Helping The Illegal Border Crossers.

[Justin Case]

What do you think about People that Leave Food and water on the Trails in Arizona for the Illegal Border Crossers ?

I think Its "Obstruction Of Justice" or "Aiding and Abetting" ,

Any Comments about this ?

GREEN VALLEY, ARIZ. -- "Somos amigos," called Shura Wallin, ducking low into the shade beneath the highway overpass. "We're friends," she said again in Spanish, calling out to anyone who might be hiding. "Don't be afraid."

Story Here > http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...060503484.html

[Rick]

Maybe we could get the Boy Scouts to drum up a new merit badge. International Sharpshooting.

[Trabitha]

Those people are just as guilty as the business owners who hire illegals. Oh...wait. Obama is pushing to reverse that law too! (It is currently illegal for US companies to hire illegals in AZ. Obama is pushing for this law that Napolitano passed so as not to give the states the impression that they have a legitimate precedent for regulating immigration.)

[Justin Case]

Those people are just as guilty as the business owners who hire illegals. Oh...wait. Obama is pushing to reverse that law too! (It is currently illegal for US companies to hire illegals in AZ. Obama is pushing for this law that Napolitano passed so as not to give the states the impression that they have a legitimate precedent for regulating immigration.)

Too Bad the Bushes looked the other way ! as did Mcain,, until he seen that he could all of a sudden care and use this as a Campaign tool,, Opps I forgot, NO POLITICS,,,,

[Trabitha]

This is all happening this past year, Justin. What's Bush or McCain have to do with it? McCain has repeated immigration help for years, and Napalitano got that law passed under Bush.

[panch0]

Well if being a humanitarian is bad then maybe we should starve to death all of those who are in prison in the US. They are guilty of far worse crimes than most of the illegals. Some churches take in and give a meal to a drug addict, should the church let them rot? Should the church be considered as aiding and abetting.Protect the border, punish the companies hiring, send back the ones we catch, but to not allow aid to these folks coming across, who sometimes are let for dead by the real bad guys "the coyotes" is not what my America is about. Its not aiding and abetting it is being compassionate to those who are in need. everyone including the BP and local law enforcement know the trails, they should use the food left as bait and catch'em. This is just basic human decency.

[Trabitha]

By definition those being "aided" ARE breaking the law. The title given to those leaving Mexico (knowing the dangers, mind you) is in fact "illegal" aliens. That being said, what people are doing is in fact "aiding and abetting". It's no different for me if I should aid a criminal because I didn't want to see him hungry. It is what it is. Some may think it's lack of compassion, but the fact is that the Mexicans who venture to the US illegally, know the risks and do it anyway.
I have little pity for people who knowingly put themselves in danger, in hopes that someone else will pick them up. Does that make me a cold hearted *****? I'm sure it does to some...but I'm not losing any sleep over it.

[Justin Case]

This is all happening this past year, Justin. What's Bush or McCain have to do with it? McCain has repeated immigration help for years, and Napalitano got that law passed under Bush.

You MUST be joking ? Illegals have been hopping the fence as long as I can remember and Republicans waited untill Obama took office to start making an issue out of it,
Anyway, The thread is about whether or not people are doing the right thing by providing food and water to people entering illegally,

Personally, I think ANYONE that tries to hike across the Arizona Desert in the summer is just begging to Die there,,

[panch0]

By definition they are breaking the law. I see aiding and abetting as having them come over to your house and feeding them there, and letting them stay overnight. Then you are aiding and abetting. Leaving jugs of water at a station in the middle of the desert has no direct contact involved. I would leave something there for those who pass. If I saw them then I would report them to the proper authorities. Now if I saw them and then said here ya go eat this and drink this then I am aiding and abetting. The is a difference between the two. Most folks just speak out of anger. If I ran into a poor soul dying of thirst I would give him a drink and while he is drinking call the border patrol to come get him. Human decency is becoming rare these days.

[Justin Case]

I would give a thirsty person a drink too, But whats next ? Drinking fountains ? MacDonalds ?

[panch0]

Justin I am not saying McDonalds for illegals but the watering stations is totally different. A person gets lost runs out of food n drink and is in bad shape and finds one of these watering holes. Now doesn't the god fearing human inside of you see the good in these things. I would never invite one into my home. I would turn them in with out hesitation, but to call these watering holes wrong, I mean I don't understand how they can be seen as wrong. Well I can see why some folks may disagree.

[Trabitha]

You MUST be joking ? Illegals have been hopping the fence as long as I can remember and Republicans waited untill Obama took office to start making an issue out of it,
Anyway, The thread is about whether or not people are doing the right thing by providing food and water to people entering illegally,

Personally, I think ANYONE that tries to hike across the Arizona Desert in the summer is just begging to Die there,,

You've totally missed the point of my first post. First, AZ has been screaming for assistance since Reagan was in office and have gotten very little assistance. The fact that you think the Right hasn't been vocal all these years, clearly shows me that you simply have not been listening. Janet Napalitano was able to get a bill passed while she was in office in AZ, stating that the state had the right to prosecute businesses that hire illegal aliens, while Bush was in office. Republicans had no problem with that bill, in fact MANY of them pushed for it to go further and into more states but they met with massive resistance. NOW the state of AZ has written a law that will allow them to protect their own borders, but Obama doesn't like it. Regardless that it's worded almost identical to the Federal law that has never been enforced properly and is more restrictive of law enforcement than the federal law. His reaction is to push the courts to reverse the law Janet Napalitano got passed on her watch that prosecutes businesses hiring illegals because he feels it gives the states the impression that they have a "legitimate influence over immigration" policy in the US. They were his words.

I think this is exactly what this thread is about. If AZ can enforce it's own laws and the laws of this country without federal intervention less illegals would venture into the state. If the state was able to prosecute those who aid law breakers those who assist the illegals would be less likely to do so.

If you come into this country illegal you are a criminal. If you ASSIST those who enter into this state illegally you are aiding and abetting.

Wide doors and high fences. If you sneak into the back door you will be treated as a criminal and rightfully so.

[Trabitha]

Justin I am not saying McDonalds for illegals but the watering stations is totally different. A person gets lost runs out of food n drink and is in bad shape and finds one of these watering holes. Now doesn't the god fearing human inside of you see the good in these things. I would never invite one into my home. I would turn them in with out hesitation, but to call these watering holes wrong, I mean I don't understand how they can be seen as wrong. Well I can see why some folks may disagree.

They're wrong because unlike yourself, those who help aren't turning them in.

[panch0]

Oh yes and the watering stations are to help save lives not to help illegals make it to their destination. Now if one prefers they die before they make it to the destination since the BP doesn't catch them then please lets see some hands.

[Trabitha]

Okay, so would you be fine with stings being set up at these water stations?

[panch0]

They're wrong because unlike yourself, those who help aren't turning them in.

You have a great point there. But the watering holes are usually just filled and then left for those who happen to wander there. Now if they set up tarps and wine and dine them with out turning them in they are aiding and abetting.

Okay, so would you be fine with stings being set up at these water stations?

yep, I sure would.

[Trabitha]

That's the rub though...
See...don't get me wrong, Frank...I totally love your good heart. There are very few like you left in the world and I respect that. The problems is that while your heart is in the right place...it's flawed.
I can go on and on about how they shouldn't be there in the first place, how most if not all of those who come across the watering stations are illegals crossing, or how I do indeed believe that providing any comfort to a criminal is considering abetting...but...I'm not because in the end it's really just opinion.
The problem with giving them water and using the water stations as a sting operation is that now they won't go to the water stations because they know they will be caught. Will SOME go? sure...those desperate ones will...but others would avoid them and it would cause MORE deaths. So what am I saying?

--Watering holes, aiding illegals crossing into the US will draw masses that think it's safer to cross. Regardless we still have deaths and crimes committed when they do make it into the US.

--Removed watering holes, less will feel as safe, less will attempt the cross, less deaths, and less crime in those border towns.

--Use watering holes as sting locations and they will avoided by most, more will die, more US civilian holes will open up all over the place to "aid" those who are avoiding, crime will not be controlled, and we will be in the same situation that we are in now.

I'm not trying to be heartless. Most of us WANT them to feel welcome to come into the country...we simply want you to come in legally be documented and pay your taxes. I don't think any of us WISH them dead...but we've come to realize that they have little to no respect for our laws. It's like watching your son fall...and not picking him up. Sometimes it hurts to learn a lesson. If they know there will be no watering holes, less will be likely to venture across, IMO.

[Rick]

Too Bad the Bushes looked the other way ! as did Mcain

As did Napolitano. She was governor of Arizona before finding her way into Homeland Security.

[BENESSE]

So no surprise, when it's politically advantageous they will all look the other way.

[crashdive123]

Most have looked the other way, regardless of party. I believe they all thought if we just give a wink and a nod then they will be so grateful that they will vote for x, y or z. Now that some people have woken up to what has been going on for entirely too long, some are starting to take border security and illegal immigration more seriously. For many, not out of a deep commitment for securing our borders, but rather a quest for votes. Sad really.

...and yes, I know that some have been all over the illegal immigration issue for quite some time. Unfortunately they have not been in the majority (not talking political parties, but rather in number)