How Enviros Obstruct the Border Patrol

The American Spectator ^ | September, 2010 | Tom Bethell

[AuntB]

... almost everyone else, missed the real story: migrants and drug smugglers (marijuana, mainly) are attracted to parts of Arizona for a specific reason. On these federal lands, environmental regulations prevent the Border Patrol from doing its job. That's what the mainstream media won't report.

.... The U.S. side of the border with Mexico is about 60 percent private land and 40 percent federal. "Almost all" of the migrants and drug smugglers come across federal lands, protected by stringent "wilderness" designations or endangered species rules.

The Mexicans are all but invited to come in and trample down the wilderness, which of course they don't care about. They actually cut down endangered cacti and lay them across roads to keep Border Patrol out.

The California border is increasingly fenced (fences do work, contrary to rumor)....

Arizona is almost all "protected" federal land, and that means protected from rude incursions by the Border Patrol.

Border Patrol agents must navigate a patchwork of environmental regulations dating back decades ...

... a group of House lawmakers are pushing a bill [authored by Rep. Bishop] that would prohibit the Departments of Interior and Agriculture from taking any action that would "impede border security" on public lands.

He reported that Raul Grijalva, a leftist congressman from Arizona, has, "under the guise of environmental protection," introduced "legislation that would restrict the movement of border security agents and create safe havens for criminal elements transporting illegal aliens and narcotics."

But manpower levels are irrelevant if environmental laws keep the border patrollers non-functional.... The new National Guardsmen that Obama promised for the border will no more be able to preempt federal rules than the Border Patrol can.

That is what the federal lawsuit against the Arizona law is all about.

[AuntB]

Sorry, the article had to be excerpted, it's a good read.

Related news:

John McCain -Aiding the liberals land grab & illegal alien incursion Tue Sep 7

[snip]Twenty-three Senators gave their support to a deceptive bill S.B. 1689 that will, among other things, create an illegal immigration superhighway, remove access to natural resources, and strip ranchers of their grazing rights, all under the excuse of “preserving” wilderness. 23 voted to move S.B. 1689 to the floor including, McCain, Alexander, Landrieu, and Lincoln

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2584819/posts

[AuntB]

Another good one today:

“Black Jack” Pershing - Best ICE Border Patrol Agent Ever?

John J. Pershing was one of only two men ever to reach the highest rank in the army: “General of the Armies of the United States.” (George Washington was the other, but Pershing would have outranked him due to seniority.)

Pershing was a West Point cadet, fought as a young officer in the Spanish-American war, then was assigned to the Phillippines when an insurrection broke out in that county. President Teddy Roosevelt saw him as fellow a “man of action” and promoted him above more than 800 officers to lead the American Army. Later, Woodrow Wilson appointed him the leader of the American Expeditionary Forces (the doughboys) in World War I.

But back to his role as a US-Mexican border agent…

He once served as the Commandant of Fort Bliss, Texas, and as such was responsible for security along the U.S. - Mexican border. The “Pancho Villa Expedition” – officially known in the United States as the “Mexican Expedition,” but sometimes referred to as the “Punitive Expedition” – was a military operation he conducted from 1916-1917 against the paramilitary forces of Mexican insurgent Francisco “Pancho” Villa.

It was a 4,800-troop expedition [now THAT's border security, Mr. Obama!] across the border in retaliation for Villa’s illegal incursions into the United States and attacks on trains and villages, which resulted in the murder and execution of America citizens. He never caught up with Villa, but the cross-border raids eventually ended. During this time, George S. Patton served as one of Pershing’s aides, and personally shot and killed one of Villa’s top military leaders.

Here’s how Americans of the day saw the whole conflict (remember, it was a less-PC era!)

Oh my… so he was a RACIST who hated minorities, huh? Ummm… well… here’s how he got his unique nickname. One of Pershing’s early commands was the 10th Cavalry Regiment (an original Buffalo Soldier regiment) composed of African-American soldiers under white officers.

Later, while a Cadet Commander at West Point, he was such a disciplinarian that white cadets took to calling him “N*gger Jack,” which later morphed to the epithet “Black Jack,” - a nickname he wore with pride.

So how come we can’t use the Army to secure our southern border? Hmmmmmm…..?

http://www.redstate.com/minncon/2010/09/10/black-jack-pershing-best-border-patrol-agent-ever/

[Hulka]

The Border Patrol works unhindered every inch along the border, using foot patrols, vehicles, ATVs, horses, etc. Regarding enviro’s and/or the BLM, the Border Patrol does not need or solicit their permission to patrol. They go where they want, when they want. The issue is getting approval for new types of vehicles or to place sensors and/or towers; enviro impact statement garbage.

Indian reservations are the real bad guys, as they abet the smugglers. And not to forget, Park Rangers work well assisting the Border Patrol.

[AuntB]

“The Border Patrol works unhindered every inch along the border, using foot patrols, vehicles, ATVs, horses, etc. Regarding enviro’s and/or the BLM, the Border Patrol does not need or solicit their permission to patrol. They go where they want, when they want.”

Not according to the enviro regulations and every border patrol person I’ve spoken with. You need to give us some information to back up your statement because the facts contradict it.

Federal Regs on Environment May Be Hindering Border Security, Lawmakers Say

Federal environmental regulations that prevent border agents from expanded patrols of national wildlife parks appear to have had a hand in the government’s decision to declare an 80-mile stretch of Arizona-Mexico border a virtual no-man’s land.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has closed about 3,500 acres of Arizona border lands — including parts of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge — warning Americans that it cannot guarantee their safety in the face of increased violence from drug gangs and illegal immigrants.

That warning comes nearly three months after an Arizona rancher was shot to death near the border. The shooting prompted four Republican lawmakers to introduce legislation banning the Interior Department from using environmental laws to limit border agents from doing their job. The bill, H.R. 5016, has since been referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.

U.S. Reps. Doc Hastings of Washington, Peter King of New York, Rob Bishop of Utah and Lamar Smith of Texas said their bill, if passed, will address environmental degradation of federal lands and help close national security gaps along the border, which they say has become an uncontrolled highway.

“Effectively securing our borders against illegal entry is a matter of homeland security,” King said in a statement. “Border Patrol agents spend every day on the front line, securing our homeland from terrorists. Denying or limiting the Border Patrol access to public lands and allowing the flow of illegals, including potential terrorists, doesn’t protect anything.”[snip]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/16/federal-border-comes-months-proposed-legislation/

[AuntB]

More:

Environmental laws put gaps in Mexico border security - Washington ...
Nov 16, 2009 ... The conflict between the environment and border security has raged ... law that imposed strict rules that tie Border Patrol agents’ hands, ...
www.washingtontimes.com

Securing our Border on Federal Lands - House Committee on Natural ...
... environmental regulations (such as the Endangered Species Act or the National Environmental Policy Act) to hinder U.S. Border Patrol security efforts. ...
republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/border/

Interior Dept. Impedes Border Patrol From Securing U.S. | Judicial ...
Apr 15, 2010 ... For years, Border Patrol agents have been prohibited by the Interior ... from using environmental regulations to hinder U.S. Border Patrol ...
www.judicialwatch.org/.../interior-dept-impedes-border-patrol-securing-u-s

Border Agents Hindered by Obama Administration | Sex+Metropolis
May 7, 2010 ... This is one of the areas that Border Patrol has been unable to effectively monitor due to environmental regulations enforced by Department ...
mensnewsdaily.com/.../border-agents-hindered-by-obama-administration/

[raybbr]

I love that cartoon. Thanks.

[Hulka]

Facts?

Yes, having worked with, known, deal with Border Patrol Agents all the time, and yes, been there, I have my facts straight.

Hyping the situation beyond fact is not the way to win. Chicken-little anyone? Squawk loudly and run amok is not the way to win when the facts prove otherwise-—no one will listen.

The news report alleges enviros control where the BP patrols and this simply is not true. BP are not prohibited by the enviros or BLM. Like I said, enviro impact statements are required for certain actions, but for daily work, things they are doing today and tomorrow and the next, the BP does not seek permission and do not play the mother-may-I game.

I think these alleged people you speak of are either a) lying to you for their own purposes, or b) not in the BP at all.

Have a nice day.

Time to move on to more rational threads. Rage away. . . .

buh-bye.

[AuntB]

“Facts?

Yes, having worked with, known, deal with Border Patrol Agents all the time, and yes, been there, I have my facts straight.

Hyping the situation beyond fact is not the way to win. Chicken-little anyone? Squawk loudly and run amok is not the way to win when the facts prove otherwise-—no one will listen.

The news report alleges enviros control where the BP patrols and this simply is not true. BP are not prohibited by the enviros or BLM. Like I said, enviro impact statements are required for certain actions, but for daily work, things they are doing today and tomorrow and the next, the BP does not seek permission and do not play the mother-may-I game.

I think these alleged people you speak of are either a) lying to you for their own purposes, or b) not in the BP at all.

Have a nice day.

Time to move on to more rational threads. Rage away. . . .

buh-bye.”

__________________

Unreal...give you the congressional hearings on this and every thing else and you still say ‘NOT’....

WOW!

You go right ahead, contact these fellows with your declaration and see what they tell you.

http://nafbpo.org/

What is your vested interest in downplaying this problem???

[AuntB]

Gosh, raybber, according to Hulka, there is NO problem...the BP isn’t hindered at all by enviro regs!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2587289/posts?page=7

We’re just a bunch of chicken littles...well, that’s good to FINALLY find out, ain’t it....guess I can go back to my day job and forget this stuff!!!

[AuntB]

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
FORMER BORDER PATROL OFFICERS

October 30, 2007

WILDERNESS, BORDER PATROL, AND NATIONAL SECURITY

As retired United States Border Patrol officials, we are compelled to step forward and warn of threats to our national security that are being promoted by activist environmental groups in New Mexico, and in Arizona where Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), has introduced HR 2593 and HR 3287. The purpose of the Arizona effort is to add areas of southern Arizona’s Tumacacori Highlands into the wilderness system. In southern New Mexico the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance (NMWA) has expended time and money in an effort to create over 300,000 acres of wilderness in Dona Ana County. Both efforts would have major National Security implications by denying Border Patrol Agents access to areas along the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

Our national leaders are not unaware of these dangers. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has noted that border counties in his state face “an emergency condition with potential catastrophic consequences”. The reasons for this conclusion are the results of alien and drug smuggling, destruction of public and private property and violence related to these illegal activities. Mike McConnell, Director of National Intelligence, and a member of the Bush Cabinet. made this danger abundantly clear in a copyrighted article in the El Paso Times as recently as August 22, 2007. The headline was “Intelligence Chief Sees Southwest Border as Terrorist Entryway.”

The Border Patrol is under intense public and governmental scrutiny to stem the flow of illegal aliens and contraband, including weapons of mass destruction. The legal authority to perform those duties is extensive, but the flow of people, drugs, and other contraband is relentless. The availability of advanced technical support will improve Border Patrol effectiveness, but the human element represented by well trained and dedicated agents remains the most important and effective element in defending our borders.

It is imperative that authority vested in Agents, and their ability to defend our borders remain seamless and unencumbered. It is obvious that a wilderness designation, the most restrictive of all federal land designations, along our international border would create adverse impediments to efforts to perform these difficult and dangerous responsibilities.

In each wilderness debate, there has been a continued reference to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was agreed to between the Departments of Homeland Security, Interior, and Agriculture which provides for Border Patrol access to Federal lands. That MOU spells out clearly the ability to operate on such lands including designated wilderness. In wilderness designated areas, the Patrol has the right for entry if in pursuit, however, normal deterrent operations, including the maintenance and placement of technical surveillance equipment would require negotiations between the Agencies involved. Considering the urgency of protecting our borders, negotiating for access which could take up to 90 days is unacceptably dangerous.

This effort to create a wilderness designation for a large portion of our southern border did not originate from citizens of New Mexico and Arizona. It originated from the NMWA and Sky Island Alliance. These groups are the offspring of a greater environmental movement founded by Mr. Dave Foreman who also founded Earth first! and authored the book Ecodefense, a Field Guide to Monkey Wrenching.

These are the same folks who promoted the spiking of trees, the burning of high end condominiums, the destruction of new cars on parking lots, and the sinking of whaling ships.

Those of us who have for many years been involved in Border Patrol operations are well aware that any additional wilderness designations would result in the loss of current authorization for the Department of Homeland Security to enforce the law in those designated areas. That current authority is contained in Sec. 102(c) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. (Title 8 U.S.C. 1103). That authority would be repealed with the designation of “wilderness”

In plain language, that means no fences, vehicle barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, sensors, or other surveillance and barrier tool, without prior approval of the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior.

The Tumacacori Highlands of Arizona, and the Potrillo Mountains and Broad Canyon portion of the New Mexico proposal are not just idealistic areas where “earth and its community of life are undisturbed by man”. If they become wilderness, they will be heralded not only by those who believe wilderness designation should be made at any cost, but equally by human smugglers, drug runners, and those committed to the destruction of our Country.

Readers are encouraged to log on to http://www.landrights.org. Insert HR 2593 and/or HR 3287 to better understand the devastating effects that the passage of such legislation would have on law enforcement agencies.

The cost to carry out the provisions of additional Wilderness areas in Arizona would be authorized at an unbelievable $5,000,000.00 (million) for each fiscal year 2009 through 2013. The cost of similar designations in New Mexico has not been calculated.

Kent Lundgren
Chairman
National Association of Former Border Patrol Agents

http://nafbpo.org/

[stephenjohnbanker]

BTTT

[DoughtyOne]

Because there is a concerted effort to destroy this nation.

When you look at all things combined, it’s impossible to come to any other conclusion.

[AuntB]

“Because there is a concerted effort to destroy this nation.

When you look at all things combined, it’s impossible to come to any other conclusion.”

Not to worry, Doughty, according to one poster on this thread, the problem is just my imagination!

[DoughtyOne]

Thank you for the short history lesson. I didn’t know that much about Black Jack Pershing. It was interesting.

[DoughtyOne]

Rage away? LOL, you dump a road apple on the thread and scamper. Impressive... /s

Tell you what Hulka. Has an 80 mile stretch of Arizona been posted as a no-go zone due to smuggling and safety issues or not?

You say there’s no environmental problem, and then allude to it yourself.

AuntB is a very respected person here. Trying to act as if he contributions here are not factual and appreciated leaves you looking like a dunce.

Tell us mighty Kong, do we have an immigration problem or not? If we do, then why do idiot-sticks still show up on threads like this trying to give grief to people who have been providing facts about the issues for years.

And yes, you’re the idiot-stick on this thread.

[blackie]

We badly need another Black Jack Pershing!!!

[DoughtyOne]

Yeah, well, according to one other person that poster was an idiot-stick.

We have a massive problem and the best that clown could do is take you to task for not being factual. And then they proceeded to mention ways you were precisely right.

“I’ve worked with border agents.”

Well, we had a border agent on this forum, and his comments didn’t match this moron’s thoughts.

[stephenjohnbanker]

” U.S. Reps. Doc Hastings of Washington, Peter King of New York, Rob Bishop of Utah and Lamar Smith of Texas said their bill, if passed, will address environmental degradation of federal lands and help close national security gaps along the border, which they say has become an uncontrolled highway.

“Effectively securing our borders against illegal entry is a matter of homeland security,” King said in a statement. “Border Patrol agents spend every day on the front line, securing our homeland from terrorists. Denying or limiting the Border Patrol access to public lands and allowing the flow of illegals, including potential terrorists, doesn’t protect anything.”[snip]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/16/federal-border-comes-months-proposed-legislation/

AuntB

One of the top border patrol instructors is a deacon in my church. He contradicts you.

Hulka, you are FOS.

[HiJinx]

Ping!

[freekitty]

Great story, Aunt B.