Wilderness areas face criticism from border security advocates

Los Angeles Times ^ | December 24, 2010 | Nicholas Riccardi

[moonshinner_09]

proposal to consolidate a swath of 250,000 acres of wilderness study areas in New Mexico has sparked an outcry from groups fearing an influx of illegal immigrants and drugs from Mexico. But the Border Patrol says the designation has little effect on its work. Reporting from the Potrillo Mountains Wilderness — A new front has opened in the centuries-old battle over preserving federal lands in the West, with some advocates of a tighter border arguing that designating some lands as wilderness — meaning they are so precious that no mechanized vehicle can enter — hinders border security.

The U.S. Border Patrol and other law enforcement agencies can take vehicles into wilderness areas while chasing lawbreakers. But to patrol the lands by vehicle, plant sensors or build operating bases, they must get permission from the federal agency controlling the region. Some retired agents say they were told by managers of wilderness areas that they could not use helicopters to pick up injured migrants, or that they could patrol only on horseback.

Critics point to Arizona, the main gateway for illegal immigrants and drugs from Mexico; much of that traffic passes through wilderness areas in the south-central and eastern parts of the state. A Border Patrol agent was shot to death this month in an isolated canyon south of Tucson, in an area being studied for wilderness designation.

Republican Rep. Rob Bishop of Utah has proposed a law to allow the Border Patrol unlimited access to federal lands along the border, just as it has access to all private land. The current situation, he said, forces the agency to ask permission to do its job.

"There is now a conflict," he said, "between wilderness and border security."

[moonshinner_09]

In a report, Janice Kephart of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, which advocates for tighter border security, calls the proposed wilderness "a gift to the drug cartels." This is true of way of looking at it as there is. I am so sure the drug cartel are laughing and smiling all the way to the bank. Thanking Obama all the way there.

[FlingWingFlyer]

“Wilderness study areas” is Commie’RAT code for Gateway to the Land of the Big Pinata. Will any of the illegal invaders caught in this area be heavily fined and thrown in jail? Doubt it. The Wilderness Study Area bull**** only applies to Americans.

[SandRat]

Border Ping

Border Security vs. EnviroNutz.

[Inyo-Mono]

I’ve said it before, the Enviros want to turn all public lands in the West into wilderness areas. There are many, many “wilderness study areas” all over BLM lands. Which really means “Keep Out!” unless you are a Mexican cartel drug runner.

[LegendHasIt]

NM ping.

[Dapper 26]

This is a bold face attempt to control - take away from the states and private landowners - more land and weaken our border security. There isn’t one square inch of “public lands” that is responsibly and effectively controlled by government. Government is a poor steward of lands. This is one step short of sending a written invitation to drug cartels on White House letterhead.

[muawiyah]

The only way to protect these lands is to put them into the hands of private owners.

[Don Corleone]

There is now a conflict," he said, "between wilderness and border security."

The madness running rampant in this administration cannot be overestimated.

[Sherman Logan]

The only way to protect these lands is to put them into the hands of private owners.

Possibly true. However, there is a reason most (not all) of this land is wilderness.

Most of it is so rugged, or inaccessible, or otherwise undesirable that nobody has any particular use for it. What would a "private owner" do with it? It's just not very profitable to own.

[machogirl]

As if the Illegal Immigrants and Cartels are going to obey the Wilderness designation. *editorial comment by me, SNORT.

[muawiyah]

it hasn’t been for sale in modern times. A lot of it is useful.

[ex 98C MI Dude]

Now that Agent Terry has been killed, the anti-border forces know that certain potrtions of AZ will have many agents patrolling. So they need a new area opened. NM is the likely target.

But since Brian was KIA, the focus has shifted to Santa Cruz County. I have had illegals every night for about a week come past me, for the first time in a few months.

[BenKenobi]

Yeah, where’s that graph of private/public lands. Everything pretty much west of the missippi is owned by the US government, provided it’s not TX.

[FreedomFighter1013]

Obama and Salazar are repatriating huge chunks of what was the California territories back to Mexico.

[thecodont]

There is now a conflict," he said, "between wilderness and border security."

Without border security, we won't get to DECIDE what to to with those lands (wilderness, development, etc.) at all: the INVADERS will decide!