Free Republic

As Washington struggles to find a solution to the federal budget cuts in the recent sequester, the U.S. Border Patrol has begun to cut back, and the numbers are already beginning show immigrants are taking advantage of it. Border Patrol stats leaked to our newsroom show the RGV sector detained almost twice as many immigrants in February as they did in January. While Border Patrol agents will likely lose overtime and face up to 14 furlough days, one south Texas rancher says he’s going to lose too, security he depends on. Just 4.5 miles north of the Falfurrias checkpoint, Mike...

Despite an overall drop in illegal immigration nationwide, there has been a huge spike in the number of undocumented immigrants found dead in the south Texas brush country this year, and a disturbing number of the illegals found dead and alive attempting to sneak into the U.S.in the past three months have been young people. 1200 WOAI news reports some who deal with illegal immigration blame the DREAM Act, and talk that young people in the United States illegally may receive legal residency or even a path to citizenship in a second Obama term. “Ever since this dialogue from Washington...

SOUTH OF FALFURRIAS - Border Patrol agents are searching for illegal immigrants in the brush south of the Falfurrias checkpoint. Border Patrol agents were chasing a group of illegal immigrants in a truck. We're told the driver veered off the road and crashed into a fence. Four people were caught. The other people inside took off on foot. Agents are searching for the people who left the scene. They've called in air support and BORSTAR agents to help in the search.

Illegal immigration may be down, but ranchers and farmers in south Texas say the influx continues and it's becoming more violent and criminal. FALFURRIAS, Texas—When Linda Vickers leaves home to feed the horses on her Texas ranch each morning, she takes three things: her dog, her cell phone, and her pistol. For Vickers, these aren't just the trappings of a typical rural rancher: They're a way to guard against the potential danger of illegal aliens and to call U.S. Border Patrol agents if trouble erupts. Though she hasn't used the gun, the dogs have warned her more than once: A...

HOUSTON -- Local 2 investigates what lawmakers said is a threat to hundreds of millions of dollars in fruits, vegetables and beef produced along the Texas border. Dressed in camouflaged fatigues with a pistol at his side Dr. Mike Vickers drives across a 1,000 acre ranch he says has become a battleground "We know every time we walk out our front door, or back door, we're putting our lives in danger," said Vickers. "You feel you have to carry a gun just to be on your own property?" asked Local 2 investigator Robert Arnold. "Well, you're putting your life in...

FALFURRIAS — Sergio Gaspar died a slow death in an area known as the desert of McAllen. Workers at Cage Ranch found the partially-decomposed body of the Ecuadorian immigrant Monday — a day before his 35th birthday. Half naked and already beginning to bloat, Gaspar was the 32nd victim of the violent heat and tough terrain in Brooks County this year. Deputies have counted at least 35 bodies found on the ranchlands this year. The ranchlands, which cover 60 to 70 percent of the nearly 950-square-mile county, are known to many illegal immigrants as the desert of McAllen — even...

On The Record Texas rancher's photos detail a trail of danger and dead bodies on the border (Dr. Mike Vickers with Greta Van Susteren. After this video finishes, Texas Gov. Rick Perry with Greta.)

FALFURRIAS - CHANNEL 5 NEWS is taking you to the other front line of the border battle. It's no where near the river. It's sixty miles north of McAllen. People here are grabbing guns to protect themselves. Ranchers blame this border patrol checkpoint. Illegal immigrants know if they come through, they'll get caught, so smugglers are dropping them off and leaving them to roam on ranchers' land. Rancher Dr. Mike Vickers believes, "It's real threat to our state and our country." He feels like his land is under siege. "We call them criminal trespassers or Ct's because essentially, that's what...

The families of Steve Swan and Matthew Butler didn’t get to tell their sons’ killer exactly what they thought of him. After a Dallas County jury convicted Demarius Cummings on Thursday of capital murder with an automatic sentence of life without parole, bailiffs attempted to drag the 22-year-old man back to the courtroom to hear victim impact statements. But Cummings’ screaming and cursing as he struggled with at least four bailiffs led State District Judge Mike Snipes to declare it wasn’t safe for Cummings to return to the courtroom. The families and jurors looked horrified and nervous as they tearfully...

Mexico has belatedly discovered that its criminal syndicates have become so powerful that they directly threaten the state. In fact, Mexico hovers on the brink of becoming a narco-state. Its criminal syndicates control the Mexican side of the Texas/Mexico border and the smuggling of drugs and illegal immigrants into Texas. Their influence and reach have crossed the Rio Grande River in ways that many politicians and media prefer to not acknowledge. Caught in this crossfire are ranchers trying to protect their property and their way of life. Here are some of the problems they face daily. The criminal organizations To...

Checkpoint Texas Sept 1 8P et/pt An 18-wheeler carrying more than 1,000 pounds of concealed marijuana is discovered by a rookie agent and his canine partner. Meanwhile, a group of illegal crossers takes agents on a four-hour chase. An Ecuadorian woman and her young daughter - injured, dehydrated and famished - are rescued from the harsh terrain after being abandoned by smugglers, and face deportation unless the mother can prove they have reason to fear for their lives back home Death on the Rio Grande Sept 1 9 P et/pt A young man drowns trying to cross the Rio Grande,...

Texas Trash Off - April 4, 2009 Here are the details for Texas Border Volunteers first Adopt-A-Highway event. We will meet around 10:30am at the "Texas Pride BBQ". It is located about 5 miles due south from IH-10 on Loop 1604. You can't miss it. Texas Pride Barbecue 2980 E Loop 1604 S Adkins, TX 78101 (210) 649-3730 At that point I will cover the required safety issues, which shouldn't take more than 15 minutes. We can discuss lunch details at this time as well. We can then carpool to the site, which is only a mile or two down...

Newsletter Jan. 12,2009 The Texas Border Volunteers, Inc. Volume 3 Issue 1 Feel free to pass our news to other interested parties. Please pass on to any friends, relatives, or contacts you may have in Texas. We are about to find out where our legislature really stands on securing the border and stopping the flow of illegal aliens and narcotics into our state. Fellow Texas Border Volunteers, In the last TBV Newsletter, I wrote in the TBV Comment Corner about the 2008 Texas Immigration Reform Legislative Summit held in Austin this past October. The underlying message was that if you...

Ranchers Believe Heat is to Blame for Deaths FALFURRIAS--The heat index in Brooks County has been hitting triple digits over the last couple of weeks and Border Patrol Agents are stepping up their search and rescue efforts to prevent heat-related deaths along the South Texas border. The Border Patrol's Search Trauma and Rescue team is working special operations in Brooks County. While this elite team known as BORSTAR is out to save illegals from the heat, a Brooks County rancher said it may be a little bit too late. Ranchers in Brooks County said illegal immigrants are dying on their...

TX and AZ Border Watches FOR YOUR INFORMATION...... Border watches on the TX and AZ borders have been scheduled by Texas Border Volunteers and Patriots Border Alliance (AZ). If you are interested in participating....please go to the following websites or contact the following e-mail addresses for further information. MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE ON ANY BORDER WATCH!! BACKGROUNDS ARE CHECKED!! Texas Border Volunteers.....for information to join....go to www.texasbordervolunteers.org and download application or e-mail questions to vol052000-tbvmbrship@yahoo.com . Patriots Border Alliance (AZ).....for information to join (online)....go to www.patriotsborderalliance.com or e-mail questions to quetzal@wbhsi.net . As to recent news articles.....illegal aliens are...

TUCSON, Ariz. – Volunteers who intermittently stake out portions of the southern Arizona desert hoping to spot and report suspected illegal immigrants will begin another monthlong operation this weekend. Members of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps will stage their annual spring border watch operation for the fourth year southwest of Tucson, near Arivaca and the port of entry at Sasabe – an area popular with smugglers bringing illegal immigrants across the Mexican border. Other group members plan border watches in Texas, California and Washington. It actually will be the fifth year for a number of volunteers who began with the...

Illegal Alien Activity Tracking System GSAC (Global Security Analysis, LLC) and The Publishers of GlobalIncidentMap.com, of Washington County, MD are pleased to announce the Illegal Alien Activity Tracking System (IAATS). This is a free, public service website, available October 21st, displaying ongoing Incidences of illegal alien criminal activity, legislation, the growing national security risk and threat of terrorism, plus other significant news. GSAC (Global Security Analysis, LLC) approached the publishers of GlobalIncidentMap.com with an idea of creating a free, public service website that allows everyone from your average citizen to law enforcement , and government agencies and officials, to have...

A Day Without Illegal Immigrants - Part 1 Nowhere is the debate over illegal immigration more intense than right here in Texas. Thursday, our Manuel De La Rosa began a special report on this very emotional topic. PART TWO RUNS TONIGHT, NOV 2, AT 10PM.

Armed Volunteers Search Private Property Along Border SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- KSAT reporters got a chance to talk with a group of volunteer border guards that split from the more-known Minutemen. Group members said they don't want vigilantes, just to keep the law along the border. "We don't want anybody that has any prejudice or any scores to settle," said Dr. Michael Vickers, leader of the Texas Border Volunteers. The Falfurrias veterinarian said the group broke away from the Minutemen a couple of years ago and consists mostly of retired military and law enforcement workers who were once Minutemen. He...

The eyes of the world are once again on Texas. The AMC Theatre chain will be monitoring our attendance very carefully in Houston. If we sell out and need extra screens, they will consider taking the film nationally. That would mean everything. 180 degree turnaround. Dan Patrick and Edd Hendee (KSEV Radio 700 AM http://www.ksevradio.com) will be promoting the shows for the next two weeks. Please tell you’re your family, friends and other groups! These are the scheduled screenings for Houston on Thursday, October 11th. As these screenings sell out, more screens will be added at the same theaters. You...