BILL NUMBER: AJR 15 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
RESOLUTION CHAPTER 115
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 24, 2001
ADOPTED IN SENATE SEPTEMBER 10, 2001
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 23, 2001
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 23, 2001
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 10, 2001
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Firebaugh and Vargas
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Alquist, Aroner, Ashburn, Bates,
Bogh, Calderon, Bill Campbell, John Campbell, Canciamilla, Cardenas,
Cardoza, Cedillo, Chan, Chavez, Chu, Cogdill, Cohn, Corbett, Correa,
Cox, Daucher, Diaz, Dickerson, Dutra, Florez, Frommer, Goldberg,
Harman, Havice, Hertzberg, Hollingsworth, Horton, Jackson, Keeley,
Kehoe, Kelley, Koretz, Leach, Leonard, Liu, Longville, Lowenthal,
Maldonado, Matthews, Migden, Nation, Negrete McLeod, Oropeza, Robert
Pacheco, Rod Pacheco, Pavley, Pescetti, Reyes, Richman, Runner,
Shelley, Simitian, Steinberg, Strickland, Strom-Martin, Thomson,
Washington, Wayne, Wesson, Wiggins, Wright, Wyman, and Zettel)
JUNE 11, 2001
Assembly Joint Resolution No. 15--Relative to border crossing
deaths.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 15, Firebaugh. Border crossing deaths.
This measure would urge the President and Congress of the United
States and the United States Border Patrol to proceed in a
cooperative effort with the Mexican government through the working
group on migrations and border safety to achieve a comprehensive
examination of border safety and migration issues, an assessment of
the impact of United States border initiatives, enhanced
investigations and prosecutions of criminal gangs of smugglers, and
increasing search and rescue operations along the border.
WHEREAS, On May 24, 2001, following an extensive rescue search by
the United States Border Patrol, 25 migrants who were abandoned by
their smugglers were found in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife
Refuge in southwest Arizona; and
WHEREAS, After being driven for one and one-half hours through the
wildlife refuge, the migrants were told by the smugglers that it was
only a short walk to a nearby highway; and
WHEREAS, In fact, in order to reach their destination the migrants
were required to travel across 70 miles of harsh desert in an area
known as "The Devil's Path" and endure air temperatures in excess of
115 degrees and desert floor temperatures of 130 degrees; and
WHEREAS, Fourteen of those victims died of exposure and
dehydration and 11 survivors were hospitalized in the deadliest
crossing of the border since 1987, when 18 Mexican men died in a
locked boxcar near Sierra Blanca, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Since 1994, border enforcement initiatives such as
"Operation Gatekeeper" on the California-Mexico border have increased
patrols and constructed steel walls near urban areas, forcing
migrants to make more dangerous crossings in rural, often open desert
areas; and
WHEREAS, Most migrants are unaware and unprepared to make a desert
crossing, thereby leading to a substantial increase in fatalities
due to dehydration in the summer and hypothermia in cold weather; and
WHEREAS, Deaths of migrants along the desert areas of the border
have increased exponentially since the implementation of these
initiatives, with reported deaths increasing from 25 in 1994 to 369
in 1999 and 491 in 2000, according to figures released by the Mexican
government, as well as an unknown number of undiscovered and
unreported deaths; and
WHEREAS, As a result of the increase in border crossings and
deaths in these desert areas, concerns have been expressed by
humanitarian organizations, civil rights organizations, churches, and
the Mexican government that the United States Border Patrol's
current enforcement program effectively is operating as a channeling
operation, rather than a general border interdiction program; and
WHEREAS, Immediately after this incident both the United States
and Mexican governments jointly announced that they were launching an
investigation of the incident, issued a statement condemning the
actions of smugglers, and reaffirmed their commitment to combat the
trafficking of migrants; and
WHEREAS, Both governments also recognized the need for the two
nations to continue to work together to reach agreements on migration
and border safety; and
WHEREAS, President George W. Bush and President Vincente Fox have
established a high-level working group on migration cochaired by
Attorney General John Ashcroft and Secretary Colin Powell of the
United States and by Mexico's Foreign Secretary and its Secretary of
Government; and
WHEREAS, This working group on migration and border safety plans
to continue to meet to discuss specific measures to prevent future
occurrences of these tragedies and to promote safe and orderly
migration; and
WHEREAS, At a minimum, the potential solutions to this tragic
problem require a comprehensive examination of the consequences of
border initiatives, enhanced investigations by the Mexican government
of criminal gangs of smugglers, providing the United States Border
Patrol with increased search and rescue resources such as lifesaving
gear and emergency medical training, and consensus on a long-term
agreement between the United States and Mexico on migration and
border security policies; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California,
jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California urges the
President and Congress of the United States and the United States
Border Patrol to proceed in a cooperative effort with the Mexican
government through the working group on migrations and border safety
to achieve a comprehensive examination of border safety and migration
issues, an assessment of the impact of United States border
initiatives, enhanced investigations and prosecutions of criminal
gangs of smugglers, and increasing search and rescue operations along
the border; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the President of the United States, all members of
the Congress of the United States, and the Mexican Consulate in
Washington, D.C.