It's hard to escape the conclusion that the water district's board is more concerned about illegal immigration than about human lives. Border security is a good thing, but crossing shouldn't be a death sentence. Even Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter of El Cajon, who is no friend to illegal immigrants, is appalled by the drownings; last month he wrote a letter to water officials calling the deaths "a costly consequence to past indifference."
All-American deathtrap
Renovations to the All-American Canal will likely add to the deadly toll it takes on illegal immigrants.
July 21, 2007
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE a less aptly named water project than the All American Canal in Imperial County. There's nothing American about watching people drown by the hundreds while doing next to nothing to save them, but that is precisely what managers of the canal have been doing for decades.
The 82-mile canal carries water from the Colorado River to the Imperial Valley and runs parallel to the U.S.-Mexico border. That makes it a barrier for illegal immigrants, one that many are desperate enough to cross. More than 500 people have drowned in the canal since 1942, and it is about to become a lot more dangerous. About 23 miles of the waterway along a route particularly popular with migrants is being lined with concrete to prevent water seepage. As a result, the water will flow faster, while the canal sides will become nearly impossible to scale.
A study by state and federal public health officials concluded that steps should be built into the canal sides to avoid drownings of humans and large mammals, but the federal Bureau of Reclamation refuses to include them, saying they would cause structural instability and leakage. Meanwhile, the Imperial Irrigation District, which operates the canal, has refused to add even such basic safety measures as lifelines — cables with buoys that cross the canal, which people can grab to avoid being swept away. The district's bizarre justification is that adding lifelines would increase its liability, which is like saying you shouldn't throw a buoy to a drowning man because he might sue you if he survives. Other parts of the canal have lifelines to protect district workers.
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In retrospect...
I guess "liberal" support for IllegalImmigration has consequences, eh? There are only two ways to prevent such problems: either pass out citizenships at the border to anyone who asks, or strictly enforce our ImmigrationLaws. Anything in between - such as the path chosen by many "liberals" - results in problems.
This follows the same
This follows the same line about guns, "guns don't kill people, people do". Build more blocks in their path coming here. Place blame where it is deserved. Our government, businesses in the US, and Mexican government are the true problem. "Stop the Magnets". You stop the people risking their lives for businesses and our government hiring them! Report ILLEGALS to local, state, and federal authorities. Stop sanctuary cities and churches. Pressure local officials to do their job and let police do theirs, by asking Legal status. Do business only with businesses doing the right thing, not hiring ILLEGALS. Report businesses hiring ILLEGALS.
Millions have died to protect and prosper this country for us and future generations. We, are obligated, for the country and future generations to stop this nonsense. We have to many government officials and businesses willing to sell this country for their personal gain. Be vigilant, report abuse by government officials and businesses usurping this country law on ILLEGAL immigration.
Build the Fence! Secure the Border! Fire Mr Chertoff!
Remember, you can make a difference!
I guess "liberal" support
Yeah, like "conservatives" watching the deaths of Mexicans like they were crashes at NASCAR.
I should tell you my immigation position up front: if they can cut a deal, I'm not trying to obstruct that, as long as it's not on Black folks' back. But I'm not helping either. Toward the other side, I oppose racist organizations and you have to admit some of them snuck into your movement. If your opposition to immigration doesn't make you suggest something that will hurt Black folks, I'm not obstructing you, either.
I also noted long ago that a large fraction of illegal immigrants overstayed their visas or snuck in from Europe. We have a community of 30,000 undocumented Irish here in NYC...and you don't even want to THINK about the Eastern Europeans and Indians overstaying HB1 visas. If your anti-immigration movement isn't ready to clean out that enclave of illegal Irish too, if it's not willing to extend the same immigration rights to Haitians as to Cubans, if you don't even want to look at anyone but the Mexicans, there's more than a whiff of racism in [editorial] you.
And that's just my position. There's more than a few folk around here that take turns with you...you hold the bucket, they apply the grease, switch jobs after an hour.