Record Number Die Crossing Arizona Border

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Elise Foley

Near the end of August, the number of deaths by border crossers in Pima County, Ariz., was beginning to climb to near-record numbers. Today, NPR reports that the number of deaths by migrants in the Arizona desert has officially surpassed all previous years: 252 bodies of illegal immigrants have been discovered in the past year.

That isn't because more people are crossing the border: Overall border crossings are still down, according to the Border Patrol. But those who do cross the border are often funneled through the most dangerous routes to avoid detection by Border Patrol agents, according to NPR:

In recent years, the U.S. government has built a border fence, improved technology and hired thousands more Border Patrol agents.

That has helped reduce the number of people caught crossing illegally, but it's also pushed crossers into more remote and dangerous places to avoid detection. Places where sore feet or a broken ankle can mean death from dehydration or exposure. [...]

Agent Mario Escalante blames the increases on human smugglers who lure naive crossers into dangerous situations.

"They weren't told that they were gonna have to walk for days. They weren't told that they were gonna have to go over mountain ranges. They weren't told that they were gonna have to sleep in the hot desert or maybe the cold desert," Escalante says.

Bodies in these areas are often found long after the individuals have died, making their identities even more difficult to determine. In an effort to keep more migrants alive, humanitarian groups such as the Tuscon-based No More Deaths leave water bottles in the desert for illegal immigrants. They argue it is a humanitarian issue, not an effort to aid in illegal border crossing. But because the border region is mostly federal land, members of the group have been arrested for leaving trash in a national refuge. Anti-illegal immigration groups, such as the Minutemen, reportedly often slash the bottles to drain the water.

http://washingtonind...-arizona-border

[spookyturtle 9,466]

If they didn't try to enter illegally, this wouldn't happen. Surely news of the danger has to well known in Mexico. It would be like playing on the highway during the morning commute, not the most intelligent thing to do.

[luckytxn 2,264]

They gambled and failed. Might have been better to stay home.

[Pooky 3,795]

Agent Mario Escalante blames the increases on human smugglers who lure naive crossers into dangerous situations.

"They weren't told that they were gonna have to walk for days. They weren't told that they were gonna have to go over mountain ranges. They weren't told that they were gonna have to sleep in the hot desert or maybe the cold desert," Escalante says.

But they were told that it is illegal.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

The solution to this problem? Don't cross illegally. There, problem solved.

[lostinblue 1,989]

This is the number one reason you need to secure the border. To save a nine year olds life or prevent her from being raped for weeks on end during the land crossing. If you had a puppy die in this manner the animial rights people would be up in arms. Every summer we get warnings about leaving your dog in a hot car. Where are these same people warning people in mexico and centeral america about dying in an american desert and it is best to stay home.The lack of compassion in this world is hard to understand.

No más cruces en la frontera

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/mexico/border.html

To curb deaths, the American government has been running an advertising campaign in Mexico, warning people of the horrors.

''The message is, 'No más cruces en la frontera,' no more crosses on the border,' '' Commissioner Bonner said in unveiling the new plan earlier this month in Texas. He said 80 percent of the deaths in a given year happen between May and August.

The government has also increased staffing of Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue Units, called Borstar, which deploys emergency medical technicians like Mr. Stroud, to assist people found in desperate condition in the desert.

The publicity campaign seems to have had little effect, say border agents and illegal immigrants.

Ramínez Bermúdez, 26, walked for four days in 100-degree heat, and said he knew full well what he was getting into. He had been caught four times before his apprehension this week, he said.

Though he has a 25-acre farm in southern Mexico, Mr. Bermúdez said he could earn up to $200 a day picking cherries in California. He was distressed, though, at getting caught and at the failure to meet a coyote, or smuggler, who had agreed to pick him up and members of his group for $1,200 each.

Mr. Stroud has developed a ritual to cope with the increased number of bodies he has seen among the mesquite bushes and barrel cactus of the Sonoran. He has seen children as young as 10, their bodies bloated after decomposing in the heat, and mothers wailing next to them.

''I say a little prayer for every body,'' he said. ''You try not to let it get to you. But every one of these bodies is somebody's son or daughter, somebody's mother or father.''

[Ban Hammer 13,360]

news flash - bank robbers sometimes get killed robbing a bank too!

[sachinky 465]

news flash - bank robbers sometimes get killed robbing a bank too!

Troo dat.

[SMR 368]

Though he has a 25-acre farm in southern Mexico, Mr. Bermúdez said he could earn up to $200 a day picking cherries in California. He was distressed, though, at getting caught and at the failure to meet a coyote, or smuggler, who had agreed to pick him up and members of his group for $1,200 each.

'

$200 a day. Even if he's working a 16 hour day, that's well in excess of minimum wage ($12.50/hour). I thought that we were paying illegal immigrants less than minimum wage and that's why if we eliminate illegal immigration food prices will sky-rocket.

While it's true that hiring legal workers would mean payroll taxes, I don't see why you couldn't attract domestic workers for $200 a day. It's reasonable to try. And if you can't, you'll have justification for allowing migrant workers to come and take the jobs legally (through worker visas).

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

$200 a day. Even if he's working a 16 hour day, that's well in excess of minimum wage ($12.50/hour). I thought that we were paying illegal immigrants less than minimum wage and that's why if we eliminate illegal immigration food prices will sky-rocket.

While it's true that hiring legal workers would mean payroll taxes, I don't see why you couldn't attract domestic workers for $200 a day. It's reasonable to try. And if you can't, you'll have justification for allowing migrant workers to come and take the jobs legally (through worker visas).

They often get paid by weight, but even the hourly rate can be $25.00 an hour, or higher. The tighter the border gets, the lower the supply of available workers is, and the law of supply and demand kicks in. There is a talent to picking produce without damaging it, and given an often tight window of opportunity to get the product to the market in the appropriately ripe condition, farmers can not afford to mess around. No union is needed, as the workers use their own variety of "collective bargaining" to commit highway robbery.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Luke 10:25-37

[spookyturtle 9,466]

And a sad part of this is the there are Americans who work with the coyotes.

[sandinista! 1,816]

They often get paid by weight, but even the hourly rate can be $25.00 an hour, or higher. The tighter the border gets, the lower the supply of available workers is, and the law of supply and demand kicks in. There is a talent to picking produce without damaging it, and given an often tight window of opportunity to get the product to the market in the appropriately ripe condition, farmers can not afford to mess around. No union is needed, as the workers use their own variety of "collective bargaining" to commit highway robbery.

that's very possible, though i'm still inclined to take the word of a guy who's not even been able to successfully cross the border, much less start working here, with a big grain of salt. people in impoverished countries believe all kinds of crazy shite about how much money they're going to be making when they finally make it to the us of a. you should hear some of the bs that's believed as fact about american employment and money making opportunities by moroccans. i doubt it's that much different from what people'll believe in mexico.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

that's very possible, though i'm still inclined to take the word of a guy who's not even been able to successfully cross the border, much less start working here, with a big grain of salt. people in impoverished countries believe all kinds of crazy shite about how much money they're going to be making when they finally make it to the us of a. you should hear some of the bs that's believed as fact about american employment and money making opportunities by moroccans. i doubt it's that much different from what people'll believe in mexico.

And they are lied to by the coyotes and their network. They are told grand stories of all the money they can make and send back home to help the family. I don't know how much of an underground community you have in your area, but I know of people who have paid 10K-12K to come here with a coyote. To make $8 per hour.

[sandinista! 1,816]

Luke 10:25-37

yeah, the samaritan should have been checking that guy's papers, making sure he was legal to be crossing from jerusalem to jericho first. illegal immigration sucks, but last i checked it's not a death penalty offense. the fact that there are sadists from our side of the border out there slashing freaking water bottles makes me want to vomit, and is as sickening as the coyoyes. that water bottle could save a child's life. a child who had no choice in crossing that desert in the first place/