Mexican immigrants are perhaps the most vilified people in this country, but an AP news story (sent my way by OJ reader Carl Overmyer) may change a few minds. At least I hope it does.
Here are a few excerpts from the AP article:
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 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 is now in the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol. Whatever happens to him, he has earned his wings…and his story will probably be told again and again.
I too saw that story Art. ( and kudos to Carl for sending it over)
If anyone deserves to be given some sort of permanent residency or even started on the path to citizenship, this guy deserves it.
He put his own trek to a better life in America on hold to help another.
Maybe you should rally the troops and get a email rally started to someone like Lou Correa to see if he can stay.
It might be best to learn more of the facts in this case before trumpeting it. Just a thought.
so this kid did what i think any human would do try and help some one in danger or in need . the fact that he is a illegal HAS nothing to do with . should we let in now art any illegal who dose a good deed . what the kid did is great but IT SHOULD NOT JUMP IN FRONT OF THE LINE . that is if he gets in line .
#2 and #3 –
I pray the Christmas angel brings you both a good dose of compassion for all mankind.
Thank for this story. You made my Thanksgiving. Please give us more like it to counter the Minuteman garbage.
I’d sponsor him. He’s quality.
This is a great story, but why are we all so amazed. Isn’t this what YOU would do if you found a young child alone in the desert? Have we fallen so low that we now think this is an extraordinary act? He should be given an opportunity to go through the process and come here legally for helping the boy, maybe have fees waived, but no other special treatment.
Idiot #5 – Do you even have a CLUE as to what the Minutemen are for? Or are you just another racist moron who condemns American citizens who actually take their citizenship seriously and try to protect their country?
The Minutemen ask ONLY for enforcement of immigration law and the integrity of our borders. How is that “garbage”? They made no apprehensions, just radioed in locations of people crossing the border illegally.
Have you ever even thought about the fact that THAT IS WHAT THE BORDER PATROL AND NATIONAL GUARD DO? Are the Border Patrol and National Guard “garbage”?
Have you ever even thought about it, or do you just react like the idiot CSU Long Beach students who wouldn’t even let Gilchrist speak? Those weak-minded fools are sheep, very sad…
Try THINKING for once.
Manuel Cordova did what any MORAL human being would do. I think Poster #5’s point may be that he/she is tired of illegal immigrants being characterized as subhuman criminals, rather than the ethical people that most of them are. Yes, they enter the country illegally, but is it morally wrong to want to help yourself and your family?Unfortunately, sometimes certain Americans citizens think they have a monopoly on “morality.” I would also hazard a guess that some “Americans” when given the choice between self-preservation and helping another would choose themselves.