It's time for Kolbe's language in the law to be changed. The MMP proved that static checkpoints work, and Ben Anderson's plan (posted over the weekend) also acknowledges that static points are a necessary component of Border Security.
Posted on 05/02/2005 12:53:38 PM PDT by Spiff
Peter Busch Reports
Congressman says Border Patrol defying checkpoint laws
May 2, 2005, 01:34 PM MST
On Capitol Hill last Thursday, The U.S. Border Patrol's head man, David Aguilar, told U.S. senators that permanent checkpoints in the Tucson sector would help his agents catch more illegal immigrants.
The sector is the only one along the U.S.- Mexico border not permitted to establish permanent checkpoints. Congressman Jim Kolbe wants to keep it that way.
"I don't object to checkpoints. The idea of tactical, mobile checkpoints, that move from place to place just like we do all law enforcement, makes sense," says Kolbe.
Kolbe helped draft the current law which mandates all checkpoints in the Tucson Sector rotate at least once every two weeks.
But Border Patrol sources have confirmed to Eyewitness News 4 that some of their checkpoints in the Tucson Sector have not been moved in months. So how is The Border Patrol getting around the mandate to move checkpoints?
Border Patrol sources say they interpret the language of the law to mean they can't continually "operate" a checkpoint in one place for more than two weeks.
So every couple weeks, they've been shutting down their operation for an hour or so, only to start it right back up.
"There's no question about it. They are disregarding the law. They are not complying with the law," says Kolbe.
But plenty of powerful politicians, including U.S. Senator Jon Kyl, side with the Border Patrol on the checkpoint issue.
"I hope they will be able to develop more checkpoints and more permanent checkpoints," says Kyl.
Nonetheless, Kolbe says, unless the Border Patrol toes the line, he may have to convince congress to pull their purse strings.
"We're gonna take some action, if we have to, that's gonna sting a little bit with the Border Patrol," the congressman says.
The results of a General Accounting Office study on the effectiveness of permanent versus temporary checkpoints, will be released this summer.
No, they're not breaking the law. They're giving it a good, firm bending, but they're not breaking it. Sometimes, creative lawyering is a beautiful thing.
Outraged ping!
BTTT
Normally, the lib/dems would be out for Kolbe's head - for threatening Border Patrol personnel. However, since he's a homosexual, he'll get a pass. But God help Tom Delay if he should chime in on the matter.....
Bump
It's time for Kolbe's language in the law to be changed. The MMP proved that static checkpoints work, and Ben Anderson's plan (posted over the weekend) also acknowledges that static points are a necessary component of Border Security.
I don't think I'd ever say this, but I agree 100% with what Congressman Kolbe is saying here. Kolbe is terrible on most social issues (especially abortion and special rights for gays), but he strikes a common-sense chord on the border checkpoints issue. If the Border Patrol keeps the same checkpoint month after month, the people sneaking illegals past the borders will know which spots to avoid.
But you're wrong. In a rare moment of agreement, both Border Patrol management, the unions, and the rank and file agents say that the permanent checkpoints are more effective. Even Senator Kyl has come out against Kolbe's intentional malfeasance.
If you look at the last paragraph of the article you will see that NO study was ever done to see if the moving checkpoints would be more effective, Kolbe just bullied his language into appropriations bills without knowing what he was doing. ONLY Arizona has to tolerate his meddling with the operations of the Border Patrol. California, Texas, and New Mexico have permanent checkpoints and they're working just fine.
The Border Patrol's resources are already stretched too thin and their budget insufficient for the job they're supposed to do, and now Kolbe is threatening the Border Patrol over his stupid appropriations language disallowing permanent checkpoints in Arizona.
I admit that I had not even considered the issue until I read the article, and that I didn't even read the whole thing to the end, so I'm certain that you have given this a lot more thought than I have. But could you please explain to me how permanent border checkpoints can be more effective than rotating ones? If DUI stops were carried out on the very same spot every time, how long would it take for drunk drivers to figure out that they can drive through any road but that one? In the same way, if there's a permanent checkpoint in Point A and there's never a checkpoint in Points B, C and D, wouldn't the people who smuggle in illegal aliens figure out that they should just go through points B, C and D? Am I missing something?
If the permanent checkpoints weren't more effective, the Border Patrol from management on down to the individual agent wouldn't be for them. Kolbe is just stone cold stupid on the border issue, that's why he's meddling with the Border Patrol and they've condemned him for it.
The terrain, and the limited number of roads create choke points, the permanant checkpoints take advantage of those choke points. They cause the coyotes to drop their load before the checkpoint, and have the illegals walk around the check points, this gives the mobile units in the area the opportunity to find, and apprehend the walking illegals.
Thanks for explaining this.
Well take the example of the San Clemente checkpoint between San Diego border and Los Angeles(Mexico subdivision). When they shut the chekpoint down for a couple of hours and then set it back up they have caught hundreds of illegals, and as many as 50 cars stop short of the checkpoint with passengers bailing out and abandoning their load vehicles..it seems there are lookouts to watch the checkpoints and when they shut down they pass the word and all the alien drop houses(where they store the wets waiting to go north)jump in their vehicles and go north..without cellular communication once on the road they aren't warned that the checkpoint is back up and they get caught...
The BP should be allowed to work in the most efficient manner that is legal, but why have a law saying you can't have a permanent checkpoint, its not to help catch illegals, but to restrict the methods the BP can use.they know what is most effective, give them the tools to use don't take them away. Why did the congressperson threaten to take away their funding? Obviously to let more illegals in a way of punishment for them doing their job.....Checkpoints are just another hoop for the illegals to jump through and one more method used to apprehend them.
You make an excellent point. If roving checkpoints were more effective, the Border Patrol would likely be using them. All that closing down permanent checkpoints does is limit the Border Patrol's most effective tools. It doesn't let them choose the best tools and methods at their disposal. Kolbe has just screwed up - big time. He just gave Randy Graf an easy one to nail him with.
One point not covered in replies to you is that the three checkpoints in question sit astride the only paved routes leading away from the border and out of Cochise County.
If you don't pass the checkpoint, you don't leave the area. Simple as that.
For "Thunder on the Border," click this picture:
"they are not complying with the law"
But letting every ILLEGAL in is complying with the law?
The coyotes employ spotters, who watch the checkpoints. When the CP is closed, the call goes out, the illegals are loaded, and they rush through the unmanned CPs.
It's like having a bank with an open vault, where the guards leave for lunch a few hours every day.
Can you believe that one avowed homosexual Senator can defy the peoples wishes to secure the border? This fruitcake says HE will cut the funding to the Border Patrol. What gall!! I would hope that the rest of the Senateis not as stupid as this guy. (wishful thinking?)
Wrong!
There are only a few roads north from the border in the Tucson Sector. On the highway north from Sierra Vista there is a check point where, when it is open, inspects all vehicles northbound. The people transporting the illegals would have to stop south of the checkpoint, unload their cargo to travel around the checkpoint on foot, then reload them someplace north. There is usually a tower where BP agents watch for those illegals trying to circumvent the checkpoint. There are not many that make it around. If they do then another patrol will pick them up farther north. There are checkpoints like this all over the SW. Two of them are on the roads from El Paso to Alamogordo, NM near White Sands. Checkpoints are an effective tool for the BP. An even more effective tool would be a permanent MMP presence right on the border.
Atleast Arizona has checkpoints. Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Mexico City) shut down the I-5 (San Clemente) and I-15 (Temecula) checkpoints. He said they were not effective and wanted to put the agents on the border.
Combined, both checkpoints averaged over 500 illegal alien aprehensions and numerous drug busts. I would say that is pretty effective.
A threat of pulling purse strings is tricky. Simply defunding the border patrol would not work. However, a pay slash threat for all border agents would. Bush has somehow undermined the border patrol's willingness to follow the spirit of the their mission [undoubtedly through his appointments]. But when you threaten the pay check, then Bush would lose his influence.
CALLING RANDY GRAF!
Ask and ye shall receive:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, please contact
Steve Aiken at (520) 205-1300May 3, 2005
Randy Graf outraged at Jim Kolbe’s threats against the Border Patrol
Calls on Congressman to work with Border Patrol
Unless the Border Patrol toes the line, he may have to convince congress to pull their purse strings. "We're gonna take some action, if we have to, that's gonna sting a little bit with the Border Patrol," Congressman Jim Kolbe KVOA TV 4 Tucson(Tucson) Congressional candidate Randy Graf today called on Congressman Jim Kolbe to apologize for his veiled threats against the U.S. Border Patrol and to fulfill his responsibilities by working with Border Patrol to enhance their effectiveness.
Randy Graf recently announced his candidacy to unseat Congressman Jim Kolbe, the eleven term incumbent of Arizona’s eighth congressional district. “While border security is at a heightened level of concerned to the American public, we need to be discussing solutions, not threatening reduced funding to an agency that needs to be doubled or tripled in size to accomplish it’s mission”, said Randy Graf from his home in Green Valley.
Graf’s campaign has adopted the slogan: “Randy was Right”, referring to his call last year for securing the border. “Congress is finally getting the message that illegal immigration brings problems not only to the border states but to every citizen in this country and the people are not going to take inaction by their elected representatives any longer.”
http://grades.betterimmigration.com/testgrades.php3?District=AZ08&VIPID=43
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