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Posted on 02/04/2006 6:55:49 AM PST by thorshammer
HOUSTON — A West Texas sheriff's deputy warned federal lawmakers Friday that drug traffickers are helping terrorists with possible al Qaeda ties cross the porous Texas-Mexico border into the United States.
Terry Simons, the chief deputy in Val Verde County, offered little evidence of his claims. An FBI special agent in Houston, Shauna Dunlap, said there is "no credible evidence" that supports the warning.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said in Austin on Friday that border security is an issue that is high on the Senate's agenda.
Simons, part of a group that has been pushing state and federal officials for more funding for law enforcement on the border, told members of Congress meeting in Houston that Texas authorities have learned of newly established camps in Mexico where "narcoterror- ists" are being trained in "escape and evasion, as well as fighting techniques and combat maneuvering."
Simons also said the FBI has informed border sheriffs that Muslims with possible al Qaeda ties are training with them.
Simons and other members of the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition outlined the threat in a presentation to U.S. Reps. John Culberson, R-Houston, and James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.
Culberson said the FBI told him that terrorist suspects from countries "with known al Qaeda connections" have adopted Hispanic surnames and are "blending in with the other illegals coming over the border."
Sensenbrenner said protecting the border is now a national security issue.
"What I learned today is the type of people who are coming across the border have changed," Sensenbrenner said. "Now, a lot of the people coming across the border are criminals and potentially terrorists — people who have a mind to commit crimes against Americans and maybe to blow us all up and kill us."
In December, the U.S. House passed border security legislation authorizing $100 million for sheriffs in border counties. The money can be used to hire more deputies, build detention facilities and buy equipment, including weapons. The measure is pending in the Senate.
After meeting with local, state and federal authorities in El Paso, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, called the situation at the border a crisis that needs to be addressed immediately.
He said he plans to meet with the Mexican ambassador to the United States on Tuesday before a hearing on border issues by a subcommittee of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
In Austin, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said changes to immigration law and border security are "very high" on the Senate's agenda and could be addressed as early as mid-March.
"We know in a post-9/11 world, the same vulnerability that allows people who want to come across to work can be exploited by criminals, drug cartels and those who perhaps want to come to the United States to perhaps terrorize innocent Americans," Cornyn said.
Federal officials in San Antonio on Friday announced almost 30 arrests and the seizure of explosives, machine guns and other weapons in a crackdown that started in July in the border city of Laredo.
Officials with the Border Enforcement Security Task Force said they had arrested 28 people and seized materials to make 33 lower-grade explosive devices, such as pipe bombs or grenades. They also seized dozens of assault rifles, machine guns, silencers, hundreds of pounds of narcotics and $1.4 million in cash.
Cornyn warned against assuming the seized items belonged to terrorists.
"This is concerning, but I would say we have to be careful and make sure we get the facts and not act on the basis of rumor or speculation," he said.
Not high enough to do anything about it, but it's high up there.
Ok, I've finally figured Bush out.
Al Qaeda in Iraq = terrorist
Al Qaeda in America = guest workers
Not high enough to do anything about it, but it's high up there.
-----
Yep, all Washington BS talk. Why are the Iraqi borders more important than ours? Why is pandering to Vincente Fox more important than working FOR the American people? What are we waiting for? -- another 9/11, to justify closing our borders -- just for "political correctness"???
You that right!
Oops, You got that right
"What I learned today is the type of people who are coming across the border have changed," Sensenbrenner said. "Now, a lot of the people coming across the border are criminals and potentially terrorists — people who have a mind to commit crimes against Americans and maybe to blow us all up and kill us."
And just how long do we need to "study" all these incursions before something is done about it? Our borders are literally wide open. The border guards are stuck in an endless cycle of catch and release. And, our Federal Government is so dam busy pandering to Vincente Fox that absolutely nothing of consequence is being done.
If all this results in the attacks that many believe will eventually occur, our Government better realize that citizens are willing and able to do what they are not doing!
The feel-ggod liberals and one-world government advocates are not doing us any good. I fear that Americans have permitted themselves to become far too complacent.
The sooner we deal with this threat, the better. And the sooner we end this pandering with Mexico, the better!
I was just reading a thread about the bombs. But I guess we shouldn't worry, they're probably just "guest workers" plying their trade.
(That was sarcasm, in case anyone is wondering.)
"No credible evidence", what'll it take for the bozo's to pull their collective heads out?
I think you are spot on with those comments, I would only add that all citizens should arm themselves and prepare to protect their families and country.
Of course! We all know that they're just doing the jobs that the rest of us don't want to do. Isn't that what they want?
Cornyn is one of the champions of surrendering our nation into the Socialist Community of North America.
He is no friend of this nation and will do nothing to stop the invasion.
What can one expect. Home Depot allows them to set up tent citys on it's property.
ping
Apparently
I've been saying this for decades.
BUMP
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It's always "high on someone's agenda" and it's always at least two months until it can be "addressed."
They've been playing this game for years and years and years, and apparently not enough of the American public has woken up to do anything.
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