Since 2000, 90 bodies have been recovered in New Mexico near the Mexican border, reports the Washington Post. That does not include illegal immigrants who died after they were struck by cars or who were killed in accidents when their vehicles transporting them sped out of control, sometimes while fleeing police. Thousands of illegal immigrants are treated at local hospitals often for injuries suffered during the hazardous journey north.
The border issue was thrust into the public eye last month when Democratic Govs. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Janet Napolitano of Arizona declared states of emergency at their borders with Mexico. Richardson’s declaration freed $1.75 million to help four border counties. The Arizona declaration granted law enforcement agencies about $1.4 million. Both governors said unchecked border crossings are increasingly threatening the well-being of their citizens, and that the fight to stem the tide is draining their financial resources at an alarming rate.
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/06/AR2005090601561.html