AZ, how bad is it?

[Arne]

I've read where AZ has closed down parks because of illegal immigrants and drugs, guns and danger.

So, would like to hear from some AZ'ers for a first hand account of what it is really like, not what the media is feeding me......

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/16/closes-park-land-mexico-border-americans/

And, boy, isn't that fence just doing its job?

[Jason and Amanda]

having never lived in AZ but visited family there. Most areas up north are B-E-A-Utiful and you won't run into any trouble at all. One highly recommended stop from me is the Verde Canyon area. It's between Flagstaff and Phoenix.

[iplay10us2]

Let's see...the area was really closed in 2006 and FauxNews is just now getting around to publishing something about it.

[emiller]

Don't want to get into politics. I heard of one park next to the border that closed because of drug activity in the area and they did not want to have people in the park in risk of being hurt or harmed. I think drugs is out of control near the border towns and unless Mexico can control there side it is not going to change. And most illegal immigrants are not Mexicans but South Americans and Chinese. The majority is South Americans coming up through Mexico where they hire coyotes to take them across. I have different feelings about the whole thing and it just my feelings. I hear mostly that illegal immigrants are taking our jobs and they don't pay taxes and they are murderers. Well I don't see many people here working for as little as they do for the work they do and they do pay some taxes when they purchase and live hear. The other day watching that program "I almost got away" every American that killed someone here went to Mexico and Guatemala. So I do think our borders should be secured but I also think they point there finger at one state. I think if I remember the terrorist came in from the Canadian border. Also this country was built on migrants. most forced into this country during the slave trade which ended around the 19th century.
Can you tell I am tired of all the crap.

[Cliffmeister2000]

I agree 100% with Eddie. Way overblown.

As far as the parks are concerned, I don't personally know of any that are closed, but all the rest stops are. And it was budget, nothing else, that closed them.

[caseydog]

In Texas, it is the border towns in Mexico that are suffering the big surge in drug violence that sometimes spill over into the Texas border towns. The worst is in cities and towns near Ciudad Juárez in Mexico -- a big-time drug cartel center.

But, on the other hand, my town in North Texas has a lot of immigrants from Mexico (about 12-percent of the population is hispanic/latino), and we are one of the safest cities in Texas.

So, you can't really generalize immigration and violence. The worst violence is still on the Mexican side of the border, but some does spill over.

And, I agree with a previous poster -- if you see it on FoxNews, get a second opinion. It's a good idea to verify anything you read or see in the news, period, but it is especially important when you see it on certain "news" (cough, cough) outlets.

CD

[ssrjim]

It is an election year

[goramsey]

Don't want to get into politics. I heard of one park next to the border that closed because of drug activity in the area and they did not want to have people in the park in risk of being hurt or harmed. I think drugs is out of control near the border towns and unless Mexico can control there side it is not going to change. And most illegal immigrants are not Mexicans but South Americans and Chinese. The majority is South Americans coming up through Mexico where they hire coyotes to take them across. I have different feelings about the whole thing and it just my feelings. I hear mostly that illegal immigrants are taking our jobs and they don't pay taxes and they are murderers. Well I don't see many people here working for as little as they do for the work they do and they do pay some taxes when they purchase and live hear. The other day watching that program "I almost got away" every American that killed someone here went to Mexico and Guatemala. So I do think our borders should be secured but I also think they point there finger at one state. I think if I remember the terrorist came in from the Canadian border. Also this country was built on migrants. most forced into this country during the slave trade which ended around the 19th century.
Can you tell I am tired of all the crap.

Another one to agree with your comment. Right on!!

[nevadatear]

I echo emiller and caseydog. But to the point, it has been several years, but we did a camping/birding trip all over south AZ, Tucson and beyond, Saguaro National Park, Ramsey Canyon, Madera Canyon, Patagonia State Park, all the way to the border and back. Although there was lots of evidence of crossing (my husband carried a trash bag to pick up stuff on the trails we hiked, mostly water bottles-and passing several border agents), we had no problems. As we hike in the day and the migrants travel at night, no problem. We felt very safe. Now this was about 4 years ago. But we would go again in a second On the other hand since I don't agree with AZ politics right now, I would probably wait a while, but not because I felt unsafe.

[Gage]

On the other hand since I don't agree with AZ politics right now, I would probably wait a while, but not because I felt unsafe.

On this point only. Read the law complete before you start throwing rocks. Hell, it isn't as bad as the Federal Law in which the Federal Government won't enforce.

Hey Eddie, did you see where Mexico is suing Arizona saying that new law discriminates. I didn't know Mexico was part of the states. And they should take a good look at there own laws on this issue before jumping our laws. Mater of fact maybe a lot of our citizens should review their laws and see which is worst.

[Nobody]

On the other hand since I don't agree with AZ politics right now, I would probably wait a while, but not because I felt unsafe.

On this point only. Read the law complete before you start throwing rocks. Hell, it isn't as bad as the Federal Law in which the Federal Government won't enforce.

Hey Eddie, did you see where Mexico is suing Arizona saying that new law discriminates. I didn't know Mexico was part of the states. And they should take a good look at there own laws on this issue before jumping our laws. Mater of fact maybe a lot of our citizens should review their laws and see which is worst.

Thank you!

[boomboomtulum]

Right On GAGE

[emiller]

You don't have to be from the states to sue the states. I bet there will be some law suits against BP. Laws, I don't think our laws are enforced enough. Our Governor hasn't done anything for this state except divide it when we should be working together. I guess it is OK for undocumented workers to work the fields and car washes as long as the economy is doing OK. But when the economy tanks they point the fingers at others instead of them self's. We should look at rich folks not paying taxes with loop holes and the welfare system. I have never remembered the politicians doing so many negative pointing of fingers like now. All you hear during election is what the other hasn't done. What happen to being a united nation. We have become greedy. Why are are so many factories and companies moving abroad. What happen to made in America. Land of the free. I do agree that the borders should be controlled and should not be able to have a baby hear and automatically be a US citizen. This is still a great country but as I get older I worry about how free my grand kids are really going to be in the future.

[planovet]

The problem I have is Mexico trying to tell us how to do our job. They need to take care of things on their side of the border and let us worry about our side.

[emiller]

Mark that is exactly what Mexico is saying. We need to stop pointing fingers and do something but our government for some reason won't. We can't depend on another Country to do what needs to be done in our country. I wonder what goes behind closed doors at the White House. Sen. Kyle said/ Pres. Obama said. Stop already.

this thread should be locked. Politics stink.