Millions of tax $$ spent teaching illegals how to put out campfires
In San Diego County, California alone from 1996 to 2007, 6561 fires were caused by illegal alien incursions. In just one year, 2007, the cost of these wildfires was nearly half a billion dollars. The US is now spending millions of dollars in Mexico running ads on the proper way to start and extinguish fires after crossing the border illegally.
So once again, our tax dollars are flowing southward by the millions because of the illegal aliens complete disregard for the U.S. and our laws.
Read on:
The environment and illegal immigration are rarely discussed in the same sentence yet our national parks, deserts and waterways are undeniably impacted in a very negative way by the hordes of illegal aliens entering our country. The twenty-four border counties along the line with Mexico are home to some of the largest undeclared garbage dumps in the United States. Millions of illegal aliens have left thousands of tons in trash behind scattered across the deserts and mountains of New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and California.
Border Patrol spokesman Mike Scioli of the Tucson Sector said this in the Sierra Vista Herald (AZ) Newspaper:
“The average illegal immigrant carries 8 pounds of trash. If that is multiplied merely by the ones who are caught — 317,000 in fiscal year 2008, which ended Sept. 30 — then that adds up to more than 1,200 tons of trash.” (see video below)
Considering Border Patrol arrests approximately 1 in 3 or 4 of those who cross, a number that is thankfully increasing, this means that approximately 1 million make the trek north each year carrying 8 million pounds of trash. With twelve to twenty million illegal aliens estimated in the United States, it is possible if not likely, that there is 96 million to 160 million pounds (48,000 tons to 80,000 tons) of trash accumulating and decomposing (or not) in the environmentally sensitive areas along the border and beyond. I have personally seen load-out areas in Arizona that looked like a 747 crash site with thousands of backpacks, clothes, dirty diapers and such going on for a mile or more. Sadly there are dozens more like them.
It is such a serious problem in Arizona that they have an agency dedicated to it. According to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Undocumented Waste Management Project:
“The consequences of UDM waste in Arizona are well documented, and shown to seriously affect human health, environmental quality and economic well-being. Impacts include trash accumulation, illegal trails and paths, erosion and watershed degradation, damaged infrastructure and property, loss of vegetation and wildlife, campfires and escaped fires, abandoned vehicles and bicycles, vandalism, graffiti and site damage (historical, archaeological), and occurrence of bio-hazardous waste. Some reports exist on occurrences of infectious and communicable diseases.”
Trash is only part of the problem. The Border Agency Fire Council, formed in 1996 as a joint effort of 38 US and Mexican agencies is tasked with the responsibility of preventing, mitigating and controlling wildfires in this part of the US. Other State and Federal Agencies conduct other efforts to manage wildfires. In San Diego County alone during the period 1996 to 2007 there were 6,561 fires caused by illegal immigrants, which developed into 247 wildfires and destroyed more than 1 million acres of land and thousands of homes and structures. In just one year, 2007, the total cost of these wildfires was nearly half a billion dollars.
Travel throughout the border area and you will see hundreds to thousands of acres burned from illegal campfires. To combat this the BAFC is running millions of dollars in radio, television, multimedia and bus advertising to teach illegal aliens the proper way to set and extinguish fires after invading America. This advertising is running exclusively in Mexico. They claim this has reduced illegal campfires dramatically from a few hundred to a few dozen each year in San Diego alone. Still, is it the best use of resources to teach illegal aliens proper campfire etiquette or to ensure they never become illegal aliens in the first place by spending those dollars on better border security? This is a classic example of how compartmentalized government acts in it’s own interest without benefit or appreciation of the bigger picture.
On September 1, 2009 on MSNBC, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D) 39th CA said this about the California wildfires:
“I think that also is a signal that our weather patterns are changing and I think that that is further evidence that, you know global warming and the need to do something about it is going to affect us sooner rather than later and I can’t think of a better example than the fact that we’ve had now these habitual wildfires just about every year,”
Never let it be said that a lefty won't take every chance to use global warming as a reason for anything. Ask her about the impact of the people setting some of those fires and she'll go blank. Liberal amnesia.
Illegal aliens are not responsible for all of the trash or all of the fires in the border states. Just about 7,000 fires and 150 million pounds of trash, give or take, in the last 13 years or so. They range from the small campfire that wasn't put out properly to the dramatic wildfires that had half a million people evacuating their homes. It consists of the old rusting tuna can on a remote trail to the massive load-out areas in the deserts. It is a real problem and it is 100% preventable. If the environment were truly what the whole global warming thing was about then we would see it's staunchest allies in Congress demanding something be done about illegal immigration. Instead they chase windmills and erect elaborate smokescreens to deflect the public from the real issues. It is not politically correct it seems to to touch the third rail of illegal immigration AND lobby for a cleaner environment. Even the Sierra Club won't touch it, explaining in a 2006 email to me that NAFTA and CAFTA are the real causes of the blighted environment here and not the illegal aliens. Climb aboard THAT logic train and let me know how it works out.
The environment is as much a part of the Illegal Immigration debate as is healthcare, social services, education and crime. It is about time politicians sucked it up, sprayed on their game faces and put their money and their influence where there mouth is. Secure the borders. Save the environment.
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