AZ Sheriff on Napolitano’s Security Speech: ‘This Shows You How Divorced From Reality the...

CNSNews ^ | January 28, 2011 | Penny Starr

[jazusamo]

Complete title: AZ Sheriff on Napolitano’s Security Speech: ‘This Shows You How Divorced From Reality the Secretary of Homeland Security Really Is’

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu says
violence in Arizona by criminal illegal aliens
has reached "epidemic proportions." He
spoke at a Capitol Hill news conference on
Monday, April 19, 2010.
(CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)

(CNSNews.com) – The National Sheriffs’ Association on Wednesday named Arizona’s Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu  “Sheriff of the Year.” On Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano delivered the first State of Homeland Security address, in which she gave an upbeat account of the agency’s accomplishments, including its efforts on immigration and securing the U.S. border.

Babeu, however, indicated that Napolitano’s speech was selective in what it emphasized and what it did not disclose.

“2010 was a historic year when it comes to securing and managing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws,” Napolitano said. “There are now more resources on the southwest border in terms of personnel, technology, and infrastructure than ever before in American history. And we continue to see progress on every metric.”

Babeu said Napolitano’s claim was “not surprising.” But he also said her remarks did not reflect conditions on the ground in Arizona where in the last two years the amount of illegal drugs entering the state that have been confiscated by local authorities has doubled, and the number of pursuits of criminal illegal aliens has tripled.

“Why isn’t the secretary of homeland security speaking to these threats?” Babeu said in a telephone interview with CNSNews.com. “Why does she keep trying to convince us through argument that everything is just fine to the point that she’s trying to hypnotize us into believing this c--p.”

The National Sheriffs’ Association cited in its press release that Babeu “has earned both statewide and national attention for his strong stance against illegal immigration.”

The release said that Babeu’s “stance and actions against those responsible for drug and human trafficking has earned him the distinction as one of ‘America’s Toughest Sheriffs on Illegal Immigration.’”

In her Thursday address at George Washington University, Napolitano said DHS’s efforts have been “relentless and effective” and that the agency’s priority continues to be “the removal of criminal aliens who pose a danger to public safety and national security.”

But Babeu said the Obama administration’s strategy on border security is “unacceptable” and is not working.

“[Napolitano] continues this mantra of everything is just fine; unprecedented resources have been added; the border’s more secure than ever before,” Babeu said. “She does not speak to the fact that more people this past fiscal year came through the Tucson section of Arizona and across our border than were apprehended.”

“That’s a problem,” Babeu said.

Babeu has been a critic of the Obama administration and its immigration policies. He joined Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) last year when the lawmakers called for a 10-point plan to secure the U.S. border with Mexico.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet
Napolitano. (Photo courtesy of U.S.
Embassy in Kabul)

Babeu said the most important parts of that plan call for 6,000 armed National Guard troops to be stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border for up to two years, completion of the double-barrier fence along 700 miles of the 2,000-mile international border, and strict enforcement of federal immigration law, including automatic deportation of people who are in the country illegally.

“This novel concept of enforcing the law, which is the very foundation of who we are as Americans, is the rule of law,” Babeu said. “Those three components of soldiers, build the infrastructure, and enforce the law will secure the border.”

Babeu has also criticized Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against the anti-illegal immigration law, SB1070, which was passed by voters in Arizona last year.

Babeu said the Obama administration has politicized the immigration issue and “have used  it as a weapon to somehow brow beat good Americans and people who want to secure our nation’s border, and somehow try to turn this and make it a racial issue and that we’re being un-American because we’re against illegal immigration.”

“We’re against breaking the law and we want to protect America,” Babeu said. “We’re for immigration – legal immigration.”

“We’re bringing a heavy-handed enforcement against these [drug] cartels doing the jobs the feds have, literally, refused to do,” Babeu said. “They’ve try to handcuff us by taking us to court at a time when we need help and to fight us every step of the way.”

Babeu, who is the first Arizona sheriff and the first sheriff in his first elected term to be named Sheriff of the Year, said Napolitano’s assessment reveals that she is out of touch with what the conditions are on what he calls “the front line” fight against illegal immigration.

“This shows you how divorced from reality the secretary of homeland security really is,” Babeu said.

“This is the state of what we’re facing here and from what I’ve just described, people may imagine this to be some foreign battleground,” Babeu said, citing how close the drug cartel violence is to Phoenix, one of the country’s largest cities.

“This is deep in the heart of Arizona, literally 35 miles outside of American’s fifth largest city,” Babeu said.

Babeu said that the Sheriff of the Year award is “humbling” and should send a message.

“It’s very humbling for me to be honored in this way,” he said. “It’s a huge tribute to the men and women who work in the sheriff’s office, and the volunteers and all our supporters, and it should send a loud and clear message that sheriffs across America stand up for the rule of law and for Arizona.”

[paul51]

on domestic policy, economic policy, energy policy, foreign policy...this administration is an epic failure. It’s gone from laughable to outright dangerous. Why are there no calls for zero’s resignation along with his entire administration?

[Candor7]

ONe more factor that puts Arizona in the Obama Crosshairs. A showdaown is coming. I hope Arizona is prepared to deal with Obama sending the military in to seize state assets and their government.Obama is a liberal fascist, and he will use force to secure the silence of patriots like our good Sheriff.

America must side with Arizona Patriots, in droves. The sooner the better.Make the cost to Obama very high, cut off his political support to use force in Arizona against Arizonans.

[jazusamo]

Well said...Resignations are overdue from him and his appointed flunkies.

[jazusamo]

America must side with Arizona Patriots, in droves.

We should indeed. It's surprising to me that there haven't been more states introducing similar legislation as they have in repealing obamacare.

[upchuck]

Great article and nice posting job.

Unfortunately, I doubt any of Sheriff Babeu’s comments will have the slightest affect on Janet. This regime has made it abundantly clear that they have no plans of fighting illegal immigration.

[jazusamo]

You’re absolutely right. They not only won’t fight illegal immigration they encourage it with their lack of enforcement from lack of simple deportation to not coming down hard on illegals committing serious criminal acts.

I don’t see it improving until Obama and flunkies are out of office and we have a president willing to go all out against illegals. Sadly that could be a long time coming with either party.

[Right Cal Gal]

Don’t worry Big Sis - I’m sure Pima County Sheriff Douchebag’s got your back and will be all over the mainstream media for the next 48 hours to call Sheriff Babeu a “flame thrower.”

[HiTech RedNeck]

Like Peppermint Patty said to Linus, “My sweet Babeu.” (Liberty taken with spelling.)

The leftniks make such a big fuss over Jared Loughner and Sarah Palin, not even caring that almost all the murders and maimings in southern Arizona are neither by madmen nor by politically inspired zealots but by illegales acting on their own accord?

[jazusamo]

You just may be right. It’s great to see a professional sheriff like Paul Babeu vs the political hack like Dipstick, fortunately there are more like Babeu. The quality of voter must be higher in Pinal County vs Pima County, AZ.

[peeps36]

If Janet was doing a good job we wouldn’t have illegal aliens and drugs in every town across America. I’m sick and tired of all the lies being told by scumbag politicians. I hope they become victims of the criminals they give aid and comfort to.

[bunkerhill7]

Aiding and Abetting,
Napolitano Sweating

[HiJinx]

Ping!

[drypowder]

Doesn't a sheriff have the authority to form a civilian militia and or deputize civilians to help with this illegal alien-drug crime wave? Round up the posse!!

[jazusamo]

Yes, they have the authority to form posse's and Sheriff Babeu has as has Sheriff Arpaio.

Pinal County Posse Program

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

If he is the same Sheriff who is on FOX quite often (esp Greta) I have been impressed with him for a long while.

[jazusamo]

I don’t watch Greta on a nightly basis but I have seen Paul Babeu on her program.

[Candor7]

Too many states want federal subsidy dollars to introduce the legislation to repeal Death Care. But soon, there won't be much money left for that pork.Alas,there will be enough up to Nov. 2012, thats the liberal fascist plan:buy the dreamers and cow the realists.

But even 10 states ( what we have now)will bring the unravelling of it.

Arizona is leading the way, and it is there where the Obama fascists will be most tempted to use force majeur.I hope the good people of Arizona are prepared. They would be entirely if it were not for John McPain and his ilk.

[BunnySlippers]

[Candor7]

Even Laz would not hit that! LOL!

( Brrrrrr, abhorance shivers here.)