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."
americanamexicana
No, your intention is to get as many millions of Mexicans up here illegally as you possibly can to keep the remittance gravy train a-flowin'.
--here's a good link--
--http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1760965/posts
The ill-gotten gains of the MexInvasion also benefit the MexGov. Ergo, it, too, is enjoys informal and formal financing.
This state of affairs will the US can re-order the preferences of the MexGov, which is when the invasion ceases to be profitable to them.
How can we make the costs of the invasion they bear outweigh the benefits they crave?
Illegals caught should be sentenced to years of uncompensated hard-labor in the US.
Mexico's ruling class is BRILLIANT.
They didn't want to waste any money on their poor.
So they OUTSOURCED it!
What next?
Chauffeured limos?
.. with hot tubs.
Border? We don't need no stinkin' border.
HaPPy New Year, calcowgirl!
We need to find a way to track these gadgets, and arrest everyone who crosses with one. And, the mexicrime govt. is handing them out? Uh, they need to be told in no uncertain terms, that they will face a serious response if they carry this plan out!
If this doesn't constitute an invasion by a foreign nation, I don't know what does. Will the Mexican government next give them jeeps, humvees and tanks to assist in a successful crossing?
200k GPS devices? And the US will get them when they catch the criminal invaders? I sure hope there isn't any intention to give them back to the Mexicans. Now that would get me stewing. Instead, I'd like to go down and buy one of those seized ones at government auction, cheap, for my car.
Hush y'all. Mexico is our friend.
Feliz Nuevo Año, back at ya! ;-)
Not sure, are the illegals allowed to keep the satellite navigation devices once they get to a relatively safe haven, or do they have to turn them in for the next wave of illegals?
I bet a few get kept, just for souvenirs, but the officials concerned may get a little stern about wide non-compliance.
Maybe we should send boatloads of Bangladeshis to their country!
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?
I have no idea what they plan to issue, but I paid about $120 for my Garmin GPS. Wonder who is funding this program? Wouldn't it be cheaper to teach them "Follow the Drinkin' Gourd"? (In Spanish, of course).
Answer is simple...call the Geek Squad, have them break the activation code..activate all devices at once and sit back...
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