Thread: Illegal immigrant rescues boy in desert

By TERRY TANG, Associated Press writer
Sat Nov 24, 1:27 AM ET

PHOENIX - A 9-year-old boy looking for help after his mother crashed their van in the southern Arizona desert was rescued by a man entering the U.S. illegally, who stayed with him until help arrived the next day, an official said.

The 45-year-old woman, who eventually died while awaiting help, had been driving on a U.S. Forest Service road in a remote area just north of the Mexican border when she lost control of her van on a curve on Thanksgiving, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada said.

The van vaulted into a canyon and landed 300 feet from the road, he said. The woman, from Rimrock, north of Phoenix, survived the impact but was pinned inside, Estrada said.

Her son, unhurt but disoriented, crawled out to get help and was found about two hours later by Jesus Manuel Cordova, 26, of Magdalena de Kino in the northern Mexican state of Sonora. Unable to pull the mother out, he comforted the boy while they waited for help.

The woman died a short time later.

"He stayed with him, told him that everything was going to be all right," Estrada said.

As temperatures dropped, he gave him a jacket, built a bonfire and stayed with him until about 8 a.m. Friday, when hunters passed by and called authorities, Estrada said. The boy was flown to University Medical Center in Tucson as a precaution but appeared unhurt.

"We suspect that they communicated somehow, but we don't know if he knows Spanish or if the gentleman knew English," Estrada said of the boy.

"For a 9-year-old it has to be completely traumatic, being out there alone with his mother dead," Estrada said. "Fortunately for the kid, (Cordova) was there. That was his angel."

Cordova was taken into custody by Border Patrol agents, who were the first to respond to the call for help. He had been trying to walk into the U.S. when he came across the boy.

The boy and his mother were in the area camping, Estrada said. The woman's husband, the boy's father, had died only two months ago. The names of the woman and her son were not being released until relatives were notified.

Cordova likely saved the boy, Estrada said, and his actions should remind people not to quickly characterize illegal immigrants as criminals.

"They do get demonized for a lot of reasons, and they do a lot of good. Obviously this is one example of what an individual can do," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071124/...bz9BEC184XIr0F

Oh puleeeeez, do you really think this one little good samaritan act makes up for all the devastation and destruction the illegals have caused U.S. citizens?

Pat Senor Wonderful on the back, and then send him back to Mexico and tell him to come back the right way.

"We suspect that they communicated somehow, but we don't know if he knows Spanish or if the gentleman knew English," Estrada said of the boy.

Oh give me a break and then this tidbit...

"For a 9-year-old it has to be completely traumatic, being out there alone with his mother dead," Estrada said. "Fortunately for the kid, (Cordova) was there. That was his angel."

infinity...

Originally Posted by americangirl

Oh puleeeeez, do you really think this one little good samaritan act makes up for all the devastation and destruction the illegals have caused U.S. citizens?

Pat Senor Wonderful on the back, and then send him back to Mexico and tell him to come back the right way.

what devastation & destruction?? arent u being a little too dramatic??

Originally Posted by IndianaJones

"We suspect that they communicated somehow, but we don't know if he knows Spanish or if the gentleman knew English," Estrada said of the boy.

Oh give me a break and then this tidbit...
[quote:3rzhga7d]
"For a 9-year-old it has to be completely traumatic, being out there alone with his mother dead," Estrada said. "Fortunately for the kid, (Cordova) was there. That was his angel."

infinity...[/quote:3rzhga7d]

but if the news said.. .illegal immigrant sees boys & just keeps going & doesnt help. cause he doesnt want to get caught?? what would u be saying then??

Tonight, Rick Sanchez (CNN's Out in the Open Host) had a poll on this issue to which a super majority of those responding said that the illegal should get a green card for helping the young crash victim-I don't agree. A "thank you" to the illegal who helped is sufficient and not the granting of a green card-if we set that type of precedent, the slippery slope will lead to all types of claims by IA's that they've assisted in humanitarian aid to citizens or legal permanent residents in hopes legal status will follow. It's wonderful that this individual helped this young boy; however, we cannot start granting green cards, which really are a path to citizenship, to every individual residing or entering the U.S. illegally who aids or feels they've aided a citizen or legal U.S. permanent resident in some way. Again, I'm so glad this individual had the decency to help this boy, but I don't feel green cards should be used as a green card medal.

Sorry, but this is a nation of laws. Seeing a display of common human decency is always great, but it doesn't validate the presence of millions of illegal aliens. I hope this fellow continues to make a positive impact in Mexico, where he belongs. Who are we to deprive Mexico of such an "angel"?

It was a wonderful thing for the young man to do - no doubt about it.

No one has said or tried to say there are some otherwise good people among the illegal aliens. They are, however, breaking the law - not just illegal entry - but so many other laws.

Among those otherwise good people are far too many criminals, drug dealers and drunk drivers.

It is just a good story - about a good man -

For every story like that, there are dozens and dozens of stories of Americans killed and maimed by illegals. There are stories of American taxpayers having to take from their own children to furnish the needs of illegal aliens.

As I said, it's a wonderful story about an wonderful man - it changes nothing concerning illegal immigration -

When you get right down to it - isn't it exactly what any of us would do? What we would expect from any human being.

Originally Posted by rainbow13

Tonight, Rick Sanchez (CNN's Out in the Open Host) had a poll on this issue to which a super majority of those responding said that the illegal should get a green card for helping the young crash victim-I don't agree. A "thank you" to the illegal who helped is sufficient and not the granting of a green card-if we set that type of precedent, the slippery slope will lead to all types of claims by IA's that they've assisted in humanitarian aid to citizens or legal permanent residents in hopes legal status will follow. It's wonderful that this individual helped this young boy; however, we cannot start granting green cards, which really are a path to citizenship, to every individual residing or entering the U.S. illegally who aids or feels they've aided a citizen or legal U.S. permanent resident in some way. Again, I'm so glad this individual had the decency to help this boy, but I don't feel green cards should be used as a green card medal.

i agree with you.. i dont think he deserves a green card for what he did.. i think its just nice that for once people see that immigrants are not all bad

For every story like that, there are dozens and dozens of stories of Americans killed and maimed by illegals. There are stories of American taxpayers having to take from their own children to furnish the needs of illegal aliens.

as im sure there are lots of stories that illegals do but they dont ever make the news. i get tired of hearing how they kill & maim americans & yet we dont turn around & look around us & see that there are more americans killing americans..innocent americans..

its very sad that some illegals come into this country & have no respect for it & they commit crimes.. such as dui's but its not fair that because of them every illegal immigrant gets categorized

As I said, it's a wonderful story about an wonderful man - it changes nothing concerning illegal immigration -

i never said it did.. it nice to see a chane in the flow

Code:

When you get right down to it - isn't it exactly what any of us would do?  What we would expect from any human being.

i dont think that any of us would do that.. u would.. i would.. not everyone would.. a lot of people think of themselves first