Glare of Fires Pulls Migrants From Shadows (Illegal Aliens in San Diego--Who Knew?)

The New York Times ^ | October 27, 2007 | Randal C. Archibold

[2ndDivisionVet]

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 26 — Out of the burning brush, from behind canyon rocks, several immigrants bolted toward a group of firefighters, chased not by the border police but by the onrush of flames from one of the biggest wildfires this week.

Their appearance startled the firefighters, who let them into their vehicles. But with the discovery of four charred bodies in an area of heavy illegal immigration, concern is growing that others may not have survived.

“Their hands were burned, and they were clearly tired and grateful,” Capt. Mike Parkes of the State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported on what his firefighting team saw.

Immigrants from south of the border, many illegal, provide the backbone of menial labor in San Diego, picking fruit, cleaning hotel rooms, sweeping walks and mowing lawns.

The wildfires, one of the biggest disasters to strike the county, exposed their often-invisible existence in ways that were sometimes deadly.

The four bodies were found in a burned area in southeastern San Diego County, a region known for intense illegal immigration. It is near Tecate, where a chain securing an evacuated border crossing was cut and people were seen flowing into the United States until the Border Patrol arrived, said Michael J. Fisher, the chief patrol agent in San Diego.

As firefighting continued on Friday, makeshift camps for immigrants in the northern part of the county stood largely abandoned. Some immigrants were said to be hiding in even more remote terrain. Others sought help from churches.

“I was pretty scared. We had to leave in the middle of the night, and we went to the church,” said Juan Santiago, a immigrant worker in the Rancho Peñasquitos neighborhood, just south of the hard-hit Rancho Bernardo area.(continued)

[2ndDivisionVet]

"Fire scorches San Diego, women and minorities hardest hit."

Wanna bet none of them were deported?!

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

From the article:

Two men, one in San Diego County and the other in Los Angeles, who were arrested on arson charges, accused of setting small fires this week, are believed to be deportable, a federal immigration official said.

[Judith Anne]

Did you see the thread about Mecha claiming to be responsible?

[VOA]

Glare of Fires Pulls Migrants From Shadows
(Illegal Aliens in San Diego--Who Knew?)

Having spent a decade in Los Angeles (1995-2005), which included
some side-trips to San Diego...
the naive impression I got was that illegals coming in via our
southern border (for the most part) kept racing past San Diego
until they got to Los Angeles.

I figured it was due to the self-proclaimed and effectively sanctuary-city
status of Los Angeles.

And that maybe in San Diego, insanity hadn't set in and the locals
and police force just didn't greet the illegals with the automatic
granting of MORE than equal rights.

Just my flatlander observation...

[traumer]

an area of heavy illegal infestation....

[Westlander]

The U.S. will provide them with medical care, the pregnant women will bear their children here, and all of them will be on the welfare system.

[org.whodat]

Immigrants from south of the border, many illegal, provide the backbone of menial labor in San Diego, picking fruit, cleaning hotel rooms, sweeping walks and mowing lawns.

Where are the hundred acre orchards for the fruit pickers in San Diego??

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

I haven't seen it, but that comes as no great surprise.

Am I crazy for wondering if any of the So. Cal fires were started by a group (illegals) who stands to benefit when the homeowners rebuild? (using illegals for labor)

Maybe I am, but it has been a thought going through my head.

[annie laurie]

Did you see the thread about Mecha claiming to be responsible?

The thread was pulled because it was a fake story. The link was from a 'source' called "CNN HeadLIE News".

[jmaroneps37]

These men are victims. They should be treated with extra kindness. They should be given tickets for buses back to Mexico that have restrooms. Call me a liberal, but that’s how I feel.