Bush declines to meet with border officials

San Bernardino Sun ^ | 06/16/2006 | Sara A. Carter

[Small-L]

President Bush has refused to meet with border law-enforcement officials from Texas for a second time. His response to their request came in the form of a letter Monday, angering both lawmakers and sheriffs.

In fact, some Republican members of the House, upset by what they call the administration's seeming lack of concern for border security, are preparing to hold investigative hearings in San Diego and Laredo, Texas, early next month.

Members of the House Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation hope to expose serious security flaws that could potentially lead to terrorist attacks in the country, said Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, who is a member of the panel and has pushed for the hearings.

"The next terrorist is not going to come in through (Transportation Security Administration) screening at Kennedy airport," Poe said. "We already have information that people from the Middle East have come through the border from Mexico. They assimilate in Mexico learning to speak Spanish and adopt customs and then they cross the border into the United States."

Poe requested the meeting for members of the Southwestern Sheriffs' Border Coalition a group that includes all 26 border-county sheriffs from California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. The sheriffs wanted to speak to the president about the increasing dangers in their communities and along the border.

"The president is the busiest man in the world but he needs to take the time to talk to the border sheriffs and learn what's happening in the real world from them," Poe said. "We can't understand why he refuses to meet with them."

In May, all of the Republican House members from Texas traveled to Washington to meet the president regarding border security. Bush did not meet with them, however, and former White House spokesman Scott McClellan was sent in his stead.

Poe said the White House letter dated Monday showed the disconnect between the administration and the American people who want the border secured.

"The president would appreciate the opportunity to visit with border sheriffs," said the White House letter written by La Rhonda M. Houston, deputy director of the Office of Appointments and Scheduling. "Regrettably, it will not be possible for us to arrange such a meeting. I know that you understand with the tremendous demands of the president's time, he must often miss special opportunities, as is the case this time."

Rick Glancey, spokesman for the sheriffs coalition, said its members are angry and disappointed in the president's response. Glancey said Bush's recent tour of the border with Border Patrol spokesmen did not reflect the reality of what locals live with every day.

"It's a slap in the face to the hardworking men and women on the front lines of rural America who every day engage in border-security issues," Glancey said. "He missed the opportunity to take off his White House cowboy boots and put some real cowboy boots on and walk in our shoes for a few minutes."

The border hearings will expose the truth to the American public and force the administration to take a serious look at the border, said Allan Knapp, Poe's legislative director.

Knapp and Poe have traveled twice to the border this year, spending time along barren stretches where they witnessed no security and numerous migrants crossing into the United States, they said.

"We need to expose the lack of border security before it is too late," Poe said. "We're fighting a war on terror in Iraq and we're winning, but we're losing our own border war. These hearings will be a necessary step in the right direction."

Andy Ramirez, chairman of the Chino-based Friends of the Border Patrol, said he has been called to testify before the panel in San Diego. Ramirez said he has turned in two years of Border Patrol documents and memos, which he will discuss before the committee.

"The president has basically pushed his whole administration's agenda toward the war on terror, yet he can't find the time to meet with law-enforcement leaders responsible for border security," Ramirez said. "It is appalling and outrageous that the war on terror and border security does not extend to the U.S. border."

[TexasTaysor]

Is this for real? Or did someone do some computer work to "create" this?

[calex59]

This is the same foolishness the NAACP uses in suggesting because GWB doesn't meet with them...that he clearly doesn't support minorities, blah, blah, blah.

Anyone, including you, who thinks the Pres is serious about border control is simply blind to the facts. Rant all you want, spin, whine and scream but President Bush wants an open border, both north and south, and he wants to give all the criminals who have come here illegally to have amnesty. It is plain to anyone who will open their minds to what is really going on here.

This issue is the big one for right now and probably will be for some years to come. The President and the both houses had better get with the program if they want republicans to hold seats for long.

If I have offended you by implying you are an idiot, who cares? I certainly don't, because the future of this country is at stake and we need to stop this illegal alien BS now, with serious law enforcement of our existing laws, or we are going to be minus many freedoms very soon. Talking nice to idiots who can't see that simple fact is not on my agenda.

[Bikers4Bush]

Excellent, thanks.

[TomGuy]

Don't link to that video of Bush waving the Mexican flag, because it so upsets the Bushbots.



lol

[MarkL]

Um, because they are beneath him? I wonder if they were the leaders of La Raza or Mecha demanding a meeting he'd clear some time?

He certainly had plenty of time for meeting with Vinnie the Fox...

Mark

[TexasTaysor]

That is what I heard him say on Fox this morning also. That's why I went to his website to find something in writing.

[Grendel9]

The President is the Commander=in=Chief
of the ARMED FORCES...not the Border Patrol,
which falls under the auspices of the
STATE GOVERNORS. If Bush were to send
SOLDIERS to the border, that could be
interpretted as an act of aggression by
the Mexican govt. And believe it, there
are those in Congress who would LOVE to
see the Pres. do something just that dull-
witted!
Bush has been in contact with the govs.
of each of those states. THAT'S the
extent of his prerogative for action.
Have these sheriffs put their case before
their governors? The chain of command
must be within protocol; otherwise, Bush
is open for criticism re over-riding his
powers. He's already received gubernatorial
assent for his plan to send thousands of
STATE National Guardsmen to the border.
He is curtailed from doing more LEGALLY.

http://www.arng.army.mil/about_us/aiding_america.asp
Poe requested the meeting for members of the Southwestern Sheriffs' Border Coalition a group that includes all 26 border-county sheriffs from California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. The sheriffs wanted to speak to the president about the increasing dangers in their communities and along the border.

[A Troop 1-14 Cav]

(He certainly had plenty of time for meeting with Vinnie the Fox...)


Hey now, everyone has their priorities.

[MarkL]

Congressman Culberson said, "Unfortunately, the Administration signed a totalization agreement with Mexico on June 29, 2004, and the White House will not let Congress see it

It seems to me that this is a financial issue, and the president has NO constitutional authority to do something like this. IIRC, ALL financial obligations of the US Government MUST originate in the House.

Mark

[TomGuy]

Is this for real? Or did someone do some computer work to "create" this?

That video? It was on the RNC official website (it may even still be there). They (RNC) released it for the 04 election cycle --- but only in heavily Hispanic areas.

[dirtboy]

But, you see, The President already knows what they'll say, so what's the point of the meeting, then.

Perhaps to address their valid concerns? I don't know about you, but I think it's a big deal when Mexican troops cross into this country to support drug smuggling - and threaten law enforcement officers as well. Bush should be unleashing hell upon anyone who tries such.

[Grendel9]

BTW, if the local sheriffs are aware
of terrorists slipping through the
border, you can bet the President
of the nation is also aware...without
being told by them.

[Bikers4Bush]

The border patrol is controlled by the feds, not state governors.

The FEDERAL GOVERNMENT is responsible for the borders and it's Bush's job to secure it.

[Spice]

Why should Bush meet with sheriffs and others who protect our borders. In 2010, if Bush gets his way, he will have permanently erased our borders with Mexico and will have destroyed America's sovereignty with his "North American Union" shadow government. Bush has no intentions of ever protecting this border. Bush is just passing time placating people until the 2006 elections are done, then he will complete his plan to give away our country to the New World Order.

[TomGuy]

That is what I heard him say on Fox this morning also. That's why I went to his website to find something in writing.

I was going to try to web-search it, but my internet connection went down about that same time, and I forgot about it until I saw your post about SocSec and recalled the Rep's comment.

[dirtboy]

not the Border Patrol, which falls under the auspices of the STATE GOVERNORS.

Gawd, last I checked, the BP was part of Homeland Security, which is under Bush's command.

That's a pretty poor Bush apology even by the limited standards for such on this issue.

[stephenjohnbanker]

You got that right. Fox oughta take a room in the White House because he is running it.

[MineralMan]

"Perhaps to address their valid concerns? I don't know about you, but I think it's a big deal when Mexican troops cross into this country to support drug smuggling - and threaten law enforcement officers as well. Bush should be unleashing hell upon anyone who tries such."

Well, he did go down there, right? Didn't they see that on the TV? I think that President Bush has made himself quite clear on the issue. I can't imagine how anyone could be confused as to his intentions with regard to illegal immigration from Mexico. I mean, he did send some NG troops, right?

[TomGuy]

Did you see that report later in morning of FoxNews about the border security concerns via Puerto Rico?

I never thought about it, but they are getting flooded with boatloads of illegals. Reason: Once they come ashore, they can just about travel to mainland USA without any problem or identification requirements.

[af_vet_rr]

Lots of folks want meetings with the President of the United States. Few get them.

Like athletes that have won championships - they are much more important than the people tasked with protecting the communities who bear the brunt of the illegal entries.