Posted on 05/29/2004 6:09:11 PM PDT by I_saw_the_light
PHOENIX - Greeted by rocky terrain and triple-digit temperatures, scores of illegal immigrants die as they cross into the United States along the Arizona border this time of year. In hopes of saving some of them, churches and humanitarian groups are launching around-the-clock desert camps to provide emergency water and medical help. The first camp opens Monday near Arivaca in southeastern Arizona.
The camps, dubbed "Arks of the Covenant," are designed to be places of sanctuary "with the pure intention of reducing the number of deaths," said the Rev. Sue Westfall, co-pastor of St. Mark's Presbyterian Church in Tucson.
Between October 2002 and September 2003, the end of the federal fiscal year, 139 people died trying to cross into the United States in the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector. Most died from the effects of heat or cold, said Border Patrol spokesman Andy Adame.
The Tucson Sector, which covers most of the Arizona border, has become one of the busiest crossing points along the U.S.-Mexico border because enforcement has made it more difficult to cross in other places.
Westfall said something must be done to reduce the number of deaths.
"It's too high," she said. "It's just too high."
Four locations were selected for base camps to aid immigrants.
The camps, which will be staffed by volunteers, are an extension of a program done over the past three years by volunteers with Samaritan Patrol. Volunteers have driven from Tucson to remote border areas looking for immigrants in distress.
But the Rev. John Fife, the pastor of Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, said Samaritan volunteers have been spending a lot of time driving back and forth, and the camps provide an opportunity for a 24-hour operation.
Besides the one near Arivaca, camps — a combination of mobile homes and large tents — will be placed in Douglas, near Why and northwest of Tucson. All will be open by mid-June and are expected to operate through the summer, Fife said.
Westfall said immigrants more than likely will find out about the aid through word of mouth but patrols will continue, with the Arks camps serving as base camps.
The camps are part of a larger campaign by a coalition of human rights groups and churches called No More Deaths. The group is trying to draw attention to what it says is flawed immigration policy through events in southern Arizona over the weekend and a 75-mile walk from Sasabe to Tucson designed to show the migrant trail.
Adame declined to comment on the camps until they were up and running.
He did say, however, the Border Patrol believes in humanitarian efforts aimed at saving lives, noting the agency has more than 100 emergency medical technicians. Nearly 200 illegal immigrants have been rescued since Oct. 1.
But he said people who come across illegal immigrants are advised to call authorities and not to transport them.
"There's nothing wrong with feeding them, giving them water. But you should definitely restrain from transporting them," he said.
I know your very involved doing what you can to help. You are effectively serving our country without proper recompense and I, for one, thank you for it.
This is insane. Strangers happen upon your property asking for water and the law mandates that you oblige? This translates to a number of things, one being that I would likely have to open my door and be accessible to them. They can kiss my boot heels and pound sand with tabasco on it.
Thanks.
I live here and have to deal with the problem on a daily and nightly basis. All other issues pale to insignificance when it's your own property and quality of life taking the hits. Several of the best hiking and camping areas in the West are in plain sight from my livingroom window. They might as well be a picture in a magazine, because they're infested with illegal aliens and drug smugglers. I want those areas back.
Twenty years in the Army gave me a taste for activities like this. It's sort of like being back on the DMZ in Korea, but with the map rotated 180° -- an almost eerie resemblance to the Chorwon Valley/Iron Triangle area in particular. The only difference is we didn't have thousands of North Koreans crossing the line at night.
That law goes way back to frontier days. You can go for days without food, but the desert can kill you in a matter of hours without water. If I remember right, the language of that law assumes that the other party is practically on the point of death. The law does not require that you endanger yourself, nor does it prevent you from calling the local Border Patrol or Sheriff.
Biblical words have no patents. Just ask the 740 Samaritans living in Israel and Samaria. People misuse their name all the time.
Sounds like a good place to set up surveillance and apprehension sectors for the INS. Let these fools locate and identify the invading criminal aliens.
Exactly! I often wonder why those who willingly and knowingly facilitate the ongoing criminal behavior (policemen, politicians, NGO workers and etc.) are not investigated by local or federal grand juries around the country for failing to enforce the laws of the land of which those in the government sector are sworn and duty bound to enforce.
But then I suppose the local DA or the U.S. Attorney would themselves be complicit as well for failing to do their own jobs as well. Man-o-live, what a sham some of our nations laws and law enforcement types have become! Anarchy seems to be the wave for the future!
And these groups will then ask for (and probably get) Federal police protection at our expense.
It shouldn't be illegal to give a dying man or child a drink of water. It would be illegal to transport them into the USA --- and for that you could have your vehicle confiscated. No one wants to see people dying out there in 110 plus temperatures. That's why some people believe in having some fences and stricter regulations.
Illegals may be drawn to these do-gooders like a thirsty moth to a flame. It will increase their profile thus in theory making them easier to round up. Your point is well taken.
What is humanitarian in trying to bring vicious criminals into this country? Reportedly the men who decapitated the three children in Maryland (as well as the victims) were illegal aliens. Malvo was an illegal alien supported by one of these groups.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.