Seven suspected illegal immigrants rescued in mountains but an eighth dies in cold
U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued seven suspected illegal immigrants found shivering in the mountains east of San Diego but an eighth died of hypothermia, officials said Thursday.
The seven were taken to hospitals.
The rescue effort began when agents got a 911 call from immigrants lost in the cold. Using GPS equipment, agents from the Pine Valley station found the seven immigrants late Saturday. The body of the eighth was found after midnight Sunday.
-- Tony Perry in San Diego
EDITOR'S PICKS:
How unfortunate I blame the MEXICAN GOVERNMENT ,Rather than risking their lives in such horrific conditions, And leaving home beloved families and homes, the should follow what some of the middle eastern countries "OVERTHROW THE CORRUPT MEXICAN GOVERNMENT" But that takes "COHONES" All YOU folks in MEXICO wake up and stop looking north "WE ARE BROKE TOO"
Posted by: ten 29 me | March 03, 2011 at 06:34 PM
And now we have to pay for the rescue, the medical air flight, the emergency room bills the hospital stay. I would say that these illegal aliens will cost the taxpayers over $200,000 dollars. They will get it for free. But you and I will pay for it through inflated prices that hospitals force on to you and I.
Posted by: DavidPeoria | March 03, 2011 at 07:09 PM
May he/she rest in peace.
Posted by: rina | March 03, 2011 at 09:16 PM
Even if a person is against illegal immigration (as I am) one cannot but help feel sadness and compassion for the lost human being and his family.
Posted by: dhwj | March 04, 2011 at 03:30 AM
I hope they are sent back tomorrow.
Posted by: Bob | March 04, 2011 at 07:37 AM
Very tragic, really. These people took a chance for a better life, albeit illegally. But all they wanted was a shot at better living conditions. There has to be a better way.
Posted by: kindlady1 | March 04, 2011 at 08:56 AM
But if it was one of us gringos lost in the mountains of Mexico who called for help, we'd be robbed of our cell phones, cash, etc., and either left to freeze or shot to death. Go figure.
Posted by: Cheshire Chet | March 04, 2011 at 09:06 AM
Don't come here and avoid freezing in the mountains and dying of thirst in the deserts.
Posted by: California Girl | March 04, 2011 at 09:39 AM
I recommend the award-winning documentary "Which Way Home" about immigrant children (some as young as 10) traveling alone some 2,000 miles from Central America to arrive in the United States. A truly sad and shocking expose of their struggle. Not likely to change your political views, but it will broaden your understanding of behind-the-scene realities, and at the very least, make you feel quite fortunate about your station in life.
One particularly daring 13-year-old Honduran boy traveled alone and penniless from Honduras all the way to Texas, and turned himself in to U.S. authorities in the hopes that he would get adopted into an American family. (At that age, I was scared to get lost at the Disneyland theme park.)
Posted by: Common Sense | March 04, 2011 at 01:30 PM
It is sad that someone had to die because of greed. The Mexican government encourages there citizens to come here illegally because it is Mexico's second largest income. They do not come here looking for a better life in the U.S. they come here looking for the money to send home because the Mexican government cannot take care of their own period.
Posted by: NAFTA sucks | March 04, 2011 at 01:37 PM
DON'T EVER, EVER come here...we're truly broke in SO many ways, including compassion!
Posted by: Peanut | March 04, 2011 at 02:14 PM