Friday, August 13, 2010

Arizona Border Town Home to New Illegal Immigration Tactics

While the entire nation is talking about illegal immigration, the residents of McNeal, Arizona live with it daily. It's a big time problem. And, all three hundred people in McNeal (some say that number is inflated) seem to have a personal story about illegal immigrants and drug or human smugglers. "Just last week, three of them showed up at my back gate. It was three young men...they were from Mexico City," shared Richard Humphries. Stephanie Langham added, "We're dealing with drug wars, human trafficking wars...we're dealing with smuggling...all of this stuff!" "We probably see 30-40 (illegal immigrants) a day between Davis Road and here!" said John Brya, adding, "At least the ones you can see!" See? KGUN9 didn't know exactly what that the local store owner meant. But, we started to figure it all out when McNeal residents Sean and Stephanie Langham took us for a little walk. The couple met our KGUN9 reporter at an anti-SB1070 protest in Tucson and invited us to see what they say really goes on in their border town. "In this area this is where the coyotes are, the drop vehicles ... This is where you see the beginning of the drug smuggling. This isn't just about people trying to find jobs," said S&S Auto owner Sean Langham. A few steps further into the desert and under some desert brush we saw what everyone in town meant when they talked about the illegal immigrants and smugglers you could not see. That's because a lot hide in what appears to be a hole right in middle of the desert. But, the hole we were gaping into wasn't a hole. It was an underground stash house. And, it wasn't discovered by local cops or Border Patrol. "This was found by our children. That's who found it. I know there are a lot of mine shafts around here, but this is not a mine shaft," said Sean Langham. "I've never seen anything like this. This underground stash house has its own running water, its own electric box over here, and even its own address, # 475," recounted KGUN9 reporter Joel Waldman...more

See the KGUN-TV report at the link provided.

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