A National Park Ranger's Finest Hour

Article by Frosty Wooldridge

May 12, 2004

Sunrises spray golden confetti across the eastern sky. Blazing summer heat pops thermometers at 124 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep cool, lizards do pushups on rocks. Saguaro cacti raise their limbs like outlaws as if being told by a lawman, “Stick ‘em up, you’re under arrest.”

Welcome to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Southwestern Arizona on the border of Mexico—the most dangerous national park (monument) in the United States. If you visit, you could be killed at a campsite or on a hike if you happen to cross paths with 21st century desperadoes. This national treasure lays on the boundary with Mexico where assassins, drug smugglers and human traffickers ply their trade 24/7.

Franklin D. Roosevelt established this 312,000-acre preserve in 1937. But today, it’s a war zone. Mexican outlaws driving stolen SUV’s smash fences while running drugs and illegal aliens into the United States. Where do they obtain their ‘outlaw transportation’? Phoenix became the car-jacking capitol of the United States last year with 57,600 stolen vehicles.

Driving into the monument beckons backpackers and adventure seekers who love desert solitude and wonder. Rangers offer campfire talks while guiding visitors to remote areas in the monument where they discover rare birds, thriving desert flowers and deer.

But Americans face an abrupt reality at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. In excess of 400,000 illegal aliens cross over its boundaries annually. While snoozing in my tent last week, border patrol agents arrested 118 illegal aliens in one night--crossing through the park on their way into America. Those arrests were within a kilometer of my camp. They missed another 400 illegals. One ranger reported that illegals walk right up to campsites and board pre-arranged recreational vehicles for their trips out of the park. The human smuggling rings’ efficiency ratings rival UPS (United Parcel Service) and Greyhound. Smugglers pick up and deliver 24/7!

The ‘coyotes’ shepherding illegals won’t kill you, but the drug smugglers will.

While driving up to the visitor center, you will notice a Smoky Bear Hat beside a bronze plaque honoring handsome National Parks Ranger Kris Eggle. On the building it reads, ‘Kris Eggle Visitor Center’. Whereas you might think it honors a man who gave his best in a 30-year career, you would be wrong. On August 9, 2002, Mexican drug smugglers shot and killed 28 year old Kris Eggle in cold blood as he patrolled in the park’s backcountry. The previous night, his killer had assassinated four other people on a drug-related transfer.

What is beyond disgusting is the fact that Eggle’s murderer’s accomplice was the United States Congress as well as the present and past three presidents of this country. They encouraged, by not enforcing immigration laws, this invasion before 9/11 and have done nothing since Eggle’s murder. When illegal aliens successfully break into this country, Congress rewards them the Dream Act, food stamps, assisted housing, free schooling K-12, free medical, driver’s licenses, SSI benefits, ‘anchor babies’ get welfare to age 18 and we pay for their ESL language classes. Congress’ actions have given us 13 million illegal aliens and growing fast!

What has this done to us? Terrorists, drug smugglers and human traffickers walk and drive over the border with Mexico 24/7. Tom Ridge’s Homeland Security red, yellow and orange alerts represent a cotton candy charade for terrorists. According to the US Border Patrol in January, 2004, 92,521 aliens were caught. That’s up from 86,925 apprehensions in 2003. But what sickens you is the fact that only one in five is caught! Once captured, agents bus them to the border and free them for another chance—by command of Congress. I interviewed one illegal alien who smiled upon arrest saying, “This is my 11th time being captured and I will try again.” On any given day, 2,200 illegal aliens ‘make it’ into the United States. Stash houses await successful illegals for transport into America’s interior. Hundreds of miles of trails cross through the desert in one direction—the USA.

What escapes our country? An estimated $56 billion ‘flies’ to ‘home’ nations annually from legal and illegal immigrants. Let’s give a cheer on how proud they are of their new adopted country! Over $110 billion in drug money exits our country annually. Vicente Fox is laughing his head off because he gains $15 billion annually from his outcast countrymen now residing at 9.2 million in our country. What else enters America? Drugs that addict our youth pour across our borders 24/7. Drug gangs like Salvadoran MS-13 operate in 28 cities and the 20,000 member 18th Street Gang in Los Angeles. What else? Can you imagine 16,000 new cases of incurable MDR tuberculosis as well as 7,000 cases of leprosy and tens of thousands of cases of hepatitis? Going to a fast food joint these days could kill you. Fifty-six people were infected with tuberculosis by one illegal in Santa Barbara, California two weeks ago. Source: Santa Barbara News-Press, April 25, 2004.

What else can happen? Eight illegal aliens raped eight college girls in Boulder, Colorado last summer, who, by the way, escaped back to Mexico. Thanks may be given to Boulder Mayor Will Toor for giving illegals assistance with a ‘sanctuary policy’ that allows them to move about the city with impunity from arrest.

But National Park Ranger Kris Eggle didn’t escape. Smugglers gunned him down in cold blood from ambush--in the desert he relished in the job he loved. Bonnie and Bob Eggle as well as his sister Jennifer suffered a horrible loss. America suffered a tragic toll. Theirs and millions more Americans suffer from Congress and the President of the United States NOT doing their jobs. Because they don’t or won’t, the invasion grows while Americans struggle.

When will the members of Congress do their sworn jobs to defend and protect our citizens? When will they carry out: Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution:

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence."

Clearly, our president and Congress fail us. Governors and mayors fail us. This is an invasion that could be ended with troops on the border and enforcement of our immigration laws. It is illegal to aid, abet, encourage or induce an illegal alien to remain in the United States. If President Bush and 100 senators as well as 435 representatives would JUST do their jobs, Kris Eggle would have been honored after a 30-year career as a National Parks Ranger. He had a right to the American Dream, but instead, suffered the growing American nightmare.

Home About Titanic Overpopulation Articles Books
Audio / Video Radio Links What you can do Contact Donate