PHOENIX (AP) — Controversy over remarks by U.S. Sen. John McCain about illegal immigrants and wildfires flared again Thursday, as Hispanic politicians and activists reacted to the filing of federal charges accusing two U.S. citizens of accidentally starting the state's largest wildfire.
Current and former legislators and other Hispanic leaders said during a news conference that the McCain, an Arizona Republican, should apologize for saying in July that illegal immigrants have started "some fires."
Former state Rep. John Loredo, D-Phoenix, and others said McCain engaged in race-baiting at the time by not specifying after touring the Wallow Fire what fires he was talking about.
The filing of charges against the two men in southern Arizona in connection with the Wallow Fire proves that blanket statements linking illegal immigrants and wildfires amount to unfounded demonization, the activists said.
"He owes it to us to not spread fear and hate," said Daniel Ortega, a Phoenix attorney who is board chair of the National Council of La Raza, a national advocacy group.
McCain's office responded with a statement saying McCain wasn't referring to the Wallow Fire when he said "some fires" were started by illegal immigrants and smugglers to warm themselves or distract Border Patrol officers.
No apology is owed or coming because the Forest Service had told McCain during a briefing that illegal immigrants have started some fires along the border, McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said.
"You can't apologize for something that's 100 percent true." Rogers said.
McCain's contention that illegal immigrants have started fires is supported by recent testimony to a congressional panel by a Forest Service official, Assistant Deputy Chief Jim Pena.
Pena said Forest Service investigations were able to identify individuals responsible in 31 of 457 human-caused fires from 2002-2011 in Coronado National Forest areas along the U.S.-Mexico-border.
"Of those 31 fires, it was determined that undocumented aliens were responsible for starting five," Pena said.
The U.S. Attorney's Office on Wednesday announced the filing of a criminal complaint accusing two cousins from Benson and Tucson of accidentally starting the Wallow Fire by leaving a campfire unattended.
Winds whipped the fire as it burned more than 538,000 acres in eastern Arizona and parts of western New Mexico, destroying 32 homes, four commercial structures and 36 outbuildings.
It cost more than $79 million to fight the blaze before firefighters and monsoon rains eventually put out the flames.
AZ_Resident posted at 8:05 am on Fri, Aug 26, 2011.
Since when does 'freedom of speech' require an apology to anyone! Answer - when the
National Council of La Raza, a national advocacy group says so ! HA what a joke
greyhawk posted at 10:02 am on Fri, Aug 26, 2011.
John Mccain should never apologize for telling the truth!
These open border zealots need to learn they cannot
stigmatize or defame people for stating what is so obvious
and is a fact.
A_Rose_By_Any_Other_Name posted at 1:55 pm on Sun, Aug 28, 2011.
La Ratza is a racist organization that should be outlawed.
7333 posted at 5:04 pm on Sun, Aug 28, 2011.
The republican agenda has always been the same, Ronald Reagen started will union busting and open the boarders to let cheep labor in and lower the working mans wages. This is their Agenda, every thing else is smoke and mirrors.
NothingButTheTruth posted at 6:17 pm on Sun, Aug 28, 2011.
7333, are you also the other commenter known as dunce?
Masterrogue666 posted at 10:30 am on Mon, Aug 29, 2011.
EVT: Why have my comments been removed? They were on topic, further, provided links to SUPPORTING articles as well.
TeaPartyPatriot posted at 9:00 am on Tue, Aug 30, 2011.
This entire story is a diversion from what is important. Who started or didn't start these fires is irrelevant. So why do you bore us with McCain apologizing to Latino groups for saying an illegal alien probably started one of those fires? The real story is illegal immigration and unemployment. Why is prosecutorial discretion to end deportation proceedings against illegal immigrants being given when 51% of Americans age 16-24 are unemployed, and these figures are going up (except for immigrants), and these numbers are even greater for minorities that often support illegal immigration at their leaders direction. Of course we know why minority leaders want more illegal immigration at a time when America cannot even properly assimilate the out of control legal immigration. To say it has nothing to do with race is to ignore the facts. Take MEChA (Student Movement Chicano from Aztlán ) and La Raza (The Race) for instance. Their entire focus is the taking back of land they say belongs to Aztecs that they say they are descended from. Look up Aztlán to see if your land is what they want back. http://www.mayorno.com/WhoIsMecha.html These people are in our schools here in Arizona and across America now teaching Hispanic children to hate White people for stealing their land the same way the Palestinians are teaching their children to hate Jews for stealing their land. http://www.tucsondailyindependent.com/2011/08/tusds-ethnic-studies-appeal-leads-to.html I heard today that there are Black congressmen telling other Blacks across America that the Tea Party has declared war on Black people. Why would they say such a thing? What has the Tea Party said or done to make them think or feel this way? Our goals have little to do with any race directly. I believe many Blacks and Latinos hate Whites and declared war on Whites many years ago, only now seeing the fruits of their labors.