13:37 ET<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nUS Senator John McCain has blamed illegal immigrants for starting some of the huge wildfires that have devastated the state of Arizona in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
Arizona’s Republican senator said migrants “set fires because they wanted to signal others… to keep warm” and also to distract border agents.<\/p>\n
The comments by Mr McCain prompted a sharp rebuke from Latino rights advocates, CNN reported.<\/p>\n
The fires have already gutted some 700,000 acres (283,279 ha) of land.<\/p>\n
‘Careless’ remarks<\/span><\/p>\nMr McCain’s comments came during a news conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The senator said: “There is substantial evidence that some of these fires have been caused by people who have crossed our border illegally.”<\/p>\n
However, he did not provide any details of the evidence he cited.<\/p>\n
Mr McCain also suggested that “the answer to that part of the problem (fires) is to get a secure border”.<\/p>\n
In response, Latino rights campaigner Randy Parraza called his comments “careless and reckless”, CNN reports.<\/p>\n
He said the senator “should know better” than to make such an accusation without presenting any facts, adding: “It’s easier to fan the flames of intolerance, especially in Arizona.”<\/p>\n
In May, the US Supreme Court upheld a controversial law in Arizona that imposed penalties on businesses that hired illegal immigrants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Link:
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