Anonyblog

DAMAGE DONE ALONG THE ARIZONA BORDER WITH MEXICO

Undocumented aliens crossing Federal land in southeast Arizona not only cause damage to natural and cultural resources; they impact Federal land visitors, public services, Federal employees working in the area, and residents and businesses located on Federal and reservation lands. Furthermore, undocumented aliens themselves are impacted as they cross Federal lands due to the remoteness of many of these lands and the unexpected harsh conditions that they encounter there.

Certain Federal lands in southeast Arizona can no longer be used safely by the public or Federal employees due to the significance of smuggling undocumented aliens and controlled substances into the United States. The mere number of undocumented aliens traveling in the border area intimidates legitimate visitors and creates a reluctancy by some of the public to use public lands. The volume of undocumented aliens also impacts Federal and other government employees' ability to feel safe while doing their job in the field. Staff exposure while conducting resource management activities in certain areas along the border is a serious safety concern. Ranchers, farmers, miners and other legitimate users of Federal lands are heavily impacted financially by smuggling operations that cut fences, breakdown or leave gates open, damage water supplies, steal or damage equipment, and disrupt grazing and irrigation schedules.

Breaking and entering and burglaries along the border are common and include historic and government structures, employee and private residences, and businesses.

Federal law enforcement officers assigned to land management agencies and tribal police often face situations where they are at personal risk and must deal with overwhelming odds. Due to the remoteness of many Federal lands, timely assistance from other law enforcement agencies is not always possible. This leaves Federal land management law enforcement officers in difficult situations for extended periods of time because no back-up law enforcement officers are available from other cooperating agencies.

Literally hundreds, if not thousands of new trails and roads have been created on Federal lands in southeastern Arizona by undocumented alien crossings. This proliferation of trails and roads damages and destroys cactus and other sensitive vegetation, disrupts or prohibits revegetation, disturbs wildlife and their cover and travel routes, causes soil compaction and erosion, impacts stream bank stability, and often times confuses legitimate users of trails and roads on Federal lands.

Large numbers of vehicles are abandoned by smugglers and undocumented aliens. Such vehicles are difficult and costly for agencies to remove.

The character of Congressionally designated wilderness areas has been reduced by the creation of unwanted trails and roads, damage to existing trails, and large amounts of trash. Encounters with large groups of undocumented aliens reduces the quality of the wilderness experience for many visitors. Law enforcement operations and enforcement related aircraft flights in wilderness areas reduce the quality of the wilderness experience.

The international border fence is repeatedly cut or torn down in many locations forcing Federal agency staff and grazing permitees to constantly make repairs. Horses and cows from Mexico trespassing on Federal lands in the United States are a significant and reoccurring problem. Gates are rammed, security locks are cut, signs are driven over and heavy damage or destruction of water developments and other improvements by undocumented aliens traveling through Federal lands and seeking drinking water in remote locations occur regularly. Recreational, cultural and administrative sites are repeatedly vandalized and damaged. All of this adds significantly to the cost of maintaining Federal improvements.

Tons of trash and high concentrations of human waste are left behind by undocumented aliens. This impacts wildlife, vegetation and water quality in the uplands, in washes and along rivers and streams. This also detracts from scenic qualities and can effect human and animal health from spread of bacteria and disease.

Warming and cooking fires built and abandoned by undocumented aliens have caused wildfires that have destroyed valuable natural and cultural resources. The fires pose a threat to visitors, residents and Federal and local firefighters as well as to the undocumented aliens camping in or migrating through the area.

Posted by anonymous at April 13, 2006 8:02 AM