Report on Border Crossing Deaths Makes the Invisible Visible
So much of what human rights advocates do is try to make the invisible visible. The more marginal and vulnerable the victims and the more remote the geographic location, the harder it is to do.
That, in a nutshell, is the goal and challenge of the San Diego ACLU’s report on border crossing deaths, Humanitarian Crisis: Migrant Deaths at the U.S. – Mexico Border, which was released today and is well reported by Spencer Hsu in The Washington Post. Filmmaker John Carlos Frey also uncovers the crisis at the border in his new documentary The 800 Mile Wall.
Marking the 15th anniversary of the misguided border strategy known as Operation Gatekeeper, the report makes visible the following:
- In the past 15 years, as many as 5,600 people have died.
- These deaths were anticipated in the design of the U.S. border strategy, which deliberately pushes migrants away from inhabited areas into harsh desert and mountainous terrains.
- The rate of deaths has increased despite the economic decline and a drop in migration.
- The number of rescues has decreased despite a massive increase in Border Patrol agents.
Today’s report offers solutions. Starting immediately, the U.S. government can shift more of the existing resources to search and rescue. In short order, the government can better empower nongovernmental humanitarian organizations already aiding in rescue and recovery efforts, create a binational hotline for family members looking for lost loved ones, and improve its tracking of data on deaths.
Ultimately, what is needed is the decency to recognize this problem as a humanitarian crisis and the will to implement more sensible, humane immigration policies that allow migration to come through the ports of entry.
Sep 30th, 2009 at 7:27pm
What about the rights of Americans to live in their own country without having our border invaded by the numerous rapists and murderous gang members coming across the border because the government is too impotent to enforce our laws?
That article above is insane, and it is obviously written by someone who has been driving around in a locked, air conditioned car far from our southern border and has certainly never lost their life or job to an illegal immigrant.
When you walk in to the desert in midsummer with no food or water you die. It's a law of nature. Try hiking in Sonora around late July: simple common sense applies at all times everywhere.
You'll figure it out. This is the AMERICAN Civil liberties union, not the MCLU. Spend money educating them to stay home and fix the problems in their own country. Jeeeeeeez! Enough already!!!!
Oct 1st, 2009 at 1:35am
This really is a horrible situation. The people who are responsible for making the laws, Congress, do not make laws that are enforceable or put appropriate pressure on the agencies that are supposed to enforce the law when they aren't doing their jobs. Apparently, the whole immigration issue is out of hand and I blame Congress for not having the decency to put in the time and effort to make the necessary laws just, sensible and reasonably enforceable by the agency charged therewith. It is a national disgrace that this situation has been so out of hand for so long and a lot of people are suffering because of congressional sloth. But, then, I cannot think of hardly any federal agency that has been functioning properly for a long time now.
Oct 1st, 2009 at 1:55am
Ironically we have become a selfish nation. We were once the nation that welcomed the oppressed, the poor, and the people striving for a better life. We are a nation of immigrants. Today we don't want others to seek the opportunities we have. We make the lives of very desperate people even more desperate.
We won't even allow people who have supported us at the risk of their own lives to immigrate. In many ways we have become heartless.
Oct 1st, 2009 at 6:52pm
Unfortunately, you are sadly misinformed, Chuck. I have traveled the USA for the last 20 years. I have seen our own people, who have been driven out of their jobs by people who are here illegally and have actually stolen our ID's to work here....all against the law. They are NOT immigrants, they have NOT satisified any immigration laws, they come across at the moment of birth to have an "anchor baby"...but, to me, born of an illegal, no matter where or when....makes them both illegal. The cost to our country has been astronomical to KEEP these people here. Had I seen any type of remorse from these people at all, I may sympathize, but the only time they show emotion at all, is when they are being busted and deported....which they should be. I believe that, if Mexico has an economic problem, then it needs resolved in Mexico...not here. After what the Mexican president said about the USA not doing enough to help THEIR people.....then thumbing his nose at our people, at the Mexican embassy in San Diego........I think deportation of the entire grouping needs done. They have overstepped their bounds.
Oct 1st, 2009 at 7:19pm
I believe that we are still a nation of immigrants. However we have made the southern border a come as you are, once you get here we will take care of you. I would like to see immigration fixed, but try telling that to people who are waiting in line. They are not important enough to get in this country, perhaps they should go to the southern border and they can get here sooner.
I don't believe we are a selfish nation we give to everyone, no matter what the problem, no matter what the country. Then we are treated like lepers until they need us again.
Oct 2nd, 2009 at 3:49pm
Why can't the immigrants come in the way our ancestors had to-legally thru the front door? And we had to learn to speak English to survive! And dying on the way? How many of our ancestors died from poor conditions on the boats travelling over? They come here to make $$$ to send back home to Mexico as they live off of the taxes we pay. Many have no intention of staying here. They get housing breaks and other federal financial breaks.
I welcome anyone who wants to come to the US if they do it legally.
Oct 3rd, 2009 at 5:26am
I believe MY safety as an legal citizen of the United States comes before some fucking fence jumper. What should we do, send limo's after them? They're breaking the law and they died, big deal, thats one less person IO have to worry about taking the things I've worked hard for.
Oct 5th, 2009 at 6:58am
When it comes to our neighbors from Mexico trying to come to the U.S. to have a better life, why should anybody die? The problem with the U.S.-Mexico border is that it doesn't need to exist, it's just a symbol of de facto apartheid of brown-skinned people foisted on Mexico back in 1848 during the white supremacist era of the U.S., and now it's time it went poof.
How? It's time that Pres. Obama called on Congress in a bipartisan spirit to invite the people of Mexico to dissolve their corrupt Mexican federal govt. and join the U.S. as 10+ new states, allowing Mexico to finally be developed as a U.S. sector, alleviating the root causes of poverty, while giving the U.S. 760K sq. mi. of new territory and expanding its borders to the seas, increasing security against world terrorism and illegal immigration from overseas.
Google "Megamerge Dissolution Solution" to read my proposal that is causing a buzz and can be started as early as 2010 to end a 160-year old festering problem and make the U.S. a model for the world.
Oct 5th, 2009 at 9:43am
Our grandchildren are going to be worse off because of our government's decisions to let in illegal immigrants and give them health care, free tuition and housing out the taxpayers pockets. Where is the end to the U.S. paying for other countries disastrous economies? Our government doesn't have the pocketbook now or in the foreseeable future to take on other countries problems. We need to take a look at what is happening to "our" citizens as our country is in an economic disaster.
Dec 7th, 2009 at 11:55am
Chuck Drinnan: We aren't a selfish nation; we give more support and aid to the world than any other country! Do you ever read the figures? We welcome the oppressed, the poor and people striving for a better life the same as we have for generations. You think the lives of our grandfathers and grandmothers weren't desperate? They were dying left and right to get here. They still had to come through the immigration line and pass the tests. There is a risk and these people are taking it. If we wouldnt let them slip through they wouldn't be taking the risk and wouldnt be dying in the first place! -PROBLEM SOLVED- There is a world out there of desperate people that America has been shoving money at. Money we don't have. The world whines about America (just like you) but look how eagerly they accept the dough! Did you grab your Obama bailout money? (It was my money you jerk) These illegal people want to skip the line in front of other desperate people, good people who are trying to do things the right way. But your precious illegals feel they deserve to be here more than Anyone else. THEY feel their lives are worse than anyone's. BUT HEY THEY ARENT. Look at the poor Africans with flies on their eyes and their stomachs bloating from starvation. Their lives aren't better. It isn't right, it isn't fair that these people are skipping line- You Chuck and people who believe as YOU are supporting selfish criminals while hurting the people who absolutely need to come to America or they'll be dead. There is more desperate people in this world than in Mexico- people die not only because of starvation in other countries but because of wars and government persecution. People who are trying to come in legally can't because of YOU Chuck. People who need aid cant get it because illegals are leeching off our system. Our own sick and elderly have had their budgets cut AGAIN. YOU are signing their death certificates and trying to bankrupt our country saying "Let everyone come in". Well this is America, we as a people should can't and should not be forced to support the whole world of desperate people. The desperate need to earn it besides having a tough time. Your idea of heartless is costing me and my poor family money that we don't even have. If you continue to insist on being ignorant, America will be more desperate than Mexico and you will end up unemployed. You will have a very difficult time saving yourself on my pitiful taxes.
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