Military's use on the border expands

Sierra Vista Herald ^ | 21 April 2005 | Bill Hess

[Spiff]

Military's use on the border expands

BY BILL HESS Thursday, April 21, 2005 5:37 PM MDT

Herald/Review

NACO, Ariz. - Military units are now allowed to do more along the U.S.-Mexico border, which includes helping to spot illegal immigrants, a spokesman for Joint Task Force North said.

Earlier this year, a Stryker unit from Alaska deployed to New Mexico, where it provided ground surveillance and reconnaissance that led to the apprehension of "a number" of illegal immigrants and drug smugglers, Armando Carrasco said Tuesday.

But, he said, the unit was preparing to deploy to Iraq and needed training in a desert environment. The U.S. Border Patrol also was looking for help in New Mexico, he added.

Requests for use of military units along the border have to be made by a federal law enforcement agency. If a volunteer organization can be found and approval comes from the Department of Defense, the task force arranges the operation, Carrasco said.

In the past, military units were limited to counterdrug missions. As such, they were under Joint Task Force Six, the predecessor headquarters for what is now Joint Task Force North.

"It had to have a counterdrug nexus," Carrasco said.

In late September, just a few days before the beginning of the fiscal year, Joint Task Force North came into being, with its headquarters remaining at Fort Bliss, Texas.

With the name change, the missions also were expanded.

Carrasco made his comments after escorting a Herald/Review reporter and photographer at a construction site where fencing, low-water crossings and road repairs were being made on the east and west sides of the Naco, Ariz., Port of Entry. The two engineer units are from Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort Benning Ga.

In the past, a number of active-duty and reserve component units have worked on border fence projects in Cochise County. All those projects were part of counterdrug operations.

With the mission expanded to include providing even homeland defense support to the nation's federal law enforcement agencies, military units can be used to help stem the flow of illegal drugs and illegal immigrants, he said.

"Now our mission is a major supporter of homeland security," the spokesman said.

JTF-6 operations originally were in the four border states of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas, encompassing an area of more than 580,000 square miles.

With the establishment of Joint Task Force North, JTF-N, under the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colo., the operational area now includes the entire North American continent and the surrounding water out to approximately 500 nautical miles, which includes most of the Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

JTF-N's mission is to support federal law enforcement agencies in the "interdiction of suspected transnational threats within and along the approaches to the continental United States," Carrasco said.

That means military units can be more active in looking for illegal immigrants, some of whom may be terrorists, in the United States, he said.

However, a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine may not detain an illegal immigrant. They have to call the federal law enforcement agency they are working with so that agency does the apprehension, Carrasco said.

While the military forces have been given a little more leeway in their operations, it is not enough for James F. Linzey, founder and president of Operation Freedom, an organization that believes in a closed-door border policy.

Last week he visited the Minuteman Project in Cochise County, supporting the volunteer efforts to shut down the flow of illegal activities crossing into the United States. He wants thousands of soldiers placed along the border, not just a few units now and then.

"The drain on America's economy is staggering," he said of illegal immigration.

Each year, it costs the nation $133 billion in job losses, $68 billion providing benefits and services to illegal immigrants and $7 billion in welfare for medical assistance, food stamps and housing - all borne by U.S. taxpayers.

Carrasco said many obstacles block a full-time active duty presence along the border, including federal law prohibiting the military from physically detaining law breakers.

But by using units to help the civilian federal law enforcement agencies, the military can provide high-tech and other sophisticated equipment, he said.

The Stryker soldiers, who provided surveillance and reconnaissance, were successful in helping the Border Patrol, Carrasco said.

Stryker units are designed to roll out fast on eight-wheeled armored vehicles using surveillance and reconnaissance to provide information. The vehicles are considered a gap between the Army light and heavy forces.

According to a March 29 El Paso Times article, the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, spent 60 days in New Mexico working with the Border Patrol.

During that time, the soldiers used 40 vehicles equipped with long-range advanced scout surveillance systems - equipment used in daylight and at night. They were responsible for the Border Patrol's apprehension of 2,500 illegal immigrants and confiscation of more than 6,000 pounds of marijuana in New Mexico, according to the newspaper's article.

Carrasco said the use of the Alaska Stryker unit paid off for the Army and the Border Patrol. The Army gained important desert training for the unit that is deploying to Iraq, and the Border Patrol had extra surveillance assets at a time it needed them.

"We have the (military) assets that will get tremendous training opportunities, while we provide federal law enforcement agencies extra forces for homeland security," Carrasco said.

SENIOR REPORTER Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615.

[Spiff]

Just like the Minuteman Project volunteers, the military will not detain illegals but will report them to the proper law enforcement agency. Just their visible and known presence on the border will deter crossing invaders just like the Minuteman Project. The invaders down there don't know how many soldiers we'll have down there, where they are patrolling, or what they'll do to them once they're seen. This is exactly what the Minuteman Project called for but to make it permanent and to span the entire border.

Those who say that it can't be done, that U.S. troops can't be used for this purpose, have just been proven wrong. In fact, their commanders are eager to get them down here as it provides excellent training for them before they deploy to somewhere like Iraq. Fort Bliss, TX and Fort Huachuca, AZ should become the hubs for this real-world, border watching training opportunity.

The Minuteman Project has proven that a presence serves as a deterrant. JTF-N's new, expanded mission proves that U.S. troops CAN be put on the border to help out. This is all good news. I'm sure that the FROBLs are deeply saddened. Between this and the news that an Iraqi War veteran isn't going to have to rot in prison for upholding the law, we're going to have to put them on suicide watch.

[Old Sarge]

Let there be no more bitching at me, about how we're not using troops on the border.

We've been doing it since 2002, with the Army National Guard, in several rotations with DHS and in conjunction with JRTC.

But then again, according to most FReepers, the National Guard aren't really soldiers, but "imitation soldier boys", now aren't we?

[Lion Den Dan]

Good deal here. Only thing wrong is that the Strykers had much trouble negotiating the difficult border terrain.

[em2vn]

"But then again, according to most FReepers, the National Guard aren't really soldiers, but "imitation soldier boys", now aren't we?"
How did you arrive at that conclusion? It's an offensive opinion but no more offensive than your whining.

[Old Sarge]

Not me - they.

It's been posted to me, emailed to me, FReepmailed to me.

I'm sorry you're so easily offended.

[corlorde]

But then again, according to most FReepers, the National Guard aren't really soldiers, but "imitation soldier boys", now aren't we?

I haven't seen that around here. I've seen a lot of well deserved respect given to those who wear the uniform, regardless of capacity. The guard and Reserve proved themselves very effectively over the past few years, with numerous deployments and combat operations. I have no problem with the Guard and Reserve, even though I poked fun at them while I was active duty.

I salute their efforts, weekend warriors, no more.

As far as the article goes, I hope this is a positive new trend, all this talk about the borders and illegal immigration, really has me excited. Could we be own the dawn of a newer, safer America?

Time will tell, I suppose.

11B3P

~Corey

[corlorde]

It's been posted to me, emailed to me, FReepmailed to me.

Sorry to hear that.

[Old Sarge]

It's happened in past threads. Many 'Nam era folks who are stuck in the 70's about the Guard/Reserve being a hideout from active duty.

These folks totally ignore the force mix of today. Guard formations, like mine, are right next to our Big Army brothers. Thirty-nine days a year is gone forever.

There's one Guard unit in PA that's being converted into a Stryker BCT - they'll be looking for training ops, just liek this, as soon as they field their equipment set.

Thanks, guy.

96B/96D/96R/13F

~Sarge

[HiJinx]

It's about time we started leting folks know about the dual-purpose training on the border. As Old Sarge said, this has been going on since 2002.

In fact, though, I have a co-worker who was doing this in the late 80s...

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

OUTSTANDING! FReegards....

[sdpatriot]

great news Spiff. and such Common Sense.
although i think part of the "training" should be to let the troops detain until the feds got there.... but that is prolly going too far on the "common sense" for gvt.



>>> I'm sure that the FROBLs are deeply saddened. Between this and the news that an Iraqi War veteran isn't going to have to rot in prison for upholding the law, we're going to have to put them on suicide watch.<<<

hehehe

[skeeter]

Gee, if 'they' could be so wrong about how the US will never put the military on the border, maybe they're wrong about how impossible it would be to 'round 'em all up & deport em'?

[dalereed]

If the laws against employers hiring illegals were inforced and the penalties levied to the maximum the illegals would deport themselves.

[skeeter]

Agree completely. But I'd bet we could 'deport em all' (or most) without too much inconvenience to the citizenry, too, if we wanted.

[blackie]

Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!

Be Ever Vigilant!

Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!

[Liberty Valance]

Bump!

[chicagolady]

I am finally off to Arizona to join the last days of the Minuteman Project AKA Civil Homeland Defense team!
Adios!!

[Larry Lucido]

according to most FReepers, the National Guard aren't really soldiers, but "imitation soldier boys"

The guard and reserve units I served with in the 80's had a substantial number of Vietnam vets. I bet they would not have taken kindly to being called "imitation soldier boys."

[janetgreen]

Spiff, I really wish the garbage that the illegals are leaving in their wake could be catipulted over the border "fence" back into Mexico where it belongs. It would still have to be bagged up, but the bags should be rocketed over the border.

[SwinneySwitch]

Alaskan brigade trains by patrolling NM desert

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1355503/posts