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Mexican Immigrants

Why they come. No jobs; no opportunity. [http://www.azcentral.com/news/specials/migrants/why.html]

The Yuma 14  tragedy prompted The Arizona Republic and 12 News (KPNX) to undertake a 10-week project to examine why so many people risk their lives to cross the Mexican border into the U. S.  Dying to Work. This website gives an overview of who they are, why they come, how they get here, where they go and different viewpoints.  [http://www.azcentral.com/news/specials/migrants/overview.html]
(Note: If this link does not work, type "dying to work" on your browser).

When Immigrants Die: County’s last rites: It tries to name them, then buries unidentified
[http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=border_news&story_id=040704a4_coroner]

The Employer

The Smugglers

Evodio Manilla (El Negro)-Cabrera born on April 25, 1972, from Puebla Mexico, is wanted by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the May 2001 smuggling attempt that resulted in the death of 14 illegal immigrants south of Welton, Arizona. Manilla was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury and is believed to be in Ciudad Acuna, Mexico.

Luis Montiel-Cercas born January 20, 1978, from Pueblo, Mexico, is wanted for questioning by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in connection with the May 2001 smuggling attempt that resulted in the death of 14 illegal immigrants south of Welton, Arizona.

Daniel Cercas-Manilla born January 6, 1973, from Pueblo, Mexico is wanted for questioning by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in connection with the May 2001 smuggling attempt that resulted in the death of 14 illegal immigrants south of Welton, Arizona. Cerca is believed to be currently in Ciudad Acuna, Mexico. 

Source: Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Human Smuggling. Most Wanted Human Smugglers. At the time of posting this webpage 5-10-04, information as to the current status of the first three smugglers was not found.
[http:www.ice.gov/graphics/enforce/mostwanted.pdf#page=2]

Don Moi (Moises) Garcia, the recruiter for the northern coyotes. If any of the Yuma 14 didn't have the money, he arranged a loan at 15% interest.

Lauro was one of the Yuma 14. His body was never claimed.

Santos was the third smuggler, who turned back to Mexico with between two and six men, or maybe none. Not much more is known about him.

Jesus Lopez Ramos, 21 went straight from the hospital to jail and sentenced in February 2002 by a federal judge to sixteen years in prison.  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/10/18/national/main315160.shtml

Two men in Lake Placid, Florida, 1900 miles from where the bodies were found, were indicted: Francisco Vazquez-Torres and Joel Viveros-Flore, associated with a harvesting business in Florida. They  planned on putting some of the immigrants to work. 

U. S. Citizens

Some people resent immigrants and think they take away jobs. Others feel that they do a lot more than they take from society. [http://www.azcentral.com/news/specials/migrants/0826opponents.html]

Mexican Government

In 1989 the Mexican market was destabilized when the United States pulled out of the International Coffee Organization a kind of OPEC for coffee. Without a quota system for buyers and consumers the coffee field became a free market. At the same time, then President Carlos Salinas de Gortari, privatized Mexico’s coffee council which had buffered growers to some degree from what happened in the world market. The people of Veracruz are now hoping President Fox comes through with a coffee subsidy. If not. it is predicted that the entire coffee industry in Mexico will go bankrupt. Juan Hernandez, Fox’s adviser on migrant affairs states that they are working to create opportunities for growers in Veracruz.

From the highest hill in Monge’s farm in Veracruz, one can see the Coca-Cola maquiladora.  Two of the Yuma 14 worked there until the plant laid off its workers. This had been President Fox’s old company.  Other industries also kept the men there such as the fisheries and the tourist markets that  took them to the coast.  Things got progressively worse and the people of Veracruz joined the people of other states in Mexico by going north, looking for a way to make things better for their families. They were easy prey for the smugglers, also known as coyotes and polleros (chicken wranglers).

After the grisly deaths of the Yuma 14 played out on CNN, President Bush and President Vicente Fox talked seriously about immigration reform but 9-11 stopped that overnight. Relationships between the two countries became very tense when Mexico did not support the United States War in occupying Iraq and going to war with them.

In March 2004, President Bush and President Fox met at Bush's Texas ranch to see what steps can be taken to restore relations.

The Border Patrol

The Border Patrol is a paradox. It plays a cat and mouse game. Much of the equipment and tools they use are high tech such as electronic currents that can stop fleeing cars; a camera that can see into vehicles to check for hidden passengers, and a computer that checks commuters by voiceprint. For some it's a thrill. For others, it's a job. Others quit. They wait for their prey, capture them, and send them back to Mexico. More often then they will admit, the immigrants slip by either through the trails and tactics the smugglers have devised or through their own ingenuity. The border patrols all deal with death at one time or another. For them, the worst deaths are the women and children. The irony is that their help doesn't come until it's almost too late, and then they go into action efficiently and effectively, almost with paternal care. With the Yuma 14, it was too late. However, they took very good care of the  survivors while getting them to the hospital, ensuring their survival. Then, they arrested them and posted a border patrol  guard in each room.
[http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/sac/az0802/sum.htm]

Vigilantes, the people who are out to capture or kill the immigrants

In Douglas, Arizona, Jack Foote, president of Ranch Rescue, a civilian group that patrols in search of illegal immigrants and drug smugglers said his group is protecting the rights of property owners. "Two in the chest and one in the head," he warned. 

Douglas Mayor, Ray Borane, thinks chances are rising for an international shoot-out.

In March, after two years of drug smugglers running their loads across his 40-acre property, tearing down fences and at times taking wild shots at him, Richard Kozak fired back with more than warning shots. The suspected smugglers returned Kozak's gunfire with a full attack on his cabin four miles east of Douglas. His home was struck with more than 30 shots from an AK-47 and a handgun. His 24-foot trailer was set ablaze. Fear is escalating about shoot-outs between Americans and illegal border crossers. Most terrified are the crossers who are not smugglers and carry only the basics to survive.

According to the Arizona Revised Statutes, trespassing alone does not justify use of deadly force. Deadly force is allowed in self-defense, to protect another person from harm or to prevent certain crimes, including burglary, murder, assault, arson of an occupied structure and armed robbery.

[http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/sac/az0802/sum.htm]

Coalitions, the groups who are out to help the immigrants

Humane Borders is a faith-based coalition made up of humanitarian organizations and legal rights groups.  The organizations  primary goal is to save immigrant lives by providing water in U. S./Mexico border regions. It also creates awareness of the immigration crisis and thereby promotes change in border policies. A request by Humane Borders to erect a water station less than a mile from where the crossers died was rejected a month before the deaths. It wouldn't have cost the government any time or money.
Activists: Deaths in Arizona desert could have been avoided:
http://www.humaneborders.org
http://www.americaspolicy.org/borderlines/2001/bl79/bl79deaths_body.html

Derechos Humanos is a grassroots organization that promotes respect for human/civil rights and fights the militarization of the Southern Border region, discrimination, and human rights abuses by federal state, and local law enforcement officials affecting U. S. and non-U. S. citizens alike.  http://www.derechoshumanosaz.net

Isabel Garcia – Pima County’s chief  legal defender and a board member and lead spokeswoman for Derechos Humanos, has been accused of helping Mexico “reconquer” the American Southwest.  She states, “I find it incredible – incredible! That people think I should check my First Amendment rights at the door because I work for a government agency. I’m not going to cut my tongue off, figuratively speaking, because I’m a county employee. Some people play golf. If I want to take part in a vigil with Derechos Humanos, I’ll not be stopped.

The multi-faith religious coalition - On March 18, 2004, more than ten clergy gathered in Tucson, Arizona, to see what they can do together through their congregations across all denominations. The Multi-Faith Border Conference is the first of it’s kind and the purpose of it is to raise the consciousness among people about what is happening in their back yard.

Rita Vargas, Mexican consul in Calexico - When Rita Vargas was notified of the Yuma 14 and the survivors, she was immediately on the case, first notifying Mexican authorities, including the governor of Veracruz, because most of the men were from there. She made sure the survivors knew their rights. She arranged to have a jetliner collect the dead and make a special flight to return them home. As they were being taken to the airport in Tucson, people saw them off in a procession of public grief.  Rita was on the flight, and when they arrived, fourteen hearses awaited them. Included among the big crowed was the governor. The question in her mind was what if only the $68,000 spent on taking these men home had been invested in their villages to begin with.

La Resistencia - Dedicated to all who have lost their lives while seeking the means for basic human necessities. Enough is enough. Ya basta.
http://www.lareistencia.org/

[http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/sac/az0802/sum.htm]

In May 2002, Two Yuma lawyers filed a $41.25 million wrongful death claim against the United States Fish and Wildlife Service on behalf of the families of 11 of the 14 migrants who died in 2002.
http://www.humaneborders.org/news/050902azrepdeathsuit.htm

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