A man illegally crossing into the United States from Mexico stayed with a boy who was lost in the Arizona desert and probably saved his life. This man should be rewarded by being made a legal resident of the United States. He could easily have left the boy and melted into the general population but he chose instead to stay with him. Jesus Manuel Cordova is the kind of person the United States should welcome.


Illegal Immigrant Rescues Boy in Desert

Nov 23 09:47 PM US/Eastern
By TERRY TANG
Associated Press writer 19 Comments


PHOENIX (AP) - A 9-year-old boy looking for help after his mother crashed their van in the southern Arizona desert was rescued by a man entering the U.S. illegally, who stayed with him until help arrived the next day, an official said.
The 45-year-old woman, who eventually died while awaiting help, had been driving on a U.S. Forest Service road in a remote area just north of the Mexican border when she lost control of her van on a curve on Thanksgiving, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada said.

The van vaulted into a canyon and landed 300 feet from the road, he said. The woman, from Rimrock, north of Phoenix, survived the impact but was pinned inside, Estrada said.

Her son, unhurt but disoriented, crawled out to get help and was found about two hours later by Jesus Manuel Cordova, 26, of Magdalena de Kino in the northern Mexican state of Sonora. Unable to pull the mother out, he comforted the boy while they waited for help.

The woman died a short time later.

"He stayed with him, told him that everything was going to be all right," Estrada said.

As temperatures dropped, he gave him a jacket, built a bonfire and stayed with him until about 8 a.m. Friday, when hunters passed by and called authorities, Estrada said. The boy was flown to University Medical Center in Tucson as a precaution but appeared unhurt.

"We suspect that they communicated somehow, but we don't know if he knows Spanish or if the gentleman knew English," Estrada said of the boy.

"For a 9-year-old it has to be completely traumatic, being out there alone with his mother dead," Estrada said. "Fortunately for the kid, (Cordova) was there. That was his angel."

Cordova was taken into custody by Border Patrol agents, who were the first to respond to the call for help. He had been trying to walk into the U.S. when he came across the boy.

The boy and his mother were in the area camping, Estrada said. The woman's husband, the boy's father, had died only two months ago. The names of the woman and her son were not being released until relatives were notified.

Cordova likely saved the boy, Estrada said, and his actions should remind people not to quickly characterize illegal immigrants as criminals.

"They do get demonized for a lot of reasons, and they do a lot of good. Obviously this is one example of what an individual can do," he said.

Cordova likely saved the boy, Estrada said, and his actions should remind people not to quickly characterize illegal immigrants as criminals.

Agreed, merely illegal with unknown potential.

Nice post Frogger. I suspect this man will have people volunteering to be his sponsor for citizenship.

:upyours: Why was she on that remote road with her 9 year old son?
The woman is dead and all we have is the story quickly taken from a young, traumatized boy who had been alone with a man so desperate and greedy to enter the United States that he did so alone and illegally.

Send him back - no exceptions.
:upyours:

:upyours: Why was she on that remote road with her 9 year old son?
The woman is dead and all we have is the story quickly taken from a young, traumatized boy who had been alone with a man so desperate and greedy to enter the United States that he did so alone and illegally.

Send him back - no exceptions.
:upyours:
That's just ridiculous. I'm no liberal on the issue of illegal immigration, but this man literally saved a child's life. He should not be punished for that. And if you're trying to suggest that the young boy's story is somehow unreliable, I have to ask you what evidence you could possibly have for that.

Send him back no exceptions-I like that.
I dont know where you live or what skills you have Cranston.
But you should ask yourself if you would qualify for residence status.

PS. If your gonna hide behind the word 'illegal'-forget it.

:upyours: Why was she on that remote road with her 9 year old son?
The woman is dead and all we have is the story quickly taken from a young, traumatized boy who had been alone with a man so desperate and greedy to enter the United States that he did so alone and illegally.

Send him back - no exceptions.
:upyours:


She was on the remote road with her son because he husband, the boy's father had died just two months ago. She was most likely trying to assuage the sorrow of herself and her young son by going camping together.

The boy is old enough to know what happened. He isn't an infant.

The man might have been desperate enough to cross the desert alone to get into The States but he surely wasn't greedy. If he was greedy for the perceived wealth he could garner in the United States he would have left the boy to his own devices. Instead he stayed with the boy, knowing he would probably be caught by the authorties. His need to help the child was more important than his need to sneak into the U.S..

By the way, what's with the up yours smilies? Were they directed at the woman, the Mexican or at your fellow posters with whom you disagree. Whoever they were meant for they were inappropriate and childish.

There is a dangerous precedent being set here.

Some here have argued strongly elsewhere that the law is the law,

and NO illegals should be shown compassion,but deported immediately.

Whats going on?

That's just ridiculous. I'm no liberal on the issue of illegal immigration, but this man literally saved a child's life. He should not be punished for that. You're right, he should not be punished for that.


However, he was in the country by his own admission, illegally. If he wants to go back to his country of origin and go through the legal process of immigration, then by all means his deeds should be used to show character and a reason to give him citizenship.

But by no means should he be fast tracked through the process for being in the right place at the right time and doing the humane thing. What he did shouldnt be considered above and beyond, i would hope we would all do that given the same circumstances.

How do you reward someone for being 'themselves'.

You may be right regarding being sent back,if as has been said,Immigration Law is written in stone-he has to go.

Tho as Vile says-someone will sponsor him.

How do you reward someone for being 'themselves'.

You may be right regarding being sent back,if as has been said,Immigration Law is written in stone-he has to go.

Tho as Vile says-someone will sponsor him.Someone should sponsor him. His good deed should be rewarded. Just not rewarded with an exception to his legal status in this country without due process that thousands of others are going through.

Obviously living near our country gave him an advantage that thousands of other immigrants didnt have in happening upon that child. Since many live so far away, simply walking illegally across our nations borders was not an option for them as it was for the gentleman in this story.

Taking care of that child was the right thing to do. Im glad he did the right thing even while breaking my nation's laws. Good job, now get in line with everyone else.

How abut this; he is sent back to Mexico with the understanding that he can instantly apply for legal entry and that his application will be fast tracked. In that way he is not being allowed to enter as an illegal alien but is being rewarded for his selfless deed.

How abut this; he is sent back to Mexico with the understanding that he can instantly apply for legal entry and that his application will be fast tracked. In that way he is not being allowed to enter as an illegal alien but is being rewarded for his selfless deed.


That would be a likely way to handle this. He did do something good by helping and saving that little boy,something every parent wishes someone would do if their child were to be put in that situation.
But to just allow him instant citzenship for this one deed isn't the right way to handle this. If we bend the rules for one person then every illegal immigrant crossing our borders will be looking for something good to do that will allow them to stay in our country while there are others who have been fighting for years to gain citzenship legally.

How abut this; he is sent back to Mexico with the understanding that he can instantly apply for legal entry and that his application will be fast tracked. In that way he is not being allowed to enter as an illegal alien but is being rewarded for his selfless deed.
Fair enough-this is an option which may take place anyway.

Good job, now get in line with everyone else.
No thanks-Im fine were I am.

How abut this; he is sent back to Mexico with the understanding that he can instantly apply for legal entry and that his application will be fast tracked. In that way he is not being allowed to enter as an illegal alien but is being rewarded for his selfless deed.
Yeah, I would say that's the most logical idea.

The man might have been desperate enough to cross the desert alone to get into The States but he surely wasn't greedy. If he was greedy for the perceived wealth he could garner in the United States he would have left the boy to his own devices. Instead he stayed with the boy, knowing he would probably be caught by the authorties. His need to help the child was more important than his need to sneak into the U.S.My guess is that you'd find this a common characteristic to most of the folks crossing illegally: Decent people who are not lucky enough to be born where we take things for granted too often.

My guess is that you'd find this a common characteristic to most of the folks crossing illegally: Decent people who are not lucky enough to be born where we take things for granted too often.I would agree. The majority of immigrants are probably nice. At least i hope that is the case. However, what difference does it make if they are nice? They are still breaking laws, thats not nice.

I would agree. The majority of immigrants are probably nice. At least i hope that is the case. However, what difference does it make if they are nice? They are still breaking laws, thats not nice.You ever speed down the interstate?

You ever speed down the interstate?
Sure have...and paid the price for it.

Sure have...and paid the price for it.So you decide which laws you will obey and which you won't. And out of what, inconvenience, impatience? If your family had no economic opportunity where you were, you wouldn't make a run for honest labor by breaking an immigration law? C'mon man!

Obey....you use some example like speeding and make it seem as if i made the decision to break the law? Get real. If you drive everyday to and from work, you have sped at one point or another. I made a mistake, not a conscious decision to break the law.


Sorry shiloh, i dont agree. As I said before, get in line like everyone else.


Another thing, i understand your sympathy for people with less opportunity than we enjoy here. I have sympathy for them also. But if you start, where does it stop? Do we allow EVERYONE in this country and turn a blind eye to all the socio/economic problems that this is causing?

Obey....you use some example like speeding and make it seem as if i made the decision to break the law? Get real. If you drive everyday to and from work, you have sped at one point or another. I made a mistake, not a conscious decision to break the law.You decide to label an entire group of people because they "break the law." You want to deport a person for having committed a "violation of the law," as if that, in and of itself, were all that mattered, not their reasons or character or contributions to their families or their new community. Then you justify your own unlawfulness as not intentional. You are worse in this lawfullness issue then they are! They do it from need and a desire for a better life; you do it because you couldn't care less about the law you hold up to mean so damn much!


Sorry shiloh, i dont agree. As I said before, get in line like everyone else.I don't know what "get in line" means, here.

You ever speed down the interstate?


that's suicidal around here:@@:

Another thing, i understand your sympathy for people with less opportunity than we enjoy here. I have sympathy for them also. But if you start, where does it stop? Do we allow EVERYONE in this country and turn a blind eye to all the socio/economic problems that this is causing?These people contribute to this eceonomy/society in the exact same ways that all other immigrants have.

that's suicidal around here:@@:Well, you might get tased!:cool:

Well, you might get tased!:cool:


I couldn't get THAT lucky:lolhit:
my dumb luck I'd get pulled over by one of my cop friends and he'd make the whole thing into a joke on the side of the highway:rolleyes:

You decide to label an entire group of people because they "break the law." You want to deport a person for having committed a "violation of the law," as if that, in and of itself, were all that mattered, not their reasons or character or contributions to their families or their new community. Then you justify your own unlawfulness as not intentional. You are worse in this lawfullness issue then they are! They do it from need and a desire for a better life; you do it because you couldn't care less about the law you hold up to mean so damn much!


I don't know what "get in line" means, here.I didnt label them. Im saying wait your fucking turn like everyone else. Otherwise, why have borders for your nation, or an immigration dept. Just hang a sign up saying "come one, come all, no questions asked".

Like i said, i paid for my mistakes. You're saying we should just turn a blind eye to these illegals intentionally breaking our nations law. Life is not fair. At some point, the needs of the many have to supercede the needs of the foreign few.

I dont understand your warped mentality in assuming i "couldnt care less about the law I hold up to mean so damn much" because i admittedly broke the speed limit. Piss poor analogy, to be honest.

These people contribute to this eceonomy/society in the exact same ways that all other immigrants have.
Bullshit. They work tax free.

he's legal now...he's back on his side of the border.

Piss poor analogy, to be honest.It's not an analogy. It's a lesson.

Bullshit. They work tax free.The pay taxes every time the buy a gallon of milk. And, at the rate of pay they typically receive, they'd get their damn federal income tax withholding returned anyway! As a result of the low wages they make, they pay a huge percentage in taxes in the form of sales tax.

Plus, that's not the only way to contribute to the economy, HaVok.

Shilohproject,

Let's stick with you speeding analogy. If Havok gets caught speeding he will have to face the consequences which may be a fine, or even loss of his license. Those are the penalties that are levied for speeding.

If a person crosses the border illegally and gets caught the penalty is being deported.

In both cases, do the crime and do the time so to speak. You have no problem punishing the law breaking speeder. Why do you have a problem punishing the law breaking illegal border crosser?

The difference is in the perceptions of justice done. Punishing a speeder with a fine or loss of license obviously in Shiloh's mind seems more justified than deporting an immigrant because he didn't emigrate legally.

There's laws, then there's justice.

Bullshit. They work tax free.

In most cases they do not. Most employers require you to provide a SS# when applying for a job and taxes are withheld from their pay just like everyone else.

My opposition to illegal aliens is not based on monetary considerations. If money was the prime reason I would favor more illegal immigration. Illegal immigrants are estimated to add well over thirty billion dollars a year to the New York economy. In my personal life it would mean getting my lawn mowed cheaper and having cheap labor at my beck and call.

I am against illegal immigration because any nation, in order to remain secure must be able to control ingress and egress across its borders. It is for the nation to decide who may and may not enter.

Illegal immigrants are simply the visible manifestation of what is happening. Our borders are porous. This porosity means our nation is less safe. We should remove all illegals we can and tighten the borders to make sure only those we want to enter our country can do so.

In most cases they do not. Most employers require you to provide a SS# when applying for a job and taxes are withheld from their pay just like everyone else.Maybe so...but i have intimate knowledge of this subject. Admittedly not on a grand scale, but in the case of around 100 local working illegals, i know what i say to be true. Every dollar earned is off the books, cash only.

Let's stick with you speeding analogy.It wasn't offered as an analogy, but rather to show the fraud involved in the "It's the Law" mantra of some people. They pick and choose which laws to obey, out of less noble motivations than survival, but cry to the heavens when The Law is broken by desperate, poverty ridden people looking for nothing more than a chance for a job.

Why do you have a problem punishing the law breaking illegal border crosser?No one is hurt by them. If they subsiquently break some law that causes harm, then by all means enforce it. Some laws are criminal, others are not. Immigration laws are not.

I am against illegal immigration because any nation, in order to remain secure must be able to control ingress and egress across its borders. Some of the most secure borders in the world could not make Nazi Germany secure, nor the USSR, nor any other tightly policed society. But open societies are often more "secure" and prosperous, like the US has been all this time...with unsecured borders.

Some laws are criminal, others are not. Immigration laws are not.

Off the top of my head, illegal re-entry (e.g. illegally entering the country after being deported once) is a criminal violation. Border courts are flooded with immigration-related crimes.

No one is hurt by them. If they subsiquently break some law that causes harm, then by all means enforce it. Some laws are criminal, others are not. Immigration laws are not.

You'll find that enforcing the law against someone who is illegally here is not as easily done as against someone who is here legally. That's a big part of the problem.

If you want to know if anyone is hurt by them, talk to any person who has had a criminal or civil problem with illegal immigrants. Believe me, those people are being harmed. Hell, I would bet that most of the victims don't even know that they were harmed by an illegal immigrant...unless they are caught red-handed, they are practically invisible to the law. Personally, I have seen lots of cases where there is a traffic accident, and the illegal flees the scene. If you're the person who got into an accident with them, then you're probably SoL as far as compensation is concerned. Even if they are caught, very few carry insurance or a valid license. And that stems from the fact that law enforcement agencies are unwilling/unable to enforce basic laws when it comes to illegals.

In most cases they do not. Most employers require you to provide a SS# when applying for a job and taxes are withheld from their pay just like everyone else.

Vile if that is true why are big employers of immigrants fighting so hard agaiinst SS# verification? They often know the SS# given is as phony as a three dollar bill.

You'll find that enforcing the law against someone who is illegally here is not as easily done as against someone who is here legally. That's a big part of the problem.

If you want to know if anyone is hurt by them, talk to any person who has had a criminal or civil problem with illegal immigrants.I'm not sure what you mean by some of this. I know of many illegal immigrants who are incarcerated by the State of Texas for criminal violations. I work with them as a part of my church outreach activities. Legal status in the US doesn't keep one from being prosecuted criminally.

I will agree absolutely that the scenario you offer re traffic accidents is a fair characterization, but I believe many of the problems stem from the individuals' inability to be legitimized and a fear of contact with with police, vis a vis deportation referals to ICE. If there were some mechanism in place to deal with the realities of our world, rather than just the Deport 'em All stuff that is so popular these days, I thank many of the problems would go away.