Unusually wet Arizona winter leads to more illegal immigrant border deaths

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: LA Times

An unusually wet winter in Arizona this year has been lethal for illegal immigrants crossing from Mexico into the United States, with nine people dying from hypothermia since November.

The same number of immigrants died of hypothermia during the previous three winters combined.

"When you are wet, your risk is a lot higher," said Dr. Bruce Parks, chief medical examiner at the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office. "Wet clothing takes the heat away from the body. You've lost that insulation — your body can't react."

....

Among them was Enrique Zapata Senduo, a 47-year-old Mexican who died in a pool of muddy water under a cottonwood tree in the desert southwest of Picacho Peak, about 75 miles southeast of Phoenix.

....

This winter, for instance, the cause of death of 32 of the first 57 bodies was undetermined, according to the Arizona Daily Star's border-death database. The database is compiled using information from the Pima and Cochise County medical examiners' offices.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-immigration-winter,0,2799004.story

[virgogal]

1. Sad,but with our job situation so bad why would anyone want to come?

[depakid]

2. Damned if you do...

Heatstroke or thirst on the one hand- hypothermia on the other.

[Kali]

3. I haven't seen a whole lot of sign lately.

I suppose they are crossing to the west right now for the cooler weather.

[Judi Lynn]

4. If they would only explain that they are FLEEING from a leftist President,

our government would give them instant legal status, offer them social security, an instant work visa, instant access to Section 8 taxpayer-subsidized housing, food stamps, medical care, financial assistance for education, etc., JUST LIKE CUBAN IMMIGRANTS.

That's all it would take.

No more INS chasing them around, throwing them in jail, taking shots at them at the border, or getting pounded into a paste by right-wing, foaming-at-the mouth vigilantes, if they are lucky to make the journey without succumbing to exposure, heat, thirst, exhaustion, drowning, like the HUNDREDS of immigrants who DIE in the process ANNUALLY.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_sn8rHLP3qU8/Sjz09DR-1BI/AAAAAAAABiU/8cs_4MXiA_Y/s320/minute+men+grannies.jpg

http://www.azconservative.org.nyud.net:8090/pic_2005apr15_0864.jpg http://farm1.static.flickr.com.nyud.net:8090/99/257930560_28a1f99fcc.jpg

[unabelladonna]

5. we can't afford

more immigrants. here in florida jackson memorial in miami is cutting jobs. it doesn't have the money due to non-payment of bills and the influx of haitians. that means citizens will suffer. we're not in the position to help anyone anymore anytime. it's a fact.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Pointing out the absurdity of the Cuban Adjustment Act which offers people

from Cuba, who are economic immigrants as well, a free ticket to step into daily life in the US with no penalties whatsoever, and, to the total contrary from the immigrants from the rest of the Caribbean, including HAITI, and Latin America, they are given every courtesy to get them started by making it far more comfortable for them to move in, and feel completely fed, housed, protected while they look for work.

Would have felt this is obvious.

[Kali]

7. eh, I'm already suffering from our fucked up "health" "care" system

I don't have a problem treating anybody who really needs help. It should be available to all of us. Plenty of money for wars and other bullshit. We can find a way to cover those who need it.

[Judi Lynn]

8. You're right. We've got tax dollars to spare to destroy towns,

wedding parties murdered in the desert, to go to deadly war on false premises, etc., etc., and ruin the life of every broken-hearted, homeless survivor on earth. But our right-wing goes into total spasms over the fear we just might help a poor person, instead of killing him.

Odd world, isn't it?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. you are 100% wrong.

Every new immigrant buys food locally, pays taxes locally, buys mattresses, furniture, sheets, towels, toilet paper, soap, - in fact every illegal ADDS to the economy over and over again. If you take one splice, a warped perspective, then you can argue that a job may be displaced, but in reality, each new immigrant adds so much more to the economic engine, that many more jobs are safeguarded and more secure.

You have been brainwashed by the Right Wing anti-immigrant media.

[classysassy]

9. The minute men,are Klanmens with out sheets.

I live on the border in southeastern arizona,the biker scum,retired military men and women with too much time on their hands,snow birds,and assorted racist,when ever I drive by a group of the minute men and they wace,I give them a middle finger salute.

[WriteDown]

11. Guess the the good thing is there is no need to leave water jugs out anymore....

:shrug:

[lonestarnot]

12. Until oh about next week.