Thread: Troopers cross paths with immigrants

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3629734

Troopers cross paths with immigrants

Through years of experience, the State Patrol knows the signs of a possible group of illegal travelers. Some who see the hardship call it "a tragedy."
By Kirk Mitchell
Denver Post Staff Writer
DenverPost.com



Fort Morgan - Fourteen sets of footprints in newly fallen snow told the story.

For the state troopers who patrol this normally slow- paced section of the state, it was obvious the driver of a wrecked van hadn't been the only one riding in the vehicle.

The tracks off Interstate 76 in Morgan County led to an abandoned trailer where troopers found 14 suspected illegal immigrants Tuesday.

"It wasn't too hard to figure out what happened," said Trooper Craig Harris.

They were among 50 suspected illegal immigrants caught after four storm-related accidents Tuesday. Two other vehicles packed with suspected illegal immigrants crashed Monday.

And in a traffic stop Wednesday, Harris thought he had pulled over a vehicle full of illegal immigrants.

The Chevy Trailblazer had all the hallmarks of an illegal trip, with eight people stuffed into the sport utility vehicle. The troopers don't look for illegal immigrants specifically, but if they notice something unusual, they'll investigate.

As it turned out, the eight were returning from a trip to Mexico and all had legal documentation to be in this country.

The driver, Timo Aquino Aguilar, 42, of Walworth, Wis., said he and some friends were traveling together to save money. The two in the back, he said, were sleeping on the long trip.

In the past, Harris often has pulled over a van or SUV thinking the driver is the sole occupant, only to discover up to 20 people sprawled out on the floor, hiding under seats or piled on top of each other.

I-76 is a key corridor for illegal immigrants traveling from Mexico, up through Arizona and then across Colorado, said Master Trooper Ron Watkins.

Monday night, 21 suspected illegal immigrants jumped out of a van near Brush after it smashed into a tractor-trailer, and ran to a nearby McDonald's. Morgan County sheriff's deputies rounded all of them up.

Once cornered, they typically don't resist arrest, Harris said.

"Once you stop them, they are real cooperative," he said.

That's why he wasn't concerned when he saw the tracks heading toward the trailer Tuesday morning. The 14 people hiding inside readily surrendered.

He said illegal immigrants usually are looking for work and don't want to turn any contact with authorities into a serious criminal case.

The illegal immigrants typically carry only a knapsack or plastic bag with a single change of clothes and not much else.

"You kind of feel sorry for them," Harris said.

Trooper Burl Giffin said groups of illegal immigrants traveling together are simply called "loads" by officers.

"It's human cargo," Giffin said. "It's a tragedy."

It was fortunate in the latest round of accidents involving suspected illegal immigrants that no one was seriously hurt, he said.

"They pay $500 to $10,000 to get to the U.S., only to lose all of the money because a 'coyote' (driver) didn't know how to drive," Giffin said.

Oh my heart just bleeds for these people. Wait let me use some of my tax money and provide them with some food and any other things that they need to keep alive. Wait we are already doing that. Know I feel just wonderful knowing how my Taxes are being spent. Lets continue to do this forever and not get a workable condition for these people to get into America a safe way and pay taxes and become real American citizens. Wait that is what our government is doing now. Hum maybe we should be stopping these people at the border for their own good. Wait that is to simple for the American Government to do lets debate this for a long time and come up with half measures that make everyone feel good. Wait we are doing that now too.
Just close the Border down please! How hard is it really!