Border Crossing Deaths

The debate over immigration reform may be over for now, but in spite of increased patrols and enforcement, people keep trying to cross the southern border. What is happening, however, is that with increased enforcement the immigrants are taking increasingly risky routes, increasing the death toll in the desert. It's reported in the USA Today that the number of deaths increased 22% over the same period last year.

Robin Hoover, a Disciples pastor in Tucson and President of Humane Borders, is working to keep people from dying in the desert -- but his job is getting more difficult. Among the primary missions of Humane Borders is providing water stations so that people won't die in the desert of thirst. As much as some people want to stop immigration, surely they don't want to see people die in the desert.

The Humane Borders organization has made a proposal for immigration reform worth checking out:

Migrant-Centered Immigration Reform Proposals

Our new plan calls for:

• A phased-in legalization period in which undocumented persons achieve legal compliance.
• A new visa category that is based on social science analysis of the migration.
• A new visa compliance incentive that has an added benefit of providing financial resources to federal law enforcement.
• A stake for countries in the western hemisphere in an orderly, legal migration.
  Recognizing that the goals of national security, an orderly migration, a secure workforce, human rights, and international cooperation are important and not incompatible.
• Institutionalizing a migration that can be controlled as labor conditions certify.
  Download the proposal (MS Word format).