Thread: Migrant flights to Mexico might be resumed

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php? ... patriation

See also http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-1594.html for related story

Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Migrant flights to Mexico might be resumed
A federal department is looking for a contractor to operate the flights and related services.
CLAUDINE LoMONACO
Tucson Citizen

The Department of Homeland Security is apparently taking steps to restart a costly program begun last year to return illegal immigrants to their hometowns in Mexico instead of releasing them to nearby towns across the Arizona border.

The department will not confirm the resumption of the flights, but a notice on its Web site last week said it is seeking a contractor to fly up to 300 people a day from Tucson to Mexico.

The notice called for a firm to operate charter flights, provide for on-flight medical and security services, and supply buses and staff to help Mexican officials unload and transport the deported migrants.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Mario Villareal would not comment on the announcement, except to say the department was still discussing the flights with Mexican authorities.

The purpose of the program was to move migrants out of the Arizona's dangerous terrain, Villareal said. Arizona is the most popular, and deadliest, crossing area along the Southwest border.

The federal government has tried several repatriation programs.

In September 2003, the Border Patrol ran a "lateral" program that flew migrants from Arizona to Texas, where they were expelled into Mexican border towns. The three-week pilot program transported more than 6,000 migrants at a cost of more than a million dollars and garnered the criticism of Texas lawmakers, who said the flights only shifted the problem into their back yard.

Last year, as a part of the Arizona Border Control Initiative, a $28 million attempt to reduce illegal immigration in Arizona, the Border Patrol worked with the Mexican government to fly migrants to the interior of Mexico. From July through September, the voluntary program returned more than 14,000 migrants at a cost of $15 million, or a little more than a $1,000 per migrant.

Border Patrol officials called last year's program a success and pointed to a drop in heat-related deaths in targeted areas such as the Tohono O'odham Nation. According to Border Patrol statistics, however, overall migrant deaths went up to 172 from 151.

"It's a major embarrassment to the United States that so many people die every year trying to cross our border," said national Border Patrol union president T.J. Bonner, who called the repatriation flights a costly, futile effort. Migrants will keep coming until the government cracks down on the employers that hire them, he said.

"It shows you how powerful business interests are in this country," Bonner said. "If they say they want cheap labor, then they'll get it. Even if it means hundreds of people die crossing the border each year trying to find work."

The Department of Homeland Security is apparently taking steps to restart a costly program begun last year to return illegal immigrants to their hometowns in Mexico instead of releasing them to nearby towns across the Arizona border.

The South Pole would be better.

Originally Posted by dataman

The Department of Homeland Security is apparently taking steps to restart a costly program begun last year to return illegal immigrants to their hometowns in Mexico instead of releasing them to nearby towns across the Arizona border.

The South Pole would be better.

Maybe <g> .. it would make reentry much more difficult! <g> .. but don't you think that there is a large percentage who will just "try again" and that this must be combined with greater enforcement at the border. Once you've gotten the cows out, shut the barn door so they don't get back in. <g>

Originally Posted by watchman

Originally Posted by dataman

The Department of Homeland Security is apparently taking steps to restart a costly program begun last year to return illegal immigrants to their hometowns in Mexico instead of releasing them to nearby towns across the Arizona border.

The South Pole would be better.

Maybe <g> .. it would make reentry much more difficult! <g> .. but don't you think that there is a large percentage who will just "try again" and that this must be combined with greater enforcement at the border. Once you've gotten the cows out, shut the barn door so they don't get back in. <g>

I am at a loss to understand why, we frequently accept the argument that walls won't work. Consider two walls the length of the border, with about 30 yards between them creating 30 yards of dead space in which spotting and stopping would become easier. With these tools the Border Patrol could work effectively.

To those who say it can't be done, heard of The Great Wall of China"? Transcontinental Railroad? The Chunnel? WTC? Sure it can.

To those who say it can't be done, heard of The Great Wall of China"? Transcontinental Railroad? The Chunnel? WTC? Sure it can.

Funny, but I was talking with somebody today who suggested the same thing. We could start out with a "targeted area" and go from there.
Where there is a will, there is a way. We have the way, but need the will.

we frequently accept the argument that walls won't work.

Maybe it won't stop all of it but it would be a darn good start. I, for one would be perfectly willing to launch a campaign to get people who want secure borders to contribute a couple dollars each to the project. It seems our government is too busy paying hospital bills, buying food and paying rent for illegals to build a wall to cut down on the flow. zMaybe if we went to Washington and said, here's the damn money now build a wall, they would listen.

Not long ago Sensenbrenner was standing on the border between Tiajuana and San Diego. A huge hole in the fence is supposed to be fixed but the environmentalists cry like babies about the birds in the area. Birds can FLY over a fence for the love of God!

If you go to MOD EDIT and look at the pictures of the border you will see barbed wire fence that an average size person can STEP over. What kind of a fence is that?

And the legal points of entry don't seem much better. The last two times I crossed the border as a tourist into Mexico and came back the security was more than slack, it was non-existent. Maybe they are checking cars more than it appears that they are but they certainly aren't stopping very darn many pedestrians. No one bothered to ask me where I was from, look at my license, or ask what I was carrying. I could have been anyone from anywhere carrying anything insice a black plastic bag. My son was asked what was in the bag he was carrying but no one bothered to look to see. Another guy with us was asked if he was a US citizen but not asked to prove it. And that is protecting our borders?http://<br /> <br /> Soon, it look...ter all.<br />

Maybe it won't stop all of it but it would be a darn good start. I, for one would be perfectly willing to launch a campaign to get people who want secure borders to contribute a couple dollars each to the project. It seems our government is too busy paying hospital bills, buying food and paying rent for illegals to build a wall to cut down on the flow. zMaybe if we went to Washington and said, here's the damn money now build a wall, they would listen.

[/url][/quote]

Thanks for the great response.

Your idea has crossed my mind as well. I'm all for it. When do we start? Any comments or ideas are welcome.

I found a site his family set up
http://www.k9mc.com/

If you go there and scroll down the middle of the page you will see an e-mail link called Haabsdefense. I have written to them to ask how to donate. Will keep you posted.