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Humanitarian Groups: Border Patrol Surveillance Hampers Aid Efforts to Distressed 'Migrants'
From the Associated Press...
TUCSON, Ariz. — Humanitarian groups setting up emergency camps in the desert to try to save some of the illegal immigrants who die trying to cross the border said Thursday that Border Patrol surveillance will hinder their efforts. Churches and humanitarian groups have set up camps dubbed "Arks of the Covenant" — one in Arizona and one in northern Sonora, Mexico — to provide food, water and medical help to immigrants who otherwise might die in the desert's summer heat.

But the Rev. John Fife of Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson said stricter Border Patrol surveillance will stop immigrants from seeking help because many immigrants will not enter a camp if they see a Border Patrol agent parked nearby.
Because, unlike the good Rev. Fife (a particularly unfortunate choice of name), the illegals are not stupid.
The Border Patrol has increased patrols and agents recently, especially in California and Texas, making Arizona the busiest point along the Mexican border for illegal crossers. Michael Nicley, who took over as interim chief of the Border Patrol's Tucson sector last August, said he has told officials that "there are no free zones in the Tucson sector. There is not an avenue of ingress where Border Patrol agents do not patrol."
He actually sounds like he wants to do his job.
He added that he had "no interest in keeping them from providing humanitarian aid. Quite the contrary." He said people who need help "time and time again" seek out Border Patrol agents and the presence of an agent within shouting distance is the quickest way to get an immigrant emergency medical care.

The Border Patrol said 172 migrant deaths in Arizona last fiscal year, while critics said at least 221 people died, many because of heat as summer temperatures in the desert rose up to 110 degrees.

The camps are part of a larger campaign by a coalition of human rights groups and churches called No More Deaths. The group is trying to draw attention to what it says is flawed immigration policy and urge reform.
Posted by: Pappy 2005-06-13
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=121512