"I was thirsty, and you gave me water"

[J Bryson]

Man convicted of littering for attempting to save the lives of undocumented border crossers.

 

[Nepenthe]

Buena suerte indeed.
Disgusting, sad, pathetic... I've ranted about immigration policies in the U.S. before so I have little to add. But I hope that even the most ardent critics of immigration would defend this guy's actions and see the feds as unnecessarily petty in this instance. I hope(?).

 

[Zephyr]

God damn it, death to America indeed.

 

[Nepenthe]

God damn it, death to America indeed.

Well, in this case Mexican, Central and South Americans.

 

[J Bryson]

It's like the people who exposed needle-exchange programs, and would bust folks who ran them for illegal distribution of hypoderminc needles. Those who are attempting to save the lives of the unfortunate should not be singled out for persecution or prosecution.

 

[Nepenthe]

It's like the people who exposed needle-exchange programs, and would bust folks who ran them for illegal distribution of hypoderminc needles. Those who are attempting to save the lives of the unfortunate should not be singled out for persecution or prosecution.

Good comparison.
Even if someone opposes legalization of drugs and/or supports harsh anti-drug laws, there's no logical reason to block the distribution of clean safe needles to prevent disease. The issues are independent of each other. Same with providing water to immigrants- whatever someone's opinion of illegal immigration it's a serparate thing from giving water to a thirsty person, or giving a person water simply to save their lives even if what they're doing you consider criminal.

 

[Falvlun]

Meh. Personally, I would prefer the border patrol, et al, simply to stake out the dropped off water and ambush anyone who comes for it. Let them drink, and then politely escort them back where they came from.

 

[J Bryson]

Meh. Personally, I would prefer the border patrol, et al, simply to stake out the dropped off water and ambush anyone who comes for it. Let them drink, and then politely escort them back where they came from.

Which will not scare people away from crossing, but will make them suspicious of jugs of water that they run across. Hurts more than it helps.

 

[Zephyr]

Seriouspost: People who destroy these caches of water should be shot.

 

[Valjean]

American policy and laws have always been more concerned with symbolism than pragmatism.

 

[Zephyr]

Does anybody know what the penalties are for facilitating illegal border crossings?

 

[J Bryson]

American policy and laws have always been more concerned with symbolism than pragmatism.

Or basic humanity.

 

[Poisonshady313]

Good comparison.
Even if someone opposes legalization of drugs and/or supports harsh anti-drug laws, there's no logical reason to block the distribution of clean safe needles to prevent disease. The issues are independent of each other. Same with providing water to immigrants- whatever someone's opinion of illegal immigration it's a serparate thing from giving water to a thirsty person, or giving a person water simply to save their lives even if what they're doing you consider criminal.

If they weren't trying to cross the border illegally, they wouldn't be in a situation where they needed water to save their lives.

If they brought their own water, they wouldn't be in a situation where they needed someone else to provide water to save their lives.

Not providing water enforces the idea that crossing the border illegally is wrong. It is a risk that a person takes, and that person should be willing to suffer the consequences of taking a risk they knew would be dangerous.

 

[Poisonshady313]

Does anybody know what the penalties are for facilitating illegal border crossings?

Short time in prison.

 

[Zephyr]

Not providing water enforces the idea that crossing the border illegally is wrong.

And why would you want to do that?

Short time in prison.

So not a felony then?

 

[Poisonshady313]

And why would you want to do that?

Because crossing the border illegally is wrong.

So not a felony then?

It is a felony.

 

[AlsoAnima]

The following statements are true.

1. You should not enter a country illegally

2. You should not encourage such activity

3. You should not punish someone for doing so, simple return the bottles to the owner.

This topic is stupid.

 

[Poisonshady313]

The following statements are true.

1. You should not enter a country illegally

2. You should not encourage such activity

3. You should not punish someone for doing so, simple return the bottles to the owner.

This topic is stupid.

Assisting illegal border crossing is a felony. You should punish someone for doing so.

 

[J Bryson]

If they weren't trying to cross the border illegally, they wouldn't be in a situation where they needed water to save their lives.

True.

If they brought their own water, they wouldn't be in a situation where they needed someone else to provide water to save their lives.

Carrying your own water over that distance is possible, but it adds extra weight, meaning that you can't take more than is absolutely necessary. This also means that a single wrong turn can end in disaster.

Not providing water enforces the idea that crossing the border illegally is wrong. It is a risk that a person takes, and that person should be willing to suffer the consequences of taking a risk they knew would be dangerous.

Can I assume, then, that you also oppose needle exchange programs as encouraging people to take intravenous drugs, and oppose condom distribution in schools as a practice that promotes underage sex?

 

[jamaesi]

Disgusting...

Buena suerte, Mr. Staton.

It is a risk that a person takes, and that person should be willing to suffer the consequences of taking a risk they knew would be dangerous.

Driving a car is a risk you have to take. Should people in car accidents just be ignored so they can rescue themselves from their mangled car and give themselves medical treatment?

Have some compassion.