Thread: New word for drug smuggler...Racist AZ news...

Arizona Gov. Stands by Claim That Most Illegals Smuggle Drugs Into Country

Published June 26, 2010
| FOXNews.com


June 25: Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer attends a ceremony commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the start of the Korean War in Phoenix.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is defending her comments that most illegal immigrants entering Arizona are being using to transport drugs across the border -- an assertion that critics have decried as exaggerated and racist.

Brewer responded to calls for statistics or other information supporting her assertion by issuing a written statement late Friday.

"The simple truth is that the majority of human smuggling in our state is under the direction of the drug cartels, which are by definition smuggling drugs," she said, citing a Los Angeles Times report from March 2009 that found "the business of smuggling humans across the Mexican border has been brisk, with many thousands coming across every year."

The report, quoting government officials and congressional testimonies, also found that smugglers affiliated with the drug cartels "have taken the enterprise to a new level -- and made it more violent -- by commandeering much of the operation from independent coyotes."

Brewer added that the article and "many federal government reports have drawn the same conclusions."

Earlier Friday, Brewer said the motivation of "a lot" of the illegal immigrants is to enter the United States to look for work, but that drug rings press them into duty as drug "mules."

"I believe today, under the circumstances that we're facing, that the majority of the illegal trespassers that are coming into the state of Arizona are under the direction and control of organized drug cartels and they are bringing drugs in," Brewer said.

"There's strong information to us that they come as illegal people wanting to come to work. Then they are accosted and they become subjects of the drug cartel," she said.

Critics called on Brewer to produce evidence to back up her claim or take it back.

"Unless Gov. Brewer can provide hard data to substantiate her claim that most undocumented people crossing into Arizona are 'drug mules,' she must retract such an outrageous statement," said Oscar Martinez, a University of Arizona history professor whose teaching and research focuses on border issues. "If she has no data and is just mouthing off for political reasons, as I believe she is doing, then she must apologize to the people of Arizona for lying to them so blatantly."

Sen. Jesus Ramon Valdes, a member of the Mexican Senate's northern border affairs commission, called Brewer's comments racist and irresponsible.

"Traditionally, migrants have always been needy, humble people who in good faith go looking for a way to better the lives of their families," Ramon Valdes said.

A Border Patrol spokesman said illegal immigrants do sometimes carry drugs across the border, but he said he couldn't provide numbers because the smugglers are turned over to prosecutors.

"I wouldn't say that every person that is apprehended is being used as a mule," spokesman Mario Escalante said from Tucson. "The smuggling organizations, in their attempts to be lucrative and to make more money, they'll try pretty much whatever they need."

T.J. Bonner, president of the union that represents border agents, said some illegal border-crossers carry drugs but most don't. People with drugs face much stiffer penalties for entering the U.S. illegally, and very few immigrants looking for work want to risk the consequences, Bonner said.

"The majority of people continue to come across in search of work, not to smuggle drugs," he said. "Most of the drug smuggling is done by people who intend to do that. That's their livelihood."

A spokesman for a human rights group said Brewer's comments were "an oversimplification of reality."

"We have some stories of people being forced to carry drugs," said Jaime Farrant, policy director for Tucson-based Border Action Network. "We disagree with the assessment that people are crossing (to carry drugs). We have no evidence that's the truth. We think most people come in search of jobs or to reunite with their families."

Brewer spoke Friday when asked about comments she made in a recent election debate among Republican candidates for governor.

She said during the June 15 debate that she believed that most illegal immigrants were not entering the United States for work. She then associated illegal immigrants with drug smuggling, drop houses, extortion and other criminal activity.

Brewer on April 23 signed a controversial new state immigration enforcement law that will take effect July 29 unless blocked by a court. Five legal challenges already are pending in federal court, and the U.S. Justice Department may file its own challenge.

The Arizona law requires police officers enforcing another law to question a person's immigration status if there's a reasonable suspicion that the person is in the country illegally.

Francisco Loureiro, who has run a migrant shelter for more than 20 years in Nogales, Sonora, across the border from the Arizona town of the same name, said Brewer's comments are aimed at turning the people of Arizona against migrants and to strengthen support for the state's new law.

"That governor is racist and she has to look for a way to harm the image of migrants before American society and mainly before the people of Arizona," Loureiro said.

Robert Suro, a University of Southern California journalism professor who founded a research center on Hispanics, said he was skeptical of Brewer's assertion, partly because federal authorities would be trumpeting many more drug seizures than they do. "The Border Patrol is not secretive about saying when they apprehend 10 people and found knapsacks (containing drugs) nearby," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06 ... s-country/

"Unless Gov. Brewer can provide hard data to substantiate her claim that most undocumented people crossing into Arizona are 'drug mules,' she must retract such an outrageous statement," said Oscar Martinez, a University of Arizona history professor whose teaching and research focuses on border issues. "If she has no data and is just mouthing off for political reasons, as I believe she is doing, then she must apologize to the people of Arizona for lying to them so blatantly."

She doesn't have to apologize and or retract anything you la raza racist!

Anything anyone says against illegal immigration is declared racist. The card has been overplayed to the point it's become meaningless.

Let's all drop him a quick email:
oscar-martinez@ns.arizona.edu

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

Anything anyone says against illegal immigration is declared racist. The card has been overplayed to the point it's become meaningless.

You know what, I just don't care anymore if I am called "racists." That name does not bother me anymore than being called white. You are exactly right, that card has been over played for the past 40 years until it has become meaningless. When I hear the term racist being used it is usually being done because someone can't get their way. We have all been so use to feeling guilt and shame when we hear that word that we cower down. I could care a less. I feel no shame, I had no slaves in my family and feel no guilt when i hear that word. I don't believe that we are equal and don't expect to be treated as anyone's equal. That is something you have to earn. So let the leftist use an old worn out term all they want. It doesn't phase some of us.

I think Brewer over spoke and she should clarify herself. It would be true to say that the cartels which make more money from drug smuggling are charging fees to every group that crosses. They use the human smuggling groups for decoys and they recruit from them for drug mules.

When they finally adopt 'RACIST' to blanket cover everything from illegal entry to child molestation to drug running...that's enough!

Traditionally a bit of drugs were hidden in a body cavity or wherever they could, in part of a car, to help finance the trip. Many go back and forth to visit family all the time. They also get deported and have to find a fast way back in order to keep their job. They will have a "cousin" fill their job till they can get back. Now if they are working for low wages and still managing to support themselves here, as well as send substantial monies home to the family for their support, paying to visit their families, paying to get back when deported - now how do you think they do that?

the word racist is getting to be so old anymore
that i wonder how many people just roll their eyes when they hear it used

As of late I have seen a little less of the "Racist, Fascist" stuff but have started see some new things like "We speak for those who cannot speak for themselves" and "On the right side of history".
I do think the gay/lesbian crowd beat them to that last one though...
But if they are not anything else, they are consistent... never address any hard issues.