Posted on 01/01/2007 11:54:13 AM PST by calcowgirl
Illegal immigrants planning to cross the desert and enter the US on foot are to be given hand-held satellite devices by the Mexican authorities to ensure they arrive safely.
Those who get lost or fall sick during the dangerous four-day crossing will be able to activate the device, to alert frontier police on both sides of the border.
The satellite tracking service will require would-be illegals to register their intentions before setting off — a paradoxical move, given that secrecy is necessary for success — but Mexican authorities are predicting that about 200,000 devices will be handed out when the project is launched formally in the coming year.
"Our intention is to save lives," said Jaime Obregon, the co-ordinator for the state commission for migrants in Puebla, the Mexican state which is behind the project. "There are lots of people looking to cross and we are working with the US authorities to make sure they do not die on the way."
Between 20 and 30 migrants succumb to hellish temperatures and insect bites while attempting to cross into Arizona every year. Heat exhaustion sometimes causes short-term memory loss, with trekkers wandering aimlessly into the desert.
The route into Arizona, known as the Sasave Pass, is both the most common and the most dangerous way into the US. According to Mexican state migrant authorities, up to 75,000 attempt the crossing every month, of whom between 50,000 and 60,000 are caught by US border patrols and sent back.
The chance of success depends greatly on the knowledge of the guide, known as a "coyote" or "desert fox". They charge between $2,000 and $10,000 per person (£1,025-£5,100).
Coyotes are merciless if a member of their pack lags behind. "If you cannot keep up they will abandon you." said Mr Obregon. "Alone, you have about 36 hours to live. It is in this period the satellite device makes a difference."
A spokesman for US Customs and Border Protection said: "We do not have any information about the Mexican government providing satellite trackers to people, but we strongly discourage encouragement to people who are attempting to cross illegally into the US."
Response: Not only that immediate benefit but in the long term, political control. Maybe even a coup up the road.
Too many voters TomGuy. Too many voters who don't know the difference and don't pay attention. Perot got us Clinton, and not voting for GWB on this principle gets us Demonrats in congress.
I EXPECT to get a Democrat if I vote 3rd party. None of the Democrats are going to abandon ship and vote 3rd party. They love the way it is.
Again, to me, it makes no sense to vote 3rd party.
I believe you are very wrong there. Most are as discouraged as the rest of us.
Saw this earlier today and it really made my blood boil.
What next? All our jobs;)
These aren't just GPS receivers, but are GPS-enabled PLBs.
http://www.rei.com/category/40002203.htm
Sooooooooooooooooo true!!....I mean, Si...es verdad!
Your Poster is perfect.
All I dare say is "PING"............
I think you are correct, but check and see who is putting up the money for the invasion?
I wouldn't be a bit surprised if our own government was paying for it. By executive order.....
-These Sat-Nav devices are expensive to the tune of several thousand each, and this doesn't even cover the cost of a down-link service. So who is paying for all of this?--
A hand-held device retails for less than $250 and the only extra charge is for the batteries. No down-link service.
Some parts of the Border Patrol(line agents) recognize that illegal aliens crossing thte border are criminals and some parts of the Border Patrol (Management) don't think that those crossing the border illegally are criminals.
The satellite tracking service will require..."
You are confusing Nav Sat with GPS. Two Hundred dollar GPS navigation devices do not have the capabilities stated in the article.
--You are confusing Nav Sat with GPS. Two Hundred dollar GPS navigation devices do not have the capabilities stated in the article.--
Sat. Nav. IS GPS. Please clarify what 'capabilities' are stated in the article that GPS does not have.
The article states that the devices the Mexican govt wants to issue would allow the illegal alien to summon help if he/she were in trouble and needed rescue. Normal GPS receivers only give the user their position, are receivers, and don't have a way to be tracked.
In general the article is poorly written by somebody that doesn't know about these devices, but for the capability to be found and rescued it would have to be a Personal Locator Beacon. PLBs broadcast on an international SAR frequency of 406 Mhz. Low end units don't have a GPS system and narrow down the search grid to about 25 sq miles. The better units either have an interface for a GPS receiver to upload coordinates or have their own GPS onboard to generate their own coordinates.
My concern would be, especially if they don't use GPS equipped units, that the U.S. will be expending an inordinate amount of time and resources chasing these PLB signals. If I was a coyote I would have one of my buddies fire up one of these things and leave it 25 miles off my route just to pull assets away from the active route. The coyotes will have an unlimited supply of the devices from their previous customers.
Well that ought to keep the hoards at bey. /sarc
FRENCH GUARD: "You mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!"
GALAHAD: "Is there someone else up there we could talk to?"
FRENCH GUARD: "No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!"
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