Steve Quayle News Alerts

May 23, 2002
By Luke Turf

SAN LUIS RIO COLORADO, Son. — Not even death by dehydration under a blazing sun deters Mexicans from sneaking across the southern U.S. border through the scorching deserts east of Yuma.

One year ago today, 14 illegal border crossers from Mexico were found dead in eastern Yuma County. They were chasing the American dream, just like dozens more who gather in this border city every day with a gallon of water apiece and a duffel bag filled with clothes.

"I could die here (Mexico), I could die there (in the desert), it's the same," said Daniel Martinez Martinez as he waited for the right time to make a dash across the border.

Almost every day groups of illegal border crossers wait in this park in San Luis Rio Colorado, Son., for the perfect time to make a run for the United States.

They come from all parts of Mexico and Central America and end up in this border city, waiting in the park for the sun to go down so they can beat the heat and escape the migra , or U.S. Border Patrol. Excitement is in the air as the illegal crossers, some of them in their teens, some in their 50s, gather and wait.

For Martinez and other Mexican crossers, nothing changed after the 14 bodies were found. He's got five mouths to feed and was just back in Mexico on a visit. His trek into the United States takes as little as two hours or as many as 15, depending on how many Border Patrol agents are in the field, he said. When the time is right, he dashes across in sandals.

"For Mexicans it's not important if you die or if it's dangerous, it's just important to earn money and feed your family," Martinez said. "We're not scared."

Martinez may not be scared, but he's already crossed the border seven times and counting. Some other crossers have been at it as long as 30 years and can't even count how many times they've done it.

But for rookies, it's a little different.

"It's very dangerous. I'm a little scared," said Jaime Grivalda, who just got off the bus from Mexico City with about $80 in his pocket for the trip. "But I'm more scared I won't make money for my family."

Grivalda said he hopes to make it to Los Angeles and work in construction for a year or two.

"They have a lot of work there," said 21-year-old Axel Herbert, one of three friends making the trip with Grivalda. The young men said they've been talking about this trip for four years and are now down to the final stretch. They don't have a map. And none of them are designated as a leader, because they're all first-time crossers.

But the four have talked to other crossers and are confident they can succeed, despite the sun and the migra. The opportunity to earn money is worth the risk.

And the risk can be much more than just heat, said Mike McGlasson, the public information officer for the Border Patrol's Yuma Sector office.

McGlasson said illegal crossers die every year from drowning, accidents, natural causes and even murder while trying to sneak into the United States. In fiscal year 2001, 336 people died while crossing the country's southern border illegally, McGlasson said. By contrast, McGlasson said, 1,233 immigrants were rescued by Border Patrol agents.

This fiscal year, 99 people have already died and 621 have been rescued, McGlasson said.

"I'm scared but that's normal," said Manuel Verdugo, a five-time crosser. Despite his success, Verdugo said illegal entry a difficult thing to do.

As for the 14 people who died near here exactly one year ago, Verdugo said they made it hard on themselves by heading so far out into the desert.

Eleven families of the 14 people who died have since filed a claim against federal agencies seeking $3.75 million for each death. The claim alleges the agencies failed to install water stations near where the deaths occurred, even after a humanitarian group requested they do so.

"We don't have any problem with the heat," Martinez said.
http://www.yumasun.com/artman/publish/story_1679.shtml