Mr. Nicely doesn't need your/our help? How much time has he spent in this part of his sector?
Posted on 01/28/2005 8:19:46 PM PST by JackelopeBreeder
TUCSON - No, without thanks.
That's the message the head of the U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson Sector wants to tell a group of people who say they intend to help the federal agency monitor the international boundary in Cochise County.
"I don't need them." Sector Chief Patrol Agent Michael Nicley said Thursday.
He was talking about a planned monthlong air and ground patrol of the border by those who support the Minuteman Project.
He and National Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar said they are aware the county's 83 miles of the international line with Mexico are the busiest for apprehending illegal crossers.
Both said the federal agency will continue to stem the flow of illegal immigrants heading north, which will include bringing more technology and other support to the area.
Both men took part in the first Border Patrol change-of-command ceremony Thursday. Before being named the top agency uniformed officer and stationed in Washington, D.C., Aguilar led the Tucson Sector for five years. Nicley was officially named to head the sector on Jan. 9.
Californian Jim Gilchrist's Minuteman Project is spotlighting the county with a drive to bring in hundreds of U.S. citizens in April to monitor the border because of what he calls failed federal actions. He has promised not to get in the way of the Border Patrol or other law enforcement agencies.
According to his Web site on Jan. 17, 234 volunteers from 36 states signed up to spend all or part of April in Cochise County. The sign-up also included seven pilots and seven planes, Gilchrist said.
Nicley said he has concerns about the air operations being proposed by the Minuteman Project, noting certain parts of the airspace in Cochise County are dedicated to his sector's air operations.
"I don't think we are going to permit them (the Minuteman Project pilots) to use our airspace," he said.
Nicley also is concerned the project's volunteers are not trained in law enforcement. He said the volunteers could hinder operations and draw off Border Patrol agents from important missions if they get into trouble.
In a recent interview, Gilchrist said his people will not interfere with operations and will comply with all laws.
Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever recently told Gilchrist the volunteers have to stay within the law. If not, they can expect Dever's department to bring the weight of the law down on them. The same weight of law will be used against anyone, including opponents of the Minuteman Project volunteers, he added.
Nicley said Gilchrist, so far, has not made contact with him to discuss the project's plans.
The sector chief and Aguilar made their comments after the ceremony. They also discussed the Border Patrol's budget and technology being used along the border.
Nicley and Aguilar said some people are upset that it does not appear there will be funding in the next federal budget to hire 2,000 new agents, as authorized by a law passed by Congress last year and signed by President George W. Bush.
According to news reports, the Department of Homeland Security indicates that only enough money is being proposed to pay for 210 agents.
Aguilar said the budget process is not completed, and, therefore, exactly how many new agents will be hired is not final.
The agency is putting in more technology along the border, especially in Arizona and particularly in Cochise County, he said.
"A lot is being done," Aguilar said.
The agency is testing unmanned aerial vehicles. Even though the pilot program of testing two pilotless systems - the Hermes and the Hunter - is nearly finished, it does not mean UAVs will not become part of the agency's arsenal, he said. It also doesn't mean another type of aircraft will be tested.
The Hermes and Hunter programs were flown out of Fort Huachuca. The Hermes was tested first. The Hunter will see flights end on Monday.
As for concerns of county citizens, Aguilar said he understands how upset people are about the area having the largest number of illegal immigrant apprehensions.
According to agency reports, 235,439 illegal immigrants were apprehended in the county from Oct. 1, 2003, through Sept. 30, 2004, with one out of every five illegal border crossers taken into custody along the nearly 1,900-mile-long international boundary happening in Cochise County.
The agency understands the concerns and not only will not reduce the emphasis in the county but continue to bring in more assets, Aguilar said.
"We are doing the job and will continue doing the job in Arizona and Cochise County," Aguilar said, adding the Arizona Border Control Initiative is proof of the agency's success.
"If Border Patrol agents apprehend a terror suspect, the public will never know, Nicley added. He said it is possible that one or more terror suspects have been picked up along the Arizona-Mexico border, but disclosing that would let terrorists know too much and the safety of all Americans supersedes the public's right to know in such cases."
Ping!
It's nice to see the Chief saying what some of us already know.
Obviously he DOES need them, but the agenda is to let immigration get worse.
I keep seeing articles posted about the failure of the Border Patrol to control this area and the emergence of volunteers to assist in the effort. Now this Gov't employee says just the opposite. I tend to believe the actual citizens of this area - They don't appear to have any motive to embellish on the problem but this guy certainly could have one. IMO more Gov't spin on the Illegal problem.
I believe he is the first to give such a direct answer. Not sure that will go over well at higher levels. Everybody else always tap danced away from the question.
He's the first to say it publicly and I'm sure HQ has already heard about it. He'll be getting a phone call and most likely will be asked to visit DC.
Why does the U.S. Government get in the way of the citizens protecting our borders?
We don't need 2000 more agents. We need to get rid of the policies that require agents to let smugglers and illegal aliens go. Out of 2000, there might be 200 hundred agents that would work. Most would just be around to collect a paycheck and some would actively participate in the criminal activities they were hired to prevent.
Well, you can lead a horse to water, ...
In this case I believe it's a fear that they will not be able to spin the news. Imagine a couple of hundred volunteers on the ground with video and digital cameras. The government does not fear images of apprehensions; images of the much greater number that get away is what has them way nervous.
>>Most would just be around to collect a paycheck and some would actively participate in the criminal activities they were hired to prevent.<<
Kind of like hiring and training more Military Police in your mind then? Now I'm starting to understand what world you live in.
Mr. Nicely doesn't need your/our help? How much time has he spent in this part of his sector?
Agree. They have been trying to cap the real situation for years and, after the situation has gotten way, way beyond out of control, they put on the face of diligent concern. IMO a smokescreen, designed to take attention from the problem so they can once again ignore it. Thanks to places like FR there are numerous avenues for getting around their de facto news embargo. The volunteers are yet another means of getting the facts out. This must bother the Gov't terribly - Not being able to manipulate and control the spin on this thing.
There is a difference between not wanting and not needing.
And of course you have No proof to back up that statement but why left facts get in the way of a good conspiracy, tin foil hat rant?
These so called "volunteers" are nothing but a disaster in the making.
The local ranchers and citizens are going to weigh the risks of bringing in all those vigilantes against any possible benefits and someone will file for an injunction. The judge will require personal bonds from organizers. Unless they are mental cases they are not going to bet their life savings on a couple hundred armed anti-immigrants whom they don't even know.
All it would take is one accidental shooting by one drunk yahoo, and every official member of the sponsoring group could spend years in court before losing everything they have.
I'm predicting it won't take place as now planned.
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