National disgrace

[azrving]

We made our first and last trip to Big Bend National Park. Upon arriving we were met by the camp host who very nicely informed us of all the rules. We noticed that the literature and signs within the park say not to purchase any of the items (walking sticks or trinkets) placed along the trail as it was a federal crime and you can be be prosecuted for having the items.

The illegals come over and place the items and money jars. On our first stop at a hiking trail we noticed that the trail was covered in horse******and as we continued a little further we spotted a guy on horse back with a large bag over his shoulder. He started toward us on this steep narrow rocky trail and we took off for our car. I asked about it at the ranger station as I had decided It was not the place for us to stay.

They dismissed it as being customary and they really cant do anything about it. So I guess I went through two road block check points and cant even take my dog out to any of the areas unless it stays in the car and I have to put up with horse******covered trails and illegals hounding us?

As I pulled up to the check point on my way north from the disgrace I was greeted by 3 border patrol guys with their hands on their hips, ready for the 60 year old guy and his wife and 2 ten pound dog.

After telling the agent that he didn't have to worry about us having any illegals with us, that we were trying to get away from them he explained that there is nothing they can do about it because as soon as they drive up in a truck those rascals just take off back across the river. I would think that any idiot could figure that out and maybe not ride up in a border patrol truck. Maybe ride up in a regular car, have a camera, look like a tourist. We are in trouble and they have all of our money to burn as they play their games. Hey, they have jobs so they are happy.

[Snowman9000]

DW and I enjoyed BBNP, including the trinket peddlers. One of the trinkets became an ornament on our Christmas tree. I mean really, these poor guys sneak across the stream, leave trinkets and a money jar. Oooo, scary! Criminals!!

This has NOTHING to do with illegal aliens coming to mow your grass. If the peddlers were causing a problem, there would be a crackdown. But they aren't, so there isn't.

Oh, and horse poop! The horrors!!!

Signed,
Angry Bears Fan watching some real horse poop on Monday Night Football.
🙂

[Thunder_Mountai]

The "disgrace" lays not on your personal discomfort, but on the governments on either side of the Rio Grande. The Mexican government is corrupt from top to bottom. There are honest, dedicated individuals, but all too often they end up dead because they won't play along. The Mexican government has squandered their national resources both human and natural. Their citizens are reduced to begging at our boarder.

Norte of the Rio Grande, the US government has failed to put together a coherent and comprehensive immigration and guest worker program. Mexican citizens should be allowed to work in the US and pay taxes. Their employers should pay taxes, including workman's compensation. Somebody much smarter than me should devise a path to citizenship. These people are not taking away American jobs. They are doing jobs that Americans are too lazy to do.

We were in Big Bend and saw the warning signs, the trinkets and cash jars. I looked across the Rio and thought about those people who were trying to feed their families off our pocket change. I saw some of their work legally imported in local shops and wondered how little of the money went south of the Rio.

Today, we were within a few miles of the boarder between Arizona and Mexico doing some hiking and exploring. Yes, I was carrying a sidearm. I'm not paranoid, just not stupid.

I too had to go through the checkpoints and saw the Boarder Patrol "hiding" along the back roads. By all means we should allocate the necessary resources to interdict cartel drug smugglers. But we should put our paranoid ethnocentrism aside and embrace the Mexican people and all that they can and will do for themselves and us.

I've traveled extensively in Mexico and love many of the people that I met. Most of them are just as good as my neighbors. The problem is the crooks and politicians on both sides of the boarders.

[Rollnhome]

Scott, for those that do not live near the border many may not realize BLM has huge signs posted about camping or off road riding on certain BLM lands.
Huge signs are posted by BLM to be aware and suggest to camp or off road in other areas. The warnings are do to dangers of illegal activity in the area, drug smuggling, and human trafficking.
A couple of those signs are not over 25 miles from my house.
Has nothing to do with looks.

[rexlion]

I'm trying to figure out why some RVers say that Big Bend is their favorite park. It doesn't sound too inviting to me.

It isn't a matter of "people who look different," but of people who are known lawbreakers and who act in a suspicious or menacing manner.

[moparmaga2]

I go to Big Bend often and love it there. I think the Mexicans in Big Bend add to the allure of the place. They are very nice when spoken too and I have had conversations with them on both sides of the river. Awesome people. However, I will agree with the OP.

Why the dog and pony show with the border patrol checkpoints. This goes for ANY state that shares a border with Mexico.

It is absolutely a waste of money. The so called border patrol does nothing else other than harass ordinary people. If they really wanted to do something, they could start.......at the freaking border.

Only in America would the border patrol secure roads 200 miles from the border, leaving the border unsecure, meanwhile the criminals just drive, walk, ride, fly etc right by these checkpoints on other secondary roads or by foot or atv or horse.

Ether we actually do some border security at the border, or just disband the border patrol and put up signs stating its a free for all, come on up.

Quit wasting money pretending. If you have ever been to the Mexican border you know it is all a big charade.

[GraciesDaddy]

For me, this isn't about those who want to make a better life for themselves other than what is available in (utterly corrupt) Mexico... It's about those drug lords who'd take one look at my brand new 45-footer and think, "Cha-CHING!" ...then lock/load their A-K!

This is exactly why 1) We head to Memphis and get on I-40 to go cross country to Burning Man and b) When going to SoCal, I start sweating at Van Horn, Texas/The Continental Divide and don't stop until we are well past Las Cruces and on the way to Demming... Sometimes as far as Indio. And we avoid I-8 like the plague!

"Let's be careful out there."

[ScottG]

Terryallan wrote:

ScottG wrote:
I don't understand the Disgrace part.. What was disgraceful?:?

Really??:?, Really.:S you don't understand what is disgraceful about being harassed by criminals in a US National park. You sir have a problem

I think it's you that has the problem.
I'm not automatically afraid of people who don't look like me.

[tsetsaf]

Our one and only trip to that park we stopped at the Ranger Station to check trail conditions for a mountain bike ride. They informed us to ride only a select few trails as most of the others were over run with illegals and drug runners. The week prior some folks went missing on the same trail we were looking at! Those border patrol guys were not as nice to us on the way out... guess a young couple looks out of place there. I agree with the post title but this applies to the overall immigration policy.

[MarkTwain]

Is this an RV discussion forum or a propaganda political forum????
"Lack of common sense is the greatest form of mental illness in our society today"

[RV_CONUS]

Florida is Less disgraceful:E

Let's see History: Wasn't Big Bend, Mexico's at one time. Maybe they just want it back!:h

Spent 3 months in Big Bend a few years back. I searched and searched for disgraceful. I went to places in the Park seldom ever seen by most Rangers. :W

I couldn't find disgraceful anywhere.:h Maybe disgraceful went to Miami, or New York City, or Detroit or LA, or Washington D.C.

Or Maybe he went to Europe, or Japan or ???? oops that wasn't disgraceful that was UglyAmerican. :S Been there, seen that!:S

Confusing, pale view of Freedom!

Preference for Horse apples vs yapper turdles is the preferred fare!

Did a canoe trip down the Rio Grande, Mexican Cowboys crossing the River to retrieve their cattle from the US side.

Funny thing, If those cattle could read, they would know they were illegals. As they were herded back across the river, they had a smile on their faces, knowing they left their COW Patties for the Tourists. Disgraceful!:C

This if fun!

[Bird_Freak]

Terryallan wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
Horse poop is an issue on ANY trail that allows horses and is not an "illegals" problem.

It does appear to me that you were not going to enjoy a place like Big Bend. You obviously have an issue with "illegals" and visiting a place that is right on the border, that is a popular tourist stop, and that has a well-known and documented (it's right on the website) illegals issue is like visiting Disneyland when you dislike Disney.

You don't have issues with illegals / criminals??? Hmmmmm! Like saying you don't have issues with murderers, pushers, prostitutes, thieves, or other criminals

We are not supposed to be political here. They will all be legal immigrants before long. SAD.

[RGar974417]

It's a disgrace that our country doesn't enforce the laws of our country.But I'm sure we can't talk about that on here.

[ford_truck_guy]

I am sure my post will get deleted , but here it goes... I am ok with foreigners coming here to call it home as long as they respect our ways..... Not their own,, if they want that , stay home... Our issue here is that we have made it too easy for illegals to call it home...just my opinion..... Send them ALL BACK.. Keep the ones that really want to try to adapt here and make it a better place....

[toedtoes]

I suspect this thread will be closed very very very quickly.

[rr2254545]

ScottG wrote:
I don't understand the Disgrace part.. What was disgraceful?:?

I agree hard to enforce when they just hop back across the border.

I see no disgrace here