Thread: Stanfield, Ariz: where "Illegal immig" may be enco

Stanfield, Ariz: where "Illegal immigration may be encountered"
Posted: May 04, 2010 1:11 PM CDT
Updated: May 04, 2010 4:52 PM CDT
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Residents share their stories of immigration turmoil


Louie Vasquez, Stanfield residentReporter: Joel Waldman
Web producers: Forrest Carr and Danya Kline

STANFIELD, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) - The sign in the desert outside Stanfield, Arizona, says it all. "Travel Caution: Smuggling and illegal immigration may be encountered in this area." Residents are very well aware of the problems. And many tell KGUN9 News they're sick of them. For that reason, you will not find many people living there opposed to SB 1070, Arizona's tough new crackdown on illegal immigration.

The recent outcry for better border security started with the late March murder of prominent rancher Robert Krentz in southeastern Arizona -- a murder suspected, but not proven, to have been the work of an illegal border crosser. It was at the height of that debate that the Arizona legislature passed, and Governor Jan Brewer signed, SB 1070, which some have characterized as a law making it "illegal to be an illegal." The measure criminalizes illegal entry into the United States and requires local police and sheriff's deputies to help arrest violators. Late last week the legislature passed an amendment removing race, ethnicity and national origin as a reason to question someone. But a national backlash accusing Arizona of racism shows no signs of abating.

The ink on the governor's signature was still wet on Friday when a group of suspected drug smugglers opened fire on a Pinal County Sheriff's deputy in the desert near the I-8/I-10 interchange. The deputy was not seriously wounded. An intense search through the desert netted no confirmed suspects, but did nab 17 illegal aliens.

That point is not lost on the residents of rural Stanfield, a small town about 20 miles west of the interchange. Just off Interstate 8 in town is Laveigh's Lounge. Residents come there to relax and throw back cold ones. But KGUN9's Joel Waldman found that when it comes to the issue of border security and immigration enforcement, the atmosphere was anything but laid back. Pat Dowdle told Waldman, "There's so many drugs in this little town, it's pathetic."

Drugs are something the smugglers are willing to kill over, according to Herb Fillius. "They will shoot you in a heartbeat. They didn't have a problem shooting at that cop, they laid an ambush on that cop, they shot at the helicopter," Fillius said, as he raised his arm and shook it at the sky.

At first Waldman had a hard time finding residents willing to talk to him. Many made it clear they just don't trust the media or politicians. Fillius told Waldman that the media only portray the viewpoints of liberals.

Louis Vasquez's weatherbeaten face betrays the fact that he is no stranger to the desert. His T-shirt, bearing the slogan "Homeland Security" above a picture of an old-fashioned and heavily armed posse, shows he's no stranger to the border security debate, either. Vasquez bristled at the suggestion that SB 1070 supporters are ignorant or racist. He pulled down his shirt to show his skin, and demanded, "What do you think, am I a redneck? Hell no! I'm brown. I'm brown. But I'm American!"

Well armed residents took the KGUN9 news crew on a tour down dirt roads for a first-hand inspection of one nearby stretch of desert. Explaining the guns, Fillius said, "If you run into drug smugglers, they'll shoot you as soon as look at you."

No drug smugglers looked at or shot at the KGUN9 news crew. But the desert landscape was filled with water bottles, backpacks, and other reminders that the official sign warning of human and drug smuggling was not kidding. It's a sign that now defines life for many residents of this small Arizona town -- a town where many are feeling increasingly betrayed, isolated, and ignored in the national conversation over border security and immigration enforcement.


http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=12424408

But the desert landscape was filled with water bottles, backpacks, and other reminders that the official sign warning of human and drug smuggling was not kidding. It's a sign that now defines life for many residents of this small Arizona town -- a town where many are feeling increasingly betrayed, isolated, and ignored in the national conversation over border security and immigration enforcement.

Several months ago an environmental group, near San Diego, were complaining about how the hot air ballons, when they land, scrape the bottom of the desert and are dangerous to the environment. I don't ever hear them yell about all thousand tons of trash illegals leave scatteredall over the desert from Caifornia to Arizona.

I love the Arizona desert and have,in the past,spent many winters hiking the AZ deserts around Tucson.

Sadly I have not been in the desert for several years now because of the drug & human smuggers.It's just not safe and that is just wrong I cannot enjoy our beautiful deserts in my own country.