“A lawsuit many called frivolous because it sought more than $41 million from the U.S. government for the relatives of 11 Mexican nationals who died trying to cross illegally into the United States has proven to have more staying power than predicted. A federal court in Tucson has given the relatives another two months to prove accusations that their family members died in the treacherous southern Arizona desert in May 2001 because the Interior Department failed to approve the installation of water stations ‘in the exact area’ of the desert where the Mexicans were found dead. … [The] suit said the illegal aliens died in the Interior Department-managed Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge north of Yuma after department officials denied a request by Humane Borders, a Tucson-based social-welfare organization, to place water stations in the area. The suit seeks $3.75 million for each of the victims.” (Jerry Seper, Washington Times, May 17; “Dead illegal aliens’ lawsuit to continue”, UPI/Washington Times, May 17). We originally covered the case May 10-12, 2002.

Filed under: Arizona, personal responsibility