private property. Do you really think once they get here they are going to abide by ANY LAWS if they haven't already?!
If they are so desperate to come to the U.S. maybe they should try it the LEGAL way first. Get in line like everyone else!
the Romans developed this very problem when they went from active border maintenance to defense in depth.
it resulted in the eventual de-romanization of the provinces, and the eventual crumbling of the western empire.
we are fools if we characterize this as a minor problem.
I've had 4 different places in 2 cities broken into and it's not funny. One guy climbed in a back window when I was asleep and woke me when he opened my bedroom door. I woke up instantly and went screaming down the hall after him. If I'd had a gun I would have shot him without thinking about it just from instinct. He was lucky.
The others just stole or smashed things. When the police in LA caught a guy on my roof at 3AM, I told them to just drop him off the roof on his head. You'd be surprised how territorial and murderous you feel when somebody tries to harm your and yours. Screw em, kill em. They're criminals. They deserve to die on the spot.
Arrrghh! MIGRANTS could be anybody from the Grapes of Wrath's Oklahoma Jobe family to my multi-generation American parents and grandparents, who--having lost their farms in the depression--resorted to traveling and doing what they knew--farmwork--wherever the work was. These are ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS in this story. Why, then, did they headline it with "MIGRANTS"?
Pinche' media.
Not only is it a minor problem, this article paints a pretty little picture wherein being a victim to this crime is now a fashion statement and an opportunity to showboat our generosity to our friends and neighbors. As if to say... "Yeah, some illegal aliens, er.. I mean migrants broke into our home. They didn't take any valuables and no one was hurt. They just took a little food, grabbed a shower and moved on. We've come to expect it now and again. We'll even leave the door unlocked to make it easier for them. The United States government does it... why shouldn't I?"
Oh, is that all. Well, c'mon in boys!
Sheesh...only the Liberals can downplay burglary with a straight face. Idiots.
The Mexican government is REALLY ignoring THEIR problem, too.
A$$HOLE! They are burglarizing the entire country, when they break in by crossing the border.
They are robbing the Treasury, and hence every tax paying citizen, everytime they illegally obtain benfits of whatever sort, including public schooling for their kids.
Anything further would get me suspended or banned.
imo
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
All the headlines have be changed from reading ILLEGAL ALIENS.....typical
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