Last Sunday 22 illegal immigrants from Mexico piled into a
stolen Chevrolet pickup and led the California Highway Patrol and
the U.S. Border Patrol on a chase near San Diego which reached
speeds of 95 miles per hour. The wobbly vehicle darted on to a
central divider, traveled eastbound on a westbound interstate, and
then spun out of control after the driver tried to bypass a police
spike strip. The car flipped, resulting in the death of the driver
and one other passenger and injuries to the other 20 passengers,
according to the Los Angeles Times.
Guess who the Mexican Consulate in California is blaming for the
crash: the reckless bordercrossers who imperiled innocent motorists
and their own lives? No, Mexican officials lay the blame on U.S.
authorities. The CHP and Border Patrol are guilty of “gross
negligence” for using spike strips, says Consul General
Rodulfo Figueroa.
This is crassness of staggering proportions. And yet such
crassness largely defines Mexico’s policy toward the United States.
Mexico says its policy is based on “self-interest.” Try shameless
selfishness. In their mindless nationalism, Mexican officials won’t
give even the slightest nod to justice.
Why did this crash occur? First, because of the stupidity and
criminality of the illegal immigrants who overloaded the stolen
vehicle and floored it instead of stopping for the police. Second,
because the Mexican government encourages its citizens to sneak
into America, even though that endangers their lives and the lives
of Americans.
“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know what the
consequences are going to be, even if they don’t hit the spikes,”
Figueroa said. Nor, Mr. Figueroa, do you need much of a brain to
see that if you encourage your country’s citizens to break another
country’s laws dangers will follow.
One hundred percent of the blame for this incident falls on
Mexico. The CHP has every right to use spike strips. They save
innocent lives. If they pose a danger, they only pose a danger to
moronic criminals who go looking for the danger by leading cops on
high-speed chases.
Figueroa owes America an apology for the “gross negligence” of
his countrymen who broke U.S. law, wasted American resources, and
threatened the lives of innocent motorists. Spike strips are the
gentlest means of stopping these public menaces. In less softheaded
times, cops used to shoot at drivers barreling into crowded
intersections. The Los Angeles Times reports that a van
full of illegal immigrants recently killed six people as it evaded
the Border Patrol by driving toward oncoming traffic.
It would be inaccurate to say Mexico wants California’s cops to
fight border crimes with one arm behind their backs. They want both
arms tied, because they don’t want border crimes fought at all.
According to Figueroa, cops should just waive as illegal immigrants
speed into the country.
Liberal Californians, always ready to side with criminals over
cops, are planning a “candlelight vigil” to protest the CHP’s spike
strips. You see, they violate an illegal immigrant’s inalienable
right to overload his vehicle and travel at 100 mph. They
jeopardize his tires, force him to travel down the wrong side of
the street as well as sidewalks and central dividers, and prevent
him from escaping justice. They are “dangerous,” these activists
say, because illegal immigrants typically travel in cars packed to
the gills. The police have no business upending such unstable
vehicles, they argue.
One can feel some sympathy for the hapless migrants who join
these crazy caravans. But here’s an idea, Mr. Figueroa: Tell them
not to come. Tell them, “If you get into a smuggler’s car with 21
other people, you are taking your life into your own hands.”
People who turn on a flame and then place their hand in it will
get burnt.
