Illegal Immigrant Is Boy's Guardian Angel

Stranded In The Desert, A 9-Year-Old Boy Is Rescued By A Man From Mexico

(AP)  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 was taken into custody by Border Patrol agents, who were the first to respond to the call for help. He had been trying to walk into the U.S. when he came across the boy.

The boy and his mother were in the area camping, Estrada said. The woman's husband, the boy's father, had died only two months ago. The names of the woman and her son were not being released until relatives were notified.

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.

[alphaa10-2009]

Cordova saved the life of an American citizen at great risk to himself, and when he had no reason to believe he would obtain any reward for his actions.

From all indications, his act was selfless generosity.

Clearly, Cordova had every incentive to bolt and run, once the hunters had reported the incident and authorities were on the way.

Cordova might easily have rationalized "The kid will be OK, now, and I have to leave before I am caught."

In fact, Cordova did not know until the moment authorities arrived that the boy would be rescued. For all he knew, he was the only one keeping the boy alive.

Citizenship can be granted under special conditions outside the normal immigration process. This is done in extraordinary cases, but this seems such a case.

Incidents like this remind us of our common humanity, and it is a liberating experience.

PS: I am an advocate of enforcing immigration laws fairly and justly for all groups, and opposed to illegal immigration.

[ontheleft]

NO HOPE FOR AMERICA: RON "INSANE" PAUL

-- More Insanity
-- More Ron Paul
-- More meddling in other country''s sexual affairs
-- More aggressive military screwups overseas
-- More torture amusement parks
-- More pseudo-wars like the "War on Ilitreracy"
-- More Federal Reserve (the group of aliens which own our government)
-- More erosion of Social Security to pay for gumballs
-- More U.N. parties
-- More NAFTA, CAFTA, WAFTA, BAFTA & SAFTA
-- More water pistols
-- More aliens coming from outer space
-- More government invasion of your cropfields
-- More Federal Laws which force you to take unwanted money
-- More Federal Laws authorized by the Three Stooges
-- More Federal erosion of soil
-- More Unlimited cable channels
-- More Prozac

They don''t call him "Dr. Insane" for no reason. This guy was born in a straight jacket! Find-out what FOX hides from you, and join Ron Paul in the French Revolution at ronpaul1789.com

"Those who expect to reap the harvest of corn must first plant the seeds."
- Ron Paul

"Ron Paul doesn''t represent your Father''s Oldsmobile. He represents your Father''s Yugo."
- You

[nitsedy]

Sheriff Estrada is right that we should not too quickly characterize illegal immigrants. However, his choice of words was unfortunate. By definition illegal immigrants are criminals, but they are not animals or lowlifes - which is what I believe is what he was trying to get across.

This story goes to the heart of the illegal immigration debate. One side tends to see the individuals like Mr. Cordova at the expense of recognizing the high social cost of illegal immigration. The other side tends to see the masses that flood our country, our legal system, and our health care system without recognizing the humanity of those who come here illegally because of extreme economic poverty. Both sides have good arguments and both sides fail to see the other side''s point. Unfortunately, laws cannot be written specifically for individuals. They must be written for the masses. Fortunately, the US legal system does have a method for making exceptions.

Mr. Cordova did what a person is expected to do and offered aid and comfort to a child. Sadly, he did more for the child than many of the political pundits and social elites (on both sides of the debate) would have done. A special case of clemency, as alphaa10 suggests, would be in order here. However, we must still solve the larger questions of national security and fair immigration. Both sides of the debate must be successfully addressed.

[ramos937]

Netseady writes, "Sheriff Estrada is right that we should not too quickly characterize illegal immigrants. However, his choice of words was unfortunate. By definition illegal immigrants are criminals, but they are not animals or lowlifes - which is what I believe is what he was trying to get across."

According to the governing legal body which is the INS Law of 1986, being an illegal is a civil violation and not a criminal violation. This is a common error that many right wing Republicans make.

Also, you can safely bet that O''Reilly, Hannity, Tancredo, etc. will ignore this story.

[skeezix06]

I oppose illegal immigration, but I would say Mr. Cordova has earned his right to be here when he rescued and stayed with the boy at the possible expense of his own freedom. Turn him loose here in the U.S. and give him a job.

[kthrns]

Leave him in the U.S. Many of us wouldn''t have what he has to give.

[kthrns]

Leave him here. We need him. God bless him.

[olebd]

Heart warming propoganda story from the loonies who want to grant amnesty.

What''s the moral of this story? It''s okay to break laws as long as you are nice?

[dowjones20k]

While the story is written so touchingly .. it obviously advocates for this ILLEGAL ALIEN to remain in the US due to "special circumstances".

If this ILLEGAL were a criminal who had escaped prison (and may have) this story would not be as sympathetic.

Obviously this reporter has an agenda ... and conveniently leaves out very pertinent facts (how many times has this ILLEGAL slipped into the US?), The sheriff has compassion and surely not all ILLEGALS ALIENS are here to rape and pillage ... hopefully they both do thier job ... the reporter should have had the article edited in a neutral manner and the sheriff should arrest all ILLEGAL ALIENS no matter if they rescue children after a terrible accident ...

You who advocate for this ILLEGAL to remain should be the ones who welcome him and all the others and let them live in your house and you pay their way?

Didnt think so ...

So why should I or any other law abiding AMERICAN pay for these folks?

Like Rob Schnieder says .. YOU CAN DO IT ... put your money where your mouth is and pony up your own resources and stop forcing your generosity on those of us who dont share your view.

Get them ALL out .. and force the pols to implement a dependable verification system for employers to know who is applying for a job ... and close our borders.

Happy Holidays !!

[dmhphils]

"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."
----------------------------------------------------

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."

Incidents like this remind us of our common humanity, and it is a liberating experience.

[dmhphils]

You who advocate for this ILLEGAL to remain should be the ones who welcome him and all the others and let them live in your house and you pay their way?
Posted by Dowjones20k at 08:28 AM : Nov 24, 2007
------------------------------------------------

What''s the big deal.....this guy will get a job faster than most legals because these people take the jobs that nobody else wants to do in the U.S. anyway. Americans don''t want to work in the fields or in the big nurseries or anyother job that makes you sweat unless they were paid $20 an hour. So what, these people come and are willing to take the jobs nobody wants. Give this guy a job.

[forthepeopl1]

Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan blames President Bush and Vice President *** Cheney for efforts to mislead the public about the role of White House aides in leaking the identity of a CIA operative.

In an excerpt from his forthcoming book, McClellan recounts the 2003 news conference in which he told reporters that aides Karl Rove and I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby were "not involved" in the leak involving operative Valerie Plame.

"There was one problem. It was not true," McClellan writes, according to a brief excerpt released Tuesday. "I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest-ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice president, the president''''s chief of staff and the president himself."

Mr. Bush''''s chief of staff at the time was Andrew Card.

ITS SO FUNNY, EVERYDAY WE HAVE MORE AND MORE OF THEM COMMING FORWORD TO SAY THE TRUTH..

AND OUR TRUSTED CONGRESS STILL DOES NOTHING TO GET THESE SCUM BAGS OUT..

WHAT WILL IT TAKE AMERICA, PLEASE SOMEONE TELL US AMERICANS..

[trillion1]

Nose, why shouldn''t an American make $20 an hour? Thats barely half a tank of gas now days. And if you think cheap labor is passed on to the comsumer forget it. CBS did a test last year at a strawberry farm and if the farmer paid a wage that Americans would work for the consumer cost went up 5 cents a pint. If you support illegals working all you''re supporting is corporant GREED. Why do you think big business and and the US Chamber of Commerce support illegals working. It has nothing to do with helping the economy. Well over $10,000,000,000 every year is sent right to Mexico alone. Not a penny of it goes back into the US economy.

[payasyougo]

Touching story. Now deport him.

[excoachken]

Illegals are criminals, especially the first ones, the Pilgrims!

[myidoncbs]

I see the heartless, evil, repuglican b@st@rds STILL don''t get it-- these "illegals" are human beings. They don''t deserve our hatred just because they''re trying to find work. And something the repugs SHOULD be able to understand, but somehow just can''t get through their thick skulls: our economy DEPENDS ON these people, so we better find some way to integrate them into society.

I feel sorry for the future sociopaths, the children of these heartless b@st@rds, who were raised in a home that is completely without compassion. And I feel sorry for the future victims of these sociopaths you are raising. God save us all from the insanity of the heartless right-wing s/c/u/m!

[barbaraf4]

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."
Posted by noseonurface
~~~
Well said, noseonurface. This is not about illegals or political agendas. It is about a little boy who needed help and help appeared.

Do we know why the mother was in such a remote area to camp?

[drivelphobe]

noseonurface...

How old it is getting to hear some dope say, "they take the jobs Americans won''t." Our fields, car washes, restaurants, hotels, country clubs,retail stores would be full of American students if it weren''t for the disgustingly low wages these illegals will accept. What happenend to the paper boy? The gardener? All you find now are are illegals, Mexicans, who won''t speak English and who don''t know how to even take care of a lawn. Instead of a nice young student delivering your paper, you get some drive-by Mexican tossing it at your house, never contacting you, but putting a Christmas card illegally in your mail box, shamelessly soliciting a tip.

Also, entertaining strangers, is one sure way to get yourself robbed, beaten, raped or murdered. It''s not safe anywhere anymore with open borders.

[slim1h2o]

Illegals are criminals, especially the first ones, the Pilgrims!

Posted by excoachken at 09:28 AM : Nov 24, 2007

Sorry,,,,, there was no immigration laws back then, so your reasoning is silly at best, idiotic at worse

[mo005]

I think this guy has lived up to what an american imagrant is all about, fine him for comming in illegally then give him his papers as a reward for bravery. He gave up his chance for freedom to save someone that to me is someone I wouldnt mind as a neighbor. He has earned his right to be called american. Now if only alot of us so called americans could live up to his standards we would be a great nation once again

[mo005]

MyIDonCBS: God can''t save people like you

[gramto7]

MyIDonCBS: God can''''t save people like you

Posted by mo005

Then there is no God!!!

[mcvet]

I think this guy has lived up to what an american imagrant is all about, fine him for comming in illegally then give him his papers as a reward for bravery. He gave up his chance for freedom to save someone that to me is someone I wouldnt mind as a neighbor. He has earned his right to be called american. Now if only alot of us so called americans could live up to his standards we would be a great nation once again


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Posted by mo005 at 10:01 AM : Nov 24, 2007
+ report

I just do not know how it can be said any better! The Nation I grew up with did NOT do the things to other humans that we do today. The America I grew up with would NEVER have cowed in fear the way we do today either. I will NEVER let people who deal in Terror know I''m so scared I''m afraid of my neighbor.

[mcvet]

Also, entertaining strangers, is one sure way to get yourself robbed, beaten, raped or murdered. It''''s not safe anywhere anymore with open borders.


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Posted by drivelphobe at 09:46 AM : Nov 24, 2007
+ report abuse

Well you see SOME of us work amoung the people who earn a living and KNOW that not everyone you meet that is different is EVIL. Some of us like to let people SHOW us what they are made of by??? BY doing something like this gentleman did!! After all the hatred spewed at them in recent months by those who wish a Wedge Issue for the next election, this guy saved the life of a CHILD. Yep that''s my America, not the likes of you!

What a beautiful angel Mr.Cordova is by staying with this little boy and caring for him throughout the night. I cried reading this amazing story. Coedova should be given a commedation and help into entering the USA legally. He could have run to save his self. Instead unselfishly, he stayed to comfort and protect a small child. That''s makes him an extraordinary man "hero" in my eyes.

[drivelphobe]

MCVet....

Great! I guess we should all let illegals show us what they are made of before they line up for the entitlements! They are criminals. I''m certain that they are all not evil, as you state, but they are not welcome here and they are breaking a law that they are fully aware of. Do you think you are special becuse you work among people who work for a living? How stupid.

Illegal immigration is no wedge. It is a crime. Your America is an open-border, multi-linguistic, multi-cultural, welfare state. Not for me thank you.

[hungry1968]

They probably weren''t "camping" - they were probably smuggling illegals into this country.

[drivelphobe]

hungry1968.....

This whole thing could be an opportunistic diversion. Senor Angel may be one smart coyote!

[toolmangler-2009]

MyIDonCBS: God can''''t save people like you
Posted by mo005 at 10:04 AM : Nov 24, 2007


GOD has saved everybody, but you dont get in without accepting his gift and acknowleging him as GOD. (No such thing as a free lunch).

[amazedd]

Why couldn''t his mum break free?

[hungry1968]

GOD has saved everybody, but you dont get in without accepting his gift and acknowleging him as GOD. (No such thing as a free lunch).

Posted by ToolMangler at 11:24 AM : Nov 24, 2007


Christianity:
The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie, who was his own father, can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master. so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree... yeah, makes perfect sense.

[amazedd]

The Moon is a harsh mistress, TANSTAFL

[rudy654-2009]

"Your America is an open-border, multi-linguistic, multi-cultural, welfare state. Not for me thank you."

I just love this kind of DRIVEL. Being multi-linguistic is now some kind of crime??? I''m multilingual and can wrap your small pea brain with a bubble gum wrapper. The only person sucking the welfare state dry is YOU. The illegals don''t qualify. YOU do! AND if you don''t want the illegals here, just quit buying all the CHEAP produce from the WAL-MARTS where you continue to buy the cheapest of the cheapest!!!! Start buying from companies that at least pay $15 dollars an hour, and provide their employees with full benefits. But I know you are all talk, and really can''t walk.

[lorinkundert]

Good story accept that there is no such thing as an "illegal immigrant" but there are illegal aliens.

[rudy654-2009]

Well you see SOME of us work amoung the people who earn a living and KNOW that not everyone you meet that is different is EVIL. Some of us like to let people SHOW us what they are made of by??? BY doing something like this gentleman did!! After all the hatred spewed at them in recent months by those who wish a Wedge Issue for the next election, this guy saved the life of a CHILD. Yep that''''s my America, not the likes of you! Posted by MCVet at 10:25 AM

AMEN McVET!! Some people are very lonely and mean people, who have no one who cares for them in this life. They will exit this life and no one will even notice.

[hungry1968]

"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?" -- Epicurus

[krazykat2525]

i am glad this kind of person was there & did what he did. Kindness runs throughout humanity irregardless of color, language, status, but it is rarely seen in the world today. i can remember 2 highlights in my life where i was in a great deal of pain (emotionally)and 2 strangers were kind to me; 1 simply to open a door and say kind words; i remember how kind it was & thought back & realized how long it had been since anyone showed kindness to me. it''s a priceless commodity but can be given away freely.

[likeitis5050]

He didn''t risk much by helping. It was nice he was there, but it didn''t slow him down any. The border is completely open and people should understand all this talk about the government wanting to tighten borders and rein in illegals is just bull s**t. This story is supposed to light the way for people who still believe illegals break laws by coming here, rake off what assistance they can for nothing at taxpayer''s expense, while they wire back millions of dollars to Mexico''s waiting governement. It''s all part of the campaign by activists for Mexico''s other industry, illegals, to sweep over Americans who insist on laws being enforced while amnesty is granted, yet again, to the millions and millions of illegals draining the system. Throw out your social security numbers...they are useless and once the next traitor is elected to office there will be no need for personal identification. The only place security will be remotely enforced will be at airports, and even then, only for any one who doesn''t fit the profile for terrorist. They get so annoyed when you try to profile them. The illegals are in control and there is nothing any one can do about it...just ask Rudy.

[mediapreachr]

Is this supposed to make me cry?
More pro-illegal immigrants apologists busy spreading the word-this country is ripe for taking.

[closethippy1]

likeitis5150 paints a dark and grim picture of a situation that did not happen and that will not happen. But I suppose some people can''t help to think in an illogical way regardless of how reality works.
We''ve had "illegals" since before the US ever existed and it has only helped to advance the economy by having more people involved in the economy.
If you take 12 million people out of the US, be they legal or "illegal", you''re going to create a long and deep recession.
So they''re worth something and we shouldn''t be talking about them as if it was the end of the world.

[mediapreachr]

The south american govs are sending their poorest citizens in the US.Then they rip the double benefit-the money sent by their people back to their countries.
Also don''t forget the south american(including mexico)rich elite doesn''t have to spend a dime taking care of their poor.
Use google to search for any social service in South America-good luck!

[prairiefox1]

Keep Cordova and send the rest back!
We will keep the one of how many millions?

[prairiefox1]

Good story accept that there is no such thing as an "illegal immigrant" but there are illegal aliens.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by lorinkundert

I call them INVADERS!

[closethippy1]

For the longest time the US associated itself with the cruelest Latin American dictators who forcibly enforced the economic policies of foerign corporations and ended up *** up the economy for all but a few.
And now that some poor people want to get out of there many in the US have conveniently forgotten how their country''s decades long irrational policies contributed to the mess people are running away from.
These are policies that resemble what the mortgage industry did to American themselves and got millions of people in deep trouble.
Ain''t no one who''s completely innocent here much less the US.

[drivelphobe]

rudy654....

Wow! What an intellectual. Your post says it all.

[skalpakian]

If the mom and son were camping, why did the illegal have to build a bonfire and give his jacket to the boy instead of setting up the tent and using the cooking stove to heat up food or use a camp heater?

For the people who will post saying the mom and son had none of the above with them, my response is what kind of camping were they doing without basic items in the desert?

[drivelphobe]

likeitis5050..

Great post and response to Rudy, the pea brain.

[drivelphobe]

closethippy1...

Removing 20 million illegal, entitlement sponges from our country will create more jobs, higher wages and improve law enforcement, medical services and education. These illegals create chaos, havoc, crime and recessive wages. They are worthless to this country, our economy, and our culture. Don''t preach to us about their BS value.

[logicanada]

Judging by the posts here I take it many of you just don''t like Mexican people or immigrants in general.
Consider this:
Once you are no longer able to earn a decent living in your good ol'' U.S.A., will you have the bravery required to leave everyone you love, everything that''s familiar to you, cross a border into a strange country at risk of imprisonment, harassment, prejudice, and hate, and once there be exploited by greedy corporations just so you can send a few dollars back to those you cherish?
What this man did was noble and selfless, qualities obviously lacking in most of you.

[mediapreachr]

''Judging by the posts here I take it many of you just don''''t like Mexican people''
It is so easy to generalize(aka bs)-listen to this:
I just read another article here on cbs -"the Feds expect more people to lose their jobs next year".
You know why?Eliminate wages,living wages to manage inflation.
If there were no illegal immigrants(sent here,disposed off by their own govs)the fed suits(greenspan,bernake etc.)will never get away with what their doing to us,the regular american workers.Eliminate the source of the problem,or at least deal with it.