Posted on 02/08/2006 9:45:57 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - The U.S. military should be called out to protect the U.S. border against military-style incursions from Mexico, the head of the Border Patrol union told a congressional homeland security committee Tuesday.
TJ Bonner, president of the National Border Council that represents 10,500 agents, recommended active or reserve U.S. military units be stationed "on stand" at strategic locations along the border. "If the Mexican military is coming into the United States, our law enforcement agents do not have the training to deal with that," Bonner told the House Homeland Security subcommittee on Investigations.
The proposal was one of several that Bonner and Texas law enforcement agents laid out as Congress launched its first investigation into Mexican incursions.
The hearing, which will be followed one in the Senate next month, comes in the wake of a high-profile Texas incident in which sheriff's deputies said they confronted drug runners who were wearing Mexican military uniforms, driving a military-issue Humvee and using military tactics. The Mexican Embassy maintains the suspected smugglers, who were not caught, were members of a drug cartel posing as soldiers, and not actual members of the Mexican military. But Texas officials testifying Tuesday said they think they might be both.
"It's everything,' said El Paso County Sheriff Leo Samaniego. "It's the military, it's cartels buying off military, buying off civilians and dressing as the military."
Bonner, who also said he believes the incursions are the work of actual military officials, added, "It's immaterial. If Mexico is allowing this to happen, they bear a large part of the responsibility."
But lawmakers and even the Texas deputies had mixed reactions to Bonner's suggestion that the U.S. military be called out.
"I think he's crazy," said Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, and a former Border Patrol agent who cautioned against "sensationalism" in addressing the incursions.
Sending troops, Reyes said, would convey the wrong message to Mexico and would be a poor use of America's military resources.
Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., said he is hesitant about the idea, but willing to examine it.
Sheriff Arvin West of the Hudspeth County Sheriff's Department -- where deputies faced off with military-clad drug smugglers last month east of El Paso -- said military force along the border would not help in the long run.
"They're not trained peace officers, they're trained killers," he said.
Unauthorized Mexican military have entered the United States 231 times over the past decade in what Department of Homeland Security officials call "incursions."
Federal officials say the vast majority of those incidents are non-confrontational and that the numbers are declining.
David Aguilar, chief of the Border Patrol for the Department of Homeland Security, noted Tuesday that the number of incursions has declined more than 50 percent since 2001, and that the agency has no evidence of systematic incursions. Aguilar said the Border Patrol in the past has detained Mexican military officials who made unauthorized border crossings, but that to his knowledge none were involved in drug trafficking.
He also said the agency has apprehended several people over the years who were dressed in military garb but were not members of the Mexican military.
Bonner called the Southwest border "completely out of control" and lambasted Aguilar and other top brass for saying that the situation is coming quickly under control.
"The folks at the top get paid to say nice things about Mexico, they get paid to reassure the public," he said. "(But) just about anyone who wants to get into the country can."
That's some way to refer to the head of a union called to speak before you pukes, Representative Reyes.
"our law enforcement agents do not have the training to deal with that" WTF?
I'm sure there's a few hundred folks from across the country that'd love to come down there and clean up those banditos.
At times, I still have a hard time believing that our country is suffering armed incursions from foreign country, and we are doing nothing about it. Acutally, scratch that. Our government is actively stonewalling about addressing the issue. I guess they are just trying to get us ready to bend over and take it for the North American Union.
Yes, let the military loose, release the hounds, and build the 30 foot tall wall of solid kryptonite. Then we can shoot them all back over using giant circus cannons.
I think the law can handle the incursions. By law, I mean, of course thte L.A.W. (Light Anti-tank Weapon).
Arm our border patrol with javelins!
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
But I thought it was the federal governments duty to protect each state against incursion?
Oh, wait, I re-read it. It says invasion.
Nevermind.
Are you kin to Bayourod?
Forget my last reply- I see now that you joined FR three days ago. Welcome to FR!
"Yes, let the military loose, release the hounds, and build the 30 foot tall wall of solid kryptonite. Then we can shoot them all back over using giant circus cannons."
Kryptonite only works on Superman and his Kryptonian pals. I think most folks would simply prefer the dual-fence corridor that is currently in place near Tijuana be extended to the whole border, and the laws that are currently in place be enforced. No hounds, no military, no cannons--just do what the law says, Dubya. Especially the law that allows immigration enforcement to fine EMPLOYERS for violations.
"If the Mexican military is coming into the United States, our law enforcement agents do not have the training to deal with that," Bonner told the House Homeland Security subcommittee on Investigations."
I think he meant he'd like to see a fair fight.
How about the sheriff who called our military killers', while stating they're not 'trained peace officers'?
Might help if they all get their heads together. Doesn't make sense to me to fight military with law enforcement.
Sounds good to me.
Let me guess: You are a one-post runaway.
Where is General "Blackjack" Pershing when we need him?
"Are you kin to Bayourod?"
I used to argue with him all the time. He was obnoxious but polite. I really believe he worked for a foreign government.
Re:
"Sheriff Arvin West of the Hudspeth County Sheriff's Department... said military force along the border would not help in the long run.
"They're not trained peace officers, they're trained killers,"
And so... we have a problem with that, Amigo?
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