VOICES

were abandoned or left in the hot truck too long.

On another occasion, I covered a car accident where a 4-year-old was shoved into a small car with 10 other immigrants. e 4-year-old was pronounced dead in front of me that day with her mother crying over her. at day still sticks with me.

How awful are the circumstances for these people that are putting themselves in dangerous, unsafe situations for life in America? ey are bad. Economics, gang wars in Central America. ese human beings have true reasons for wanting a better life.

I looked in the faces of Central American teens being forced to leave home to avoid dying or being recruited to gangs. ey were sent by their parents who hoped they would nd peace in America and be safer than in their home countries.

On another day, I was among journalists challenged to take a two-mile trek that immigrants were taking to get into Arizona. I did it in the middle of summer across the hot desert. I certainly never question providing water to them after that.

No one can doubt the human side of the border crisis. ese are human beings seeking a better life. Here, they are being used as political pawns.

However, the burden is being put on our states and the federal government has chosen to ignore it and blame Republicans.

No fence is going to slow down this crisis. Believe me, I’ve walked along the fence in Nogales and watched immigrants use a ladder, jump over and wave with a smile.

To address this — we need leaders who have compassion but understand reality. We need compromise and empathy. We need to talk to other countries and develop solutions instead of clickbait banter for the daily news cycle.

Unfortunately, this crisis is decades in the making and I doubt will be xed in this or the next decade given the state of our current leadership.

elma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com