Thread: 2007 an increasingly tragic year for illegal immigrants

2007 an increasingly tragic year for illegal immigrants


Zack Quaintance
December 30, 2007 - 4:02PM
GRANJENO — This year, the quest for a better life often ended in death in the Rio Grande Valley.

Authorities found dozens of immigrants’ bodies in Hidalgo, Starr and Brooks counties.

Those immigrants who didn’t succumb to heat exhaustion or other harsh elements lost their lives after the human smugglers who ushered them into this country took great risks fleeing from police on Valley roads or in swims across the Rio Grande.

Last week, the U.S. Border Patrol released numbers showing assaults on their agents had increased this year, as smugglers became more desperate. The agency’s heads said the increased attacks were proof of their agents’ strong show on the ground.

Law enforcement’s pressure on illegal immigration will only likely continue increasing in 2008.

For one, sections of the proposed border fence are set to go up in this area starting in the spring — despite local leaders condemnation of the federal project.

In preparation, federal officials have approached many of the residents in Granjeno, a roughly 300-resident hamlet along the Rio Grande just south of Mission. The residents have refused to allow government workers to survey their land for construction.

In 2008, government officials say they may take legal action against residents these landowners. These cases could hit the courts soon.

Earlier this month, residents in Granjeno said they will exhaust all means of keeping the government off their land. Rumors surfaced in early December that the government had mailed a letter to landowners along the river, and Granjeno held an impromptu town meeting later that night.

Yolanda Martinez spoke for the group.

“We’ll do whatever it takes to keep them away,â€

Thanks to the Mexican Government for not taking care of their people by providing jobs and and opportunities and thanks to the American Government letting special interest groups like Walmart, Citigroup, Fannie Mae, the Ford Corporation, McDonalds and on and on, these people are dying in the desert.

Basically it is the wealthy that are killing these people and are killing the middle class of America.

What a great world we live in.

I love how all the pro illegal advocates point the finger at the USA as though it's our fault for these deaths because we won't open our borders completely and let everyone in at will.

Paige...your avatar is hilarious