Posted on 05/17/2006 6:11:23 PM PDT by Spiff
Ranchers say border boundaries not always clear
May 17, 2006 07:22 AM PDT
(Video available at above link)
Is it possible to accidentally end up in Mexico? Some cattle ranchers in Southern Arizona say, "Yes."
They say there are no clear borders on their land and it's hard to tell when you've stepped into another country.
"If I fix it, they'll just cut it again," says cattle rancher Bob Heilig who owns 13,000 acres.
That's about nineteen square miles of land that borders Mexico; land that, he says, is hard to contain.
"Snip, snip, snip and they just go right on through," Heilig says of illegal immigrants who travel his ranch daily, carrying wire cutters.
Helig took News 4 on a tour, showing how easy it is to get lost because there are no clear markings dividing the border.
He says, "If you don't really know where you are, you could drive into Mexico and never know you were in Mexico."
News 4 tested it, and easily crossed into Mexico by stepping over a two-foot barbed wire fence, the same fence Heilig says goes at least thirty miles along the border.
Heilig says the most frustrating part for ranchers when fences are cut is that it's up to them to either fix the wire or lose their cattle.
His solution? "More of a fence. Or, a fence that needs to be patrolled. You can't begin to patrol this fence."
He says the old fence needs an upgrade because "It's not terribly secure."
I suppose.
Is it possible to accidently end up in the U.S., purchase fake ID, get a job, drive without a license, vote, enroll your children in school, get subsidized housing, get free health care, etc.?
Absolutely!
Move to Mexico and become a cattle thief, all you have do is cross over and snip the wire, ain't nobody going to do a thing about it. It kind of reminds me of Lonesome Dove.
Uh... They're here in Michigan.
I think there were some pretty clear signs before illigals got this far north.
Actually the US border runs a little further South if in doubt. Hehehehe.
Not in Texas, I'll bet...
Anybody who doesn't want to end up accidentally in another country should leave the wire cutters at home.
Those electrified fences worked really well in Jurassic Park.
ping
Call the Israeli company that is building their wall. I have seen pics of it going up and I don't think they will be getting through that one with wire cutters.
Besides that, the Israeli wall is almost done. The people who have done it have obviously gained a lot of experience on how to build it fast and efficiently.
Let's get them over here and let them put that good experience to use.
GPS
You were being funny- but cattle and horses do disappear here on the border; a rancher friend of ours lost over 30 horses a couple years ago. Another man lost over 100 head of cattle one time, big trail going into Mexico. Another rancher had an entire windmill stolen years ago, but he personally went to Mexico, tracked it down and got it back. He didn't have anything else stolen.LOL
This kind of thing has been happening here forever, it always amazes people who move here from away from the border. I have a neighbor that moved here from Oregon and she is convinced this is the wild west. I am sure when this was the wild west it happened every week instead of every once in a while like it does now.
It's true if ranchers don't keep up the fences there is no fences. No one else maintains the fences, except in the very few areas where the Government has put up fences. Most of the border is just barb wire range fence and it is falling down.
You can't shoot someone for simple trespass or even defiant trespass. In most states, someone has to be committing an apparent felony in order to even engage in a citizens' arrest.
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As I said, "Not in Texas"...
All that is needed to "post" Texas property as "No Trespassing Allowed" is splashes of purple paint on fenceposts, trees, etc. near eye level. Note that this constitutes a legal "no tresspass" boundary -- even if the fence wire is down or cut.
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Here is the applicable Texas law -- from
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/PE/content/htm/pe.002.00.000009.00.htm
§ 9.41. PROTECTION OF ONE'S OWN PROPERTY. (a) A person in lawful possession of land or tangible, movable property is justified in using force against another when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the other's trespass on the land or unlawful interference with the property. (b) A person unlawfully dispossessed of land or tangible, movable property by another is justified in using force against the other when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to reenter the land or recover the property if the actor uses the force immediately or in fresh pursuit after the dispossession and: (1) the actor reasonably believes the other had no claim of right when he dispossessed the actor; or (2) the other accomplished the dispossession by using force, threat, or fraud against the actor. Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, § 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.§ 9.42. DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT PROPERTY. A person is justified in using deadly force against another to protect land or tangible, movable property: (1) if he would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.41; and (2) when and to the degree he reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary: (A) to prevent the other's imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, theft during the nighttime, or criminal mischief during the nighttime; or (B) to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the nighttime from escaping with the property; and (3) he reasonably believes that: (A) the land or property cannot be protected or recovered by any other means; or (B) the use of force other than deadly force to protect or recover the land or property would expose the actor or another to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, § 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994. <.blockquote>
IOW, this Ol' Texan is going to avoid setting foot on anyone else's land -- especially at night -- unless
- I have specific permission to be there.
- I have made certain that the owner knows that I have availed myself of that permission
For example, I have permission to fish lots of small farm ponds. But, if the owner isn't home when I stop by to inform him that I will be on his place -- I go someplace else to fish... Just common courtesy -- and common sense...
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