National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily

Friday, September 3, 2010

Photo: U.S.-Mexico Barrier Spurring More Illegal Foot Traffic, Enviro Damage


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A saguaro cactus in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument bears the inscription "Sinaloa," the home state of a passing Mexican immigrant.

Officials at Organ Pipe and the neighboring Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge say that a newly erected barrier has all but eliminated vehicle traffic but seems to have caused an increase in immigrants and smugglers traveling on foot.

Photograph courtesy U.S. National Park Service