“Your government has made it far too difficult — and far too dangerous — to cross the border illegally. So you owe us big time money, esse.”
That’s the sentiment behind this $41 million lawsuit, filed on behalf of 11 dead immigrants who died crossing illegally into Arizona from Mexico.
The action filed against the Department of Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asks for $3.75 million for each of the deceased, whose bodies were found last year in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge between Tucson and Yuma.
Attorneys for survivors of the deceased said that U.S. Border Patrol policies had shut down more populous portions of the Arizona border and forced illegal aliens to enter through more remote areas.
‘What these agencies knew — or should have known — is that by doing this, and with a history of deaths in the desert, these people would cross in these dangerous areas,’ said A. James Clark, one of the two Yuma lawyers filing the claim. ‘It would have cost the government nothing to put water stations in, as it had done in other locations.’
Is any commentary even necessary…?
[link via Thuman Faulk]
[update: ‘t seems Don McArthur thinks commentary’s a fine idea.]
Is any commentary even necessary? No, that is unless you are too blind to realize that without illegal Mexican (and parts south) immigrants our economy would be jodido (that’s fucked for you monoligual types). This lawsuit doesn’t sound the least bit frivilous, especially if it goes towards making this perilous entry less so ( I assume this is its intention). If you want to stop illegal immigration simply arrest EMPLOYERS of illegals and put them in jail. As long as there is work up here in el Norte there will be workers coming across. Let’s not kill them off just because they want to do the lousy jobs we won’t do ourselves. Go back and find Jim Harrison’s heart-wrenching story on this subject in Men’s Journal several months ago and see if you think the same way towards our impoverished neighbors to the south.
Now you’re just trolling, LeftB. Or else you’re insane.
I reject the argument that Mexican illegals do all of our dirty work because I’m for cracking down on businesses that hire them, too.
Sorry, but you rolls the dice and you takes your chances. There are consequences to trying to sneak into the country illegally. And to suggest that the U.S. government is responsible for providing refreshing beverages to aid illegal border crossers is preposterous. I’m all for a daily work permit, etc. Which is a lot different from this.
Perhaps I am insane but your comments sicken me. You have mentioned in the past that you aren’t a right-winger but you are far beyond the right. Have you ever spoken with a Mexican illegal worker? I doubt it. Adios.
I live in a heavily hispanic community in Colorado. And from what I can gather anecdotally from my neighbors (all legals), illegal immigration makes it harder for legals to earn reasonable wages in certain trades, whether as members of painting crews or a roofing crews or what have you.
And it’s dead WRONG to characterize me as anti-immigration (that’s what Pat Buchanan is for, after all), ‘cause I’m not; but I AM anti-ILLEGAL immigration—a different animal altogether. Why that sickens you, I have no idea. Rewarding those who obey our laws (and punishing those who don’t—through deportation, say) is now an ultra-right wing position? Sorry, but I don’t think you can pick or choose what laws you agree to obey.
You conceive of a United States with unlimited resources. Which is why, presumably, you support a lawsuit that would compel the federal government to shell out $41 milllon to the families of people attempting to break the law. In your world, all us greedy “citizens”, with our selfish “jobs” and our cozy “homes” should be paying for all of those less fortunate than ourselves. As if the U.S. isn’t already the most generous country in history. And we already HAVE a quite generous immigration policy. But wake up, buddy. A country that doesn’t monitor its borders is putting itself in grave danger.
But Jeff, don’t you know that anyone who disagrees with Leftbanker and his/her views is evil! I mean, it’s obvious that we owe the entire frickin’ loser world a living!
Tell you what, LeftB, why don’t we just make Mexico the 51st state, take it over completely. Why then they wouldn’t be illegal immigrants anymore, would they? What’s that? What about Mexico’s loss of sovereignty and national identity? Oh, <i>those</i> things don’t matter. After all, they don’t matter in the case of the United States, right? Then why should they matter for any other country? Why shouldn’t we <s>take over</s> incorporate the entire world into our <s>empire</s> union? After all, we’re so rich, everyone wants a piece. Isn’t that a better way to get it?
Darn, why didn’t I go for the “hegemon.org” domain name.
Wow, Andrea…I guess the Miss Congeniality Award we were about to present you is now being handed over to someone more deserving…
Jeff, do you wanna be Miss Congeniality? You have the legs for the dress that comes with it.
Sure. If you don’t mind a 6-inch spiked heel up your ass…
By the way, <i>Miss Congeniality</i> is one of the worst movies ever. The worst—as I’ve said over and over—is <i>Patch Adams.</i>
…But <i>Miss Congeniality</i> is close on its, er, <i>heels</i>…
Well, Jeff, I do have my vices…