Families of illegal immigrants in Arizona sue govt
By David Schwartz 09 May 2003 00:20:17 GMT
PHOENIX, Arizona, May 8 (Reuters) - The families of 14 illegal immigrants who died after being abandoned by smugglers in the Arizona desert have filed a $42 million lawsuit against the U.S. government, blaming federal border policies for the deaths.
The lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Tucson charges that a crackdown at the U.S.-Mexican border forced the immigrants to enter into southwest Arizona two years ago in a rugged area, well known as "a hostile and dangerous desert."
Family members also claim in the lawsuit filed late last month, but disclosed this week, that the government was "negligent and reckless" for not allowing a human rights group to install a water station in a spot that could have helped those making the trek through the desert.
An application by Tucson-based Humane Borders to put two water stations in the area was rejected a month before the deadly incident, said Robin Hoover, the group's president.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the 17 surviving children, spouses and parents of those who died in one of the worst border incidents in Arizona in decades.
