Posted on 11/23/2011 12:37:17 AM PST by thecodont
People entering the U.S. illegally from Mexico are believed responsible for more than one-third of human-ignited wildfires in Arizona over a five-year period, according to a government report that could stoke congressional debate over illegal immigration.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said the Government Accountability Office report supports remarks he made earlier this year after his state was hit hard by wildfires. At the time, McCain was accused of "scapegoating" immigrants.
"I hope this report is a lesson to the activists and public officials that would prefer to engage in partisan character attacks rather than help focus the discussion on the vital need to secure our southern border," he said in a statement.
Illegal immigrants are believed to have started 30 of 77 fires that were investigated from 2006 through 2010, according to the report by the GAO, the investigative arm of Congress.
Federal land management agencies, however, did not investigate all 422 human-caused fires on federal and tribal land, as called for by federal policy.
"Only 18% of fires on federal land during the five-year study period were actually investigated, and thus, the number and size of fires linked to illegal border crossers may actually be higher," McCain said.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
Surprised, very surprised, that LA Times used "illegal immigrants" in the title.
Read the comments.
Ping to #2.
Ask the boots on the ground, such as BP and Forest Service frontliners, under condition of anonymity, how many of those fires were started by illegals. I'll bet they could give you an idea.
Not to point out the obvious, or anything like that.
A horrific irony is that the Peck Canyon region, which was the scene of the shooting of Border Patrol agent Terry, was also the scene of a terrific forest fire started last summer by illegals. It threatened homes on the edge of western Rio Rico, Arizona, before it could be halted. Tens of thousands of acres were blackened and the cost of fighting the fire was huge. Now, just yesterday, there were unverified reports that illegal gangs had a shoot-out in the same area with numerous deaths resulting.
As one who knows the region well, and who has often tramped the Atascosa Mountains, I swear that the illegal entry from west Nogales to Sasabe could be stopped by sensible patrolling, and by setting up BP posts, manned 24 hours, along the road between Nogales and Arivaca. (The killers of Terry had to cross the road.) Similar projects could be undertaken between Sasabe and Organ Pipe.
Another irony is that one can pass Border Patrol centers at Sonoita and Douglas, Arizona and view scores of parked vehicles. Seemingly a million bucks is going to waste, and for the life of me I can’t figure what they are used for. I could go on, but for those who know the border I am saying nothing new. For those who have never visited the place, drop by some time. It is an eye-opener.
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Loud-n-Clear Message for Scheming Anticonstitutional Snakes Obama/Holder:
3 Cops Kidnapped and Killed in Mexico Border Town (Acuña)
Deputy wounded in fatal shootout in drug case(Harris County, Texas)
U. S. Government May Be Primary Suppliers of Mexican Drug Cartel Guns
Bombshells continue to rock Fast and Furious cover-up
Mexican troops find $15 mn cash in car (drugs, jewels, 3rd largest bust in Mexican history)
Rick Perry-backed judge proposes Latino districts, infuriates GOP
Texas Student Refuses Mexican Pledge of Allegiance, Anthem
Justice Department sues Utah over state immigration law
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Immigration Bill: Lots of Bad Ideas, and No Fence (Cain's View?)
Newt calls for ‘humane’ immigration policy
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Newt Gingrich Supports the Dream Act?
Gingrich's Illegal Immigration Tolerance Marks GOP Security Debate
Did Gingrich Walk Into an Immigration Minefield at Debate?
Click the keyword Aliens to see more illegal alien, border security, and other related threads.
It's becoming easy to fear terrorists - and the reaction from Homeland Security - almost equally. Do we really want to give them an excuse to stop and search every car for matches?
bttt
I got it, lets make all these millions of illegals legal!
Then when the next several million see what a joke we are, they'll enter too, and by 2020, we can all debate this again!
National suicide...In a country gone mad...Yippee!
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