Blog Posting Number 1
Topic: U.S. Government
Title: An Arizona Act of Kindness, Leaving Water for Immigrants, or an Offense?
Writer: Marc Lacey
Publication Date: September 26, 2010
Length: 950 words 3 pages
Overview/Main Idea
2 years ago Daniel J Millis and 14 others who volunteered for a tucson based organization that provided aid to immigrants crossing the U.S. Mexico border, was arrested and cited for littering. They were placing water jugs and food near the border so immigrants could survive the grueling heat. The judge convicted him of defacing the refuge with their water jug drops. Early this month, the United States Court of Appeals ruled that it was "ambiguous as to wether purified water in a sealed bottle intended for human consumption meets the definition of garbage" With a vote of 2-1, a three judge court overturned Millis's conviction. The Fish and Wildlife Service continues to forbid anyone to leave water gallon jugs in the refuge. They say that this will only encourage immigrants to cross the border. But the issue rises that from 2002-2009, 25 illegal immigrants have died passing through the refuge's rolling hills that are home to dangerous animals, rolling hills and insane temperatures. The death toll throughout southern Arizona has totaled to 1,715 and with this year's hot temperatures, the death rate is increasing exponentially at a record breaking pace. Also, the Border Patrol has installed rescue beacons along the border to allow immigrants in distress to call for help. The federal government acknowledges that additional steps are needed to keep deaths down on its land, but an aid group, Humane Borders has a permit to keep several large water drums on the refuge allowing immigrants to drink water. People may say that the water jugs spoil the enviorment but Millis says he has collected as many jugs of water as he has left behind.
Conclusion:
Although he may be egging on the immigrants to illegally cross the border, he is also saving many lives by providing them with a much needed source of water. The charges that Millis and his organization were faced with were wrong and unfair. People who are against this issue argue that the water encourages the immigrants to cross the border illegally and also the water jugs are left to be trash. He may be encouraging the immigrants to illegally cross the border, but the source of water that he provides with them is a difference in life and death.
In My Opinion:
The acts that Millis and his organization are committing are in my opinion, completely legal and thoughtful for those who are crossing the border illegally. When someone dies on U.S. soil, it is accounted for and makes the U.S. look bad. So when these immigrants are given water, they are able to survive the harsh heat and begin their new lives. Millis's organization is doing a tremendous job at saving the lives of the immigrants. In 2008, 31,500 people died crossing the border, and in 2009 ever since they started providing water to them, 20,000 people died crossing the border. Groups like Millis's need to rally together and start providing enough water to save all the immigrants who need it.
I find it astonishing that the anti-immigration sentiment in Arizona is so strong, that leaving water and food for the dying could be seen as littering. While immigration in the U.S., is a big problem, people dying for no reason is an even bigger problem.
ReplyDeleteThis article is very shocking to me. It's hard to believe that someone can be arrested for helping others out. Although we are not trying to promote immigration, we are not supposed to be killing the immigrants. Many of them have died from the intense heat and malnutrition. Millis was obviously trying to help them and probably did not even consider any negative opinions. This article gives the illusion that America is killing off its immigrants and that is not how we want others to view us.
ReplyDelete