Posted on 02/13/2011 5:35:03 AM PST by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA — A pair of outspoken Arizona sheriffs said if the state does not lead the way, the federal government will eventually kow-tow to those who want immigration reform without securing the border.
Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever said the state is under attack by the ACLU and the U.S. Department of Justice for attempting to address what is a federal responsibility when it comes to the border.
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said the federal government is trying to brainwash the American public, saying the border is safe and secure.
The two spoke to more than 150 people at Saturday’s Lincoln Day Dinner, an annual event hosted by the Cochise County Republican Committee.
Dever, who resigned Friday from a federal, state and local law enforcement group because of the U.S. government’s ineffective handling of border security, said his decision to quit was reached when U.S. Border Patrol and Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin said, in Spanish, that ‘no more’ will those who cross the international boundary with Mexico to do illegal activities be tolerated, and they would be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
The sheriff said when Arizona’s SB1070 was approved and signed into law, one of the Justice Department’s contentions was the bill would only focus on Hispanics.
But with Bersin speaking Spanish, and with billboards at different U.S. Border Patrol road checkpoints with the names of wanted individuals, who all have Hispanic names, the federal government is doing what they claim would happen with SB1070.
“That is racial profiling,” Dever said.
However, he noted Bersin called him Saturday and wants to meet to have “a public discussion” about border security, which the sheriff said he is willing to do.
Dever also spent three hours on the phone Saturday, speaking with a public information officer who works for Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, with Dever telling the individual that Napolitano has commented that immigration laws need to change.
But no one has “defined which immigration laws” need changing, Dever said, adding the actions of Homeland Security and others is propaganda.
“I think they (federal officials) are disingenuous and duplicitous,” he said.
Babeu said the federal government is trying “to put us in some kind of a trance or brainwash us.”
While there has been much criticism of SB 1070, Babeu said the main point, which is being ignored, is Arizona has taken on a federal responsibility due to the failure of the U.S. government to fully engage in securing the border. “It’s simple, it’s a let’s secure the border (law),” Babeu said.
Noting in Pinal County he has been told by federal agencies that there are up to 100 posts manned by cartels to ensure their products, illegal immigrants and drugs, make it through, Babeu said he was surprised by the number, saying he thought there was a maximum of 50 such sites.
Pinal County deputies are being better armed with automatic rifles due to the danger, and they will be going out in teams to confront the cartel sites, he said.
And, when the deputies come upon such sites, those who are there are going to be told in Spanish to drop their weapons and surrender, he said.,
“We are going out there to enforce the law,” Babeu said.
While Arizona is on the front line of the issue, other states are looking to Arizona as a leader in the fight, Babeu said.
“This is our entire nation’s fight,” he said.
Without determination, the federal government will continue “to lull us into a false sense of security,” Babeu said.
Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever... who resigned Friday from a federal, state and local law enforcement group because of the U.S. government's ineffective handling of border security... spent three hours on the phone Saturday, speaking with a public information officer who works for Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, with Dever telling the individual that Napolitano has commented that immigration laws need to change. But no one has "defined which immigration laws" need changing, Dever said, adding the actions of Homeland Security and others is propaganda. "I think they (federal officials) are disingenuous and duplicitous," he said.
And Paul Babeu and Larry Dever would be a pretty good pair to lead the leader.
These two are probably the best Arizona has and that means they are probably the best anywhere.
Why isn't this happening unless even the governor isn't serious?
Not to say I don’t think she’s “not serious”, but we need to play harder and meaner than the treasonous agents working against our Arizona.
These are observation posts manned by Mexican drug cartel soldiers inside Pinal County, AZ; they are armed and dangerous. Quibbling over 50 or 100 is like arguing whether the nest of vipers you just stumbled into is Western Diamondbacks or Sidewinders...
FInd them, fix them (acurrately plot their coordinate down to 8 or 10 grid coordinates), then take them out with the Queen of Battle and mop em up withe King of Battle. PCism ba da$$$.
Ping!
/bingo
I would certainly support having the next division rotation to the National Training Center divert to Pinal County...live fire, and all!
I wish she would, but I'll lay odds obama would Federalize them. That's when she should call up the militia - or at least those with 10 days rations, AK47s or semi-auto 223s.
A FSE call for fire on those Cartel OPs with H&I follwed up with a Mech Infantry assault to clean up sure wouldn’t hurt. Expcially if the Queen of Battle did a Divarty TOT on the OPs.
:’D
Bloody hell, I missed that appointment. Alan Bersin, imported from NY, to help destroy San Diego schools and now he's Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection? Good grief!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.