Bandits in Cop Cars; But Napolitano Isn’t Listening, Arizona Sheriff Says

CNSNews ^ | December 16, 2010 | Susan Jones

[jazusamo]

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.
(CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)

(CNSNews.com) - Paul Babeu, the sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, says give him half an hour, and he could tell President Obama how to secure the U.S. border with Mexico -- if only the president and other administration officials would listen to him.

Babeu joked that he must be on the White House “do not call” list, even though he’s the president of the Sheriff’s Association for the State of Arizona.

In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Babeu lamented the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol agent on Tuesday at the hands of “bandits” – illegal aliens in the U.S. who steal from cartel members who sneak drugs into the United States.

It’s an ongoing problem, Babeu said: “We had just this past weekend other bandits that are using what appear to be a police car – with lights and sirens, red and blue lights, push bumper, spotlights – that are stopping vehicles, trying to steal drugs from cartel members -- in my county.”

Yet Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano doesn’t talk to him, Babeu said – “because we have a different opinion than her about the reality of what our country is facing.”

Babeu knows exactly what he would tell Napolitano and the president – if they would listen to him or accept his invitation to “come see what we’re facing.”

“We need 6, 000 armed soldiers,” Babeu said. “We need to build and complete the double barrier fences that he suspended – stopped the construction; and then, a novel concept – we need to enforce the law. You come into America, you’re breaking America’s laws – you’re apprechended then you’re formally deported. You come back into our country illegally, you’re going to prison.  Those three things…will secure our borders,” Babeu told Fox News.

As things stand now, neither President Obama nor Janet Napolitano has spoken to Babeu, despite his efforts to get them on the phone – or to visit Pinal County in person.

He said Napolitano’s visit to Arizona today and tomorrow does not signal that the administration is taking the danger any more seriously: “Here we’ve heard nothing except that the border’s more secure than ever, unprecedented resources…”

On Tuesday, in a conference call with border sheriffs and police chiefs that did not include Babeu, Napolitano reviewed what the Homeland Security Department has done to boost border security in the past year.

It’s not enough, Babeu argues.

As CNSNews.com has reported, Napolitano's conference call came on the same day that Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was murdered near Nogales, Arizona.

Pinal County is in south-central Arizona, about 70 miles from the U.S. Mexico border, but it is along the drug corridor leading from Mexico to Phoenix.

Also see:
Sheriff Babeu: It’s ‘An Outrage’ Obama Stopped Building Border Fence (Aug. 26, 2010)
Arizona Sheriff Says Cops Are Being Killed by Illegal Aliens; Joins Call for U.S. Troops at Border (Apr. 20, 2010)
Arizona Sheriff: ‘Our Own Government Has Become Our Enemy’ (Aug. 1, 2010)
Arizona Now Has ‘Whopping 30’ National Guard Troops and 15 Billboard Signs Warning Citizens About Drug Cartels (Sept. 1, 2010)

[jazusamo]

It's criminal that Obama and Napolitano ignore Sheriffs that are in the middle of the fight to protect Americans.

[Nachum]

The list, ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[K-oneTexas]

Why would Janet ‘Big Sis’ Napolitano and the Obama Administration listen to anyone. To hear them tell it ... they have ALL the answers.

It is a shame that they haven’t a CLUE as to the proper questions to ask.

[edcoil]

“Paul Babeu, the sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, says give him half an hour, and he could tell President Obama how to secure the U.S. border with Mexico”

Is it the law or policy stopping this sheriff from doing his job? If law he should help change it, if policy then the failure is his fault.

It’s his border, he is on the ground, he is in charge and defines the policy.

[umgud]

Paul Babeu, the sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona...... the man who will some day take over for Joe Arpio.

[mo]

Really...why Arizona residents bother to pay Federal taxes...I can’t imagine.

South Korean sleep tight on their borders due to the US Military and US Taxpayer...why can’t Arizonans?

[WOBBLY BOB]

Some Ranger patrols in this canyon would clear up turf disputes real quick.

[thethirddegree]

Obama needs to be impeached, tried for treason and brought to justice for the harm he has done to America.

[jazusamo]

the man who will some day take over for Joe Arpio.

Yes, and he's a worthy man indeed.

[SeeSac]

Is it the law or policy stopping this sheriff from doing his job? If law he should help change it, if policy then the failure is his fault. It’s his border, he is on the ground, he is in charge and defines the policy.

He says it needs the fence completed and 6000 armed men to hold the US border. He has no authority over the fence and he has no budget for 6000 armed men.

[edcoil]

If we have a proper fence, why 6,000 men

[WOBBLY BOB]

if we have a border-long minefield, a lot less men would be needed.

[Dick Bachert]

I have a dream!

BE STILL MY HEART!

[sean327]

“Is it the law or policy stopping this sheriff from doing his job? If law he should help change it, if policy then the failure is his fault.”

What the hell are you talking about? All of the sheriffs in the border counties of Az are doing their job. They are out manned and out gunned by the smugglers. Have you not been paying attention? The border sheriffs have all been screaming about this. Babeu has been front and center on this issue from day one. He has had deputies shot by these animals. He needs the damn federal govt to start doing it’s job.

[NorCoGOP]

You come into America, you’re breaking America’s laws – you’re apprechended (sic) then you’re formally deported. You come back into our country illegally, you’re going to prison.

This will NEVER work.

You know why?

It's common sense.

Democrats legislated Common Sense out of existance about 40 years ago...

[old curmudgeon]

Sure.

He should build the fence, launch his UV’s, put his 6,000 deputies to work...

You have it all figured out.

[thethirddegree]

Great pic! Now we need one with Obamabitch and his Bubba

[Spok]

Like Clinton’s women, our border states are being sacrificed to the political agenda of the left.

[jazusamo]

You’re right...Until we get a president and enough people on the Hill that don’t hate America to put some common sense back into legislation it won’t change.

[donna]

Pinal County, Arizona isn’t even on the Mexican border.

The county to the south, Pima, is being run by illegal aliens already from what I can tell.