Harris Fire, started by illegal aliens threatens San Diego
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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Comments
Come on, we all know you don't really care about the environment. You are just using it as an excuse to get more people on your side and to make immigrants look bad. Nice try Hillbilly!
Another environment "NUTCASE" ?
what's all this smoke - wake up. I have been bringing this to the attention of others for years. Just like the Rape trees. But then, you would tell me I do not care about the woman and girls being raped to enter the US. What a idiot.
What's all this smoke REPLY
It is not about Immigrants! It is about the Illegal's who come into our country carrying trash with them and depositing it in our country along the way!
Ever actually been to areas along the border? Probably not! We have fought for years to get the Green folks to help clean up these areas! Do they? No, the response is "It is a political issue" and they refuse to work with any group along the border to clean up the mess. We have seen over the years that until the citizens of this country do it themselves it won't get done.
Immigrants always look good, like the the law abiding decent folks that they are. Illegal aliens always look bad, from the trash pile they leave upon stealing across our borders to the graffiti and shopping carts that decorate the neighborhoods they reside in.
I had no idea it was this bad. Thanks for the article.
Dead on the money. Excellent article. I've seen these load up areas too. Total disregard for our country. One trip to Mexico and you see this is totally in line with how they live. Hope you are going to do an article on the sewer pit known as the New River in El Centro. It is time people were made aware of all the ways illegal immigration infects our lives.
The reply from “What's all this smoke” demonstrates nothing about a concern for the environment or anything else for that matter. Rather it demonstrates ignorance and lack of intellectual curiosity at best. Smokes reply is typical for those who no longer have an argument; lacking any facts they quickly engage in name calling.
And while the citizens of this country may in the end be left to do the clean up themselves; it won't get done, ever, until the assault of this human migration is stopped cold in its tracks…it is in fact pointless to even begin.
But that is not a problem since more than half of the energy used in the world is wasted by us(and environment contamination as well) and with Bush, the Kyoto protocol for us didn't matter a penny. All of a sudden the illegals are the evil who polute and We just ignore our past and all of a sudden we try to believe we never did nothing wrong
On second thought, starting a clean up may not be pointless if the trash is delivered continuously in large quantities to the offices of the White House, the halls Congress, and to the homes of the garbage heap we refer to as politicians...those residing with the administration and lining the halls of congress.
Better yet, do you remember the thousand points of light. One wealthy sponsor, maybe a clean up grant by the feds, could employ a thousand truckers (a stimulus package for cleaning up America) in parade of a thousand trucks, hauling a thousand loads of migrant trash, employing a thousand drivers sending a clear message courtesy of those from the Southwest, people who don't want the trash in their back yards; delivered and added to the the largest garbage heap in the nation, garbage being a metaphor for our politicians who've turned a blind eye to the environmental and social catastrophe stemming from open borders to all who cross illegally.
Why don't we take all of the illegal aliens and criminals in Joe Arpiao's tent city and bus them up into the Hauchuca Mountains and the deserts to clean up THEIR mess.
Great idea and take all the pro illegal immigration folks, La Raza, Moldev etc and have them do some of the work too, I guess the illegals don't like cleaning up after themselves. That is a job they stick the American citizens and taxpayers with. ANd they wonder why we don;t want them
It seems like the author of this article and the rest of you think of illegal immigrants as garbage?
Quite a jump there, we are disgusted with their behavior. IF you want to define them by their behavior, that is entirely up to you.
8 pounds of trash each one?!?!?
sounds unlikely, too much even for a hiker...MAYBE A HUNTER?
UH! IF YOU REALLY CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT YOURSELF FIRST, FOR TROWING THOSE TRASHY ARTICLES AROUND!
Kyoto protoco - I guess you do not mind the trash left behind aye?
Per capita, the US produces the most waste (including non-biodegradable and nuclear waste) of any industrialized nation. Leave the illegals alone, they pick up your trash every day! Another job you wouldn't take because of you self entitlements. Right-winged bastards.
Trashy, please provide your address so we can send these invaders to your house with their garbage. I'm tired of picking it up, having my cattle eat it and get sick and die. You must be a freaking moron to condone this kind of wanton disregard for our nation and our environment. Idiot!
Trashy - You simply add to the problem for ignoring the truth. You should be ashamed.
On second thought, starting a clean up may not be pointless if the trash is delivered continuously in large quantities to the offices of the White House, the halls Congress, and to the homes of the garbage heap we refer to as politicians...those residing with the administration and lining the halls of congress.
Better yet, do you remember the thousand points of light. One wealthy sponsor, maybe a clean up grant by the feds, could employ a thousand truckers (a stimulus package for cleaning up America) in parade of a thousand trucks, hauling a thousand loads of migrant trash, employing a thousand drivers sending a clear message courtesy of those from the Southwest, people who don't want the trash in their back yards; delivered and added to the the largest garbage heap in the nation, garbage being a metaphor for our politicians who've turned a blind eye to the environmental and social catastrophe stemming from open borders to all who cross illegally.
Kyoto protocol…Kyoto is dead…find out why !
First, a cost of $9 TRILLION by U.S. taxpayers where to reduce global temperature by less than 0.5C by 2100. Does that make sense with China building one new coal-fired power plant every week for years to come; as they are in fact doing right now? Neither India, nor any other third world country, including most industrialized countries want to play Kyoto.
A large growing body of scientists, many were progenitors of climate change theory’s, after looking at new evidence, view the interpretation of the climate change findings a la IPCC as bad science; extrapolated and motivated for geo-political social and global economic (profit and tax generating) reasons.
The growing Number of Scientists Convert to Skeptics After Reviewing New Research are no light-weights:
Geophysicist Dr. Claude Allegre
Geologist Bruno Wiskel
Dr. Nir Shaviv
Dr. David Evans
Dr. Tad Murty
Botanist Dr. David Bellamy
Dr. Chris de Freitas
Dr. Reid Brys
Kyoto, look at the evidence. You won't find it under old news.
Increasingly respected scientists are saying we have limited resources and should make the best use of them. A carbon tax isn’t among them, and neither is Kyoto ! See why in the previous post, and if that doesn't do it for you do some original research.
Brandon I get your point about moving to alternative fuels and this will take years to happen as technology and future generations take place. Americans who live in the border, sure if I owned a property there of course I could be angry about the government not doing anything, but its politics, that's for sure.
I have an old friend from Brazil, there if you are not a resident or citizen you can't get a job unless you have a special card, so yes it is possible to do the same in the USA, but politicians and business haven't been willing to do so because of special interests. This is a problem that will end with immigration reform and jobs verification
Who said "You lie" to the president tonight? A disrespectful redneck republican, Representative Joe Wilson. He should be in a farm herding cows not be a representative. What an idiot.
The Center for Immigration Studies has begun to investigate the environmental damage caused by illegal aliens along our southern border.
Check out this video:
"Hidden Cameras on the Arizona Border: Coyotes, Bears, and Trails"
www .cis.org/Videos/HiddenCameras-IllegalImmigration
See also:
"The Environmental Argument for Reducing Immigration to the United States"
www .cis.org/EnvironmentalArgument
The real bag of garbage here is Rep. Joe Wilson from SC.
The desert has been trashed by these illegal aliens that have hired human and drug smugglers to smuggle and transport them to anytown U.S.A. This has been going on for more then 10 years. There is NO Homeland Security folks. Illegal aliens already get free health care and step in line ahead of Americans for treatment at rural border county hospitals, when they NEEEEED care from injuries while hiking in the desert and being in human smuggling load vehicles that crash on our rural roads.
borderinvasionpics.com
Here is one example:
Crashed SUV carried up to 28 suspected illegal immigrants svherald.com/articles/2009/07/21/news/doc4a6579e1a8917192463039.txt
Garbage (how appropriate), Shamed - shut up. Oboze IS a liar. Where were you in '05 when Dems heckled Bush from the floor? Rep. Wilson spoke truth to power. Good for him.
The real bag of garbage here is <strike>Rep. Joe Wilson from SC</strike> Racist Van Jones. Fortunately, it got taken out; there's still plenty left to dispose of.
We devote hours a week locating and makeing illegal aliens lives and imployers of illegal aliens lives a living nightmare... We also hope those drums of salt water we leave on those illegal aliens trails are well recieved.
this is one of the most racist and fascist articles I've ever read in my life! I can almost picture a Nazi soldier in SS germany, standing at the gas chamber doors, looking at bodies of victims of holocaust and saying "look at this garbage, now we have to clean this mess"!
I wonder if author believes in god? I'm an atheist, but this is morally unacceptable for me.
you see, littering in deserts is not the cause of the problem. it's not going to stop by deporting people, they will come back and bring even more "garbage". how about environmental impact of ice raids, transporting illegals to detention centers etc. ice agents don't ride bikes, they drive around increasing carbon footprint.
gosh, I can't believe I'm even responding to such ignorant article!
What a mess. They should be made to clean a section just before deportation. Sheriff Joe, get your tent city down there to pick up behind themselves.
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