KXO RADIO - Illegal Immigration Problems Hurt Environment

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Todays is : Tuesday, 02 December 2008

Written by George Gale
Monday, 07 August 2006
(THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION PROBLEM HURTS THE ENVIRONMENT)….THAT IS WHAT A HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES WAS TOLD AT A RECENT HEARING IN SAN DIEGO. THE HOUSE IS HOLDING SEVERAL HEARINGS ALONG THE U.S./MEXICO BORDER THIS MONTH, BUT NONE IN IMPERIAL COUNTY. THE CLOSEST HEARING WAS HELD LAST WEEK IN YUMA, ARIZONA, AND THAT WAS CLOSED FROM PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THE MOST RECENT HEARING WAS HELD IN SANTEE FRIDAY. DURING THE TWO HEARING COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE TOLD THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CREATED ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRASH AND HUMAN WASTE. AS AN EXAMPLE, THE RECENT HORSE THIEF CANYON FIRE WAS CITED. IT IS SUSPECTED THAT A CAMPFIRE LIT BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAUSED THE FIRE, WHICH BURNED AROUND 17,000 ACRES OF BRUSH IN THE EAST SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS. THE COMMITTEE WAS TOLD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALSO HURTS THE ENVIRONMENT LOOKING FOR THE ILLEGALS. THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAID HELICOPTERS AND OFF-ROAD VEHICLE DISTURBING THE WILDLIFE AND DESTROYING HABITAT DID DAMAGE. AGRICULTURE OFFICIALS FROM THE WESTERN GROWERS ASSOCIATION STRESSED THE NEED FOR A GUEST WORKER PROGRAM. THEY SAID THE SHORTAGE OF WORKERS FOR HARVESTS IS ALREADY EVIDENT. THE HOUSE OPPOSES SUCH A PLAN, WHILE THE SENATE ENCOURAGES A GUEST WORKER PLAN AS WELL AS A MEANS TO LEGALIZE THOSE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ALREADY IN THIS COUNTRY.