This sweltering month of July has been dubbed "perhaps the deadliest month of all time" by medical examiner Dr. Bruce Parks of Pima County, Ariz.
He's referring to the record-topping death rates of illegal immigrants crossing the Arizona desert from Mexico.
Most of these bodies, some of which are carried in refrigerated trucks due to the rapidly increasing number of deaths, have come from the hottest and most dangerous parts of the desert. These are the ones pushing numbers off the charts.
It appears the government's half-hearted efforts to secure the border have only encouraged illegals to trudge through the most remote and dangerous areas of Arizona desert.
This is what passes for compassion in Washington, D.C.
Illegals have long died along America's neglected southern border. But it's especially bad during this year's unrelenting heat waves in southern Arizona, where temperatures are reaching 109 degrees during the day -- and nighttime temperatures are hotter than ever recorded for this period.
And it's particularly galling now, considering the federal government's misguided attack on Arizona's attempts to secure its border.
At first, the Obama administration kept as silent as the grave when Arizona pushed for reform. Now, as the law that would crack down on illegal immigration was set to go into effect this week, the administration is actually fighting to stop the state's effort.
America has, in legal terms, created an "attractive nuisance" over the years -- the promise of jobs and blind eyes toward the law. We have allowed this deadly trek far too long.
It's time to put an end to it.
As long as illegal immigration remains a viable option, nothing will stop immigrants from risking the same fate as over 250 bodies being stored in Dr. Park's office. Employers cannot be allowed to employ illegals -- and governments, both state and federal as well as local, must not only be allowed to crack down, they are obligated to do so.
Not just by the law -- though that's a pretty good argument itself -- but by morality itself.
Allowing this carnage on the border is not compassionate.
It's the exact opposite.
The death of the illegals is a choice they make. The desperate escape attempt, encouraged by the Mexican government, seems better than living in Mexico...to them. Not securing the border with Mexico is a mistake for both moral and legal reasons. Spending a fraction of the money about to be wasted (suing Arizona) on securing the border would not only help secure our country, it would remove all reasons for the controversial Arizona law.
If obama ever has a pro-American thought, he out to consider this alternative.
Just in case the Augusta Chronicle isn't following the news (?!) be aware that the Obama administration has deported record numbers of illegal immigrants--far more than Bush did in the same amount of time.
FIRST ... secure the border.
NEXT ..... deal with illegals and those that hire them.
No matter how dense obama claims to be, this should be easy to grasp.
The conditions are not a whole lot better in winter. Many lives can be saved by simply securing the border. We sure could use all the money that is being wasted by Eric Holder.
Problem is that it is difficult to spot those wily Canadians. They just slip across the border and take good jobs away from Americans. Where is the outrage??? Seal that border!!!!!!!
Such glib comments this morning from people who have no regard, it seems, for the safety, security and financial well-being of our nation. Too bad that the drug traffickers, criminals and human smugglers don't have to trek through their back yards every day, as then the awful reality of this situation may alter their lame attempts to joke about this tragic circumstance that we face on our borders.
Perhaps the Mexican government should put out pamphlets warning of the risk of death from heat exposure in the U.S. desert. It should be similar to the one they put out telling their citizens how cross the border illegally into our county.
Good point, Chillen. The pamphlet could say, “The Government of Mexico recommends illegal border crossing only in the months of October through May because of the danger of heat-related illness or death.”
I am convinced that the Mexican government is ill prepared, and certainly not very well motivated, to battle the overwhelming superiority of the drug cartels. They are out gunned, out motivated, out manned, and massively out spent. It seems that most people in any positions of authority are taking drug money, and those that are honest and trying to do the right thing are ending up dead. Informants are few, and those that do help are quickly killed, as well as their entire families. Pretty good incentive to those that would like to help, to stay silent, as these killings are done in the most public and horrific manner imaginable. Proof of this is the conspicuous lack of public trials, captures and executions of the persons responsible. Calderon, imho, is in an untenable position, and is merely paying lip service to battling the cartels, much like what is happening with the Karzai situation, and our efforts in Afghanistan. One thing that our enemies know all too well is to find a strategy that works and duplicate it. The one that is working is to play both ends against the middle, until it is abundantly clear which side is going to ultimately prevail. Unfortunately, in both situations, it seems it is not going to be the USA.
This is quite a reach...blaming the administration for the actions of illegals. I wonder why the Republicans didn't put in place a system for dealing with illegals in their eight years in office? This just didn't happen overnight.
grouse, ‘This is quite a reach...blaming the administration for the actions of illegals.’
You liberals blamed everything on Bush. Many of you said he caused Katrina because didn’t like black people.
The double standard is still out there.
OnlyinAgs, ‘Funny how Mr. Gladney's story hasn't held up and is a complete LIE.’
As I said you have been trained really well. You call the story a complete lie when it is on video for the entire world to see. Just as you denied the audience at NAACP meeting was laughing and clapping at the racist statements made by Ms. Sherrod when it also is on video. You have been trained really well. Just in case you missed the Gladney video.
http://current.com/news/92542506_kenneth-gladney-black-tea-party-member-...
There are several reasons why the border needs to be secured. The personal morals of some bleeding hearts ain't one of them. Actions have consequences.
There is no incentive for our government to do anything about the borders. There is a lot of support for "cheap labor" on both sides and the Democrats view all of them as potential lock step Democrat voters. The only hope we have for securing our borders are the border states themselves. Support Arizona and start pressuring Texas, New Mexico, California, and all of the other states to do the same thing. It is a state's right to arrest anyone breaking the law, even a federal law.
I seriously doubt the government's "half-hearted efforts to secure the border" is the added encouragement illegals need to inspire them to cross the border risking their lives in the process. I can just see a young Mexican father of two reading the headlines of legal wrangling between the feds and the Arizona legislature over constitutional claims saying to himself "this is the moment I've been waiting for, a half-hearted display of immigration law enforcement," now is the time to cross the border, when there has never been more border patrol agents employed, more money spent on technology and deportation, never more interest in border security. Yes, DHS is now clearly looking the other way. What is a secure border anyway? When not one person can enter illegally? By the way half of our illegals entered legally with nonimmigrant visas and overstayed. Without comprehensive immigration reform we will never have a secure border. Throwing money at the symptoms and ignoring the root cause of the illness will never work.
On the money, Pablo. And you're someone who would actually know about this, as opposed to virtually all of the rest of us--including the editorialist.
But that's what we do in America: throw money at a problem and hope that makes it go away, and then get semi-hysterical when it comes back, larger than ever, and takes a really big bite out of us.
Well everyone. It's a wonderful day to be a CRIMINAL in the United States.
The Federal "judge" just ruled against the Arizona Law. I wonder what the Chicago-Obama-thugs threatened or bribed her with.
So much for sovereignty. Just Fantastic.
See, Chillen, I expected that. This needs to go to the Supreme Court- and it will, sooner or later.
From what I read, only certain portions were placed on hold until they can be properly resolved in court.
Its sad that obama's portriat will be placed in the same room as real American presidents. I find it hard to believe the "we the people" put a community organizer in office who hates this country and what it stands for. The great work of our founding fathers, not to mention the lives that were lost so we can live in a country "of the people,by the people, for the people" may have been in vain. The Constitution is now a useless piece of parchment. "Give me liberty or give me death" has become give me give me. VOTE IN NOVEMBER!!!!
What a slap in the face to all the brave men a women that have fought and died for this great country. You dont deserve this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU9iCANi02o
No one has ever died while crossing our southern border at a legal border crossing point. It's those who want to bypass the system that risk death. These are not destitute people. They pay thousands of dollars for their illegal trek. Are we supposed to feel sorry for these "poor people" who would rather choose to risk death in the desert over obeying the law? It's their choice to risk death. It is their game to beat the system. Sometimes they loose. Well, it's my choice not to be burdened with feeling sorry for them when they kill themselves.
Two "funny" things about this whole issue.
(1) What part of ILLEGAL is difficult to grasp?
(2) You go to an airport and have to get a full body search, walk through metal detectors and get your bags x-rayed. Yet, you can walk across the border unchecked. Nothing like locking the front door of the house and keeping the windows open.
ACES seems to fail in drawing a line between an unsecure border and immorality. (I am not suprised). It is not the fault of our Government because illegals want to travel during the hottest months of the year in metal boxes and they die. These deaths are because of the sheer stupidity of the individuals that attempt such a stunt not because of the "immorality" of our unsecured border.
What is the next thing that you are going to complain that is immoral? How about cars because they kill over 35,000 people a year in the United States alone? We better re-calibrate the moral compasses of our Governement to fix this problem also.
Ultimately everything goes in full circle, I remember not too long ago that the Government did propose to build a wall across the border, but everyone cried about it, now everyone cries they do not do anything.
@esmc68: I remember this clip being all over the news when it happened.
Honestly I do not know what was more painful, Watching Obama standing there like an idiot or the absolutely horrific improv singing of the Anthem.
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