ENVIRONMENTAL OVERTONES OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION DEBATE

     The Sierra Vista Herald (Arizona) today published an article about a federal Bureau of Land Management study finding illegal immigration to be a significant cause of environmental degradation:

BISBEE — A new Bureau of Land Management report paints a bleak picture of the impact of illegal immigration and drug smuggling on public lands in Arizona, with estimates that as much as 25 million pounds of trash were left in the state’s borderlands during the 2000-2005 fiscal years.

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The new BLM report summarizes the accomplishments of a bureau-led effort known as the Southern Arizona Project that sought to mitigate the environmental degradation of public lands over a three-year period. Volunteers recovered 25,000 pounds of trash, 600 abandoned vehicles and 1,725 discarded bicycles while also working to rehabilitate illegal trail routes and maintain roads, the report says.

     Of course, absolutely no environmental discussion is free from dissent.  Disagreeing with the implications of the BLM study, Peter Galvin of the Center for Biodiversity (Tucson) is reported by the article to claim:

...Border Patrol vehicles have damaged lands around the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and that the construction of border fencing has sealed off migratory routes for antelope in western sectors. And he worries similar fencing around the San Pedro River could negatively impact bird migration as well as efforts to rehabilitate local jaguar populations.

“We certainly agree that there are environmental impacts associated with illegal immigrants,” Galvin said. “But those impacts actually pale in comparison to the impact of the militarization of the border.”

     So:  illegal immigration degrades the environment; enforcing the border against illegal immigration degrades the environment.  Glad that's clear.

     FYI, a search guide to reports from BLM on illegal immigration and the environment can be found at http://www.blm.gov/az/search/az_external/search.asp?zoom_query=immigration (note: this is not the same link as in the Herald article; that link doesn't seem to work).

Comments

[Alexandr]

I am not an anti-immigration fanatic. I usrtdneand the desire to come to my country and make a better life. I would just like people who are doing that to come and try to do it legally. I don’t have unreal expectations of immigrants.I believe Immigrants should follow a few simple rules.!. Follow the Law of my country2. Try your best to assimilate. Learn the language, customs etc. I am not saying forget your heritage but you belong to a different group, now: You are an American.3. Build our nation up don’t tear it down.These rules are important because just because you can get to America does not mean you deserve to stay. I want those who really want to better themselves, their families and our country. I don't want Criminals, Terrorists, angry exiles, or any other non-desirables. Everyone in this county is descendant of immigrants.

[Usama]

Come now, take a deep breath. Opposing ileagll immigration does not automatically equate with hatred of ileagll immigrants. One can certainly take the position that our immigration laws should be strictly enforced, while recognizing that most (not all!) of these immigrants are personally decent people trying to help their families out.But they should not break our laws to do so. Simple as that. Unless you know the hearts and attitudes of all the anti-immigration (really anti-ILLEGAL immigration) folks, you owe them the courtesy of not assuming bad intentions.

[Legal Advice]

The environmental impact of illegal immigration is not properly addressed in this article. The larger problem of illegal immigration as it effects our environment is that it allows corporations to compete with illegal labor. The flaunting of United State laws by large corporations instill the wrong behavior with regards to our legal system that ultimately will undermine the rule of law completely. If commerce is allowed priority over ethical considerations, the environment will never be properly protected.