EXCLUSIVE: Federal Agents Told to Reduce Border Arrests, Arizona Sheriff Says

Fox News ^ | April 01, 2011 | Jana Winter

[moonshinner_09]

An Arizona sheriff says U.S. Border Patrol officials have repeatedly told him they have been ordered to reduce -- at times even stop -- arrests of illegal immigrants caught trying to cross the U.S. border.

Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever told FoxNews.com that a supervisor with the U.S. Border Patrol told him as recently as this month that the federal agency’s office on Arizona's southern border was under orders to keep apprehension numbers down during specific reporting time periods.

“The senior supervisor agent is telling me about how their mission is now to scare people back,” Dever said in an interview with FoxNews.com. “He said, ‘I had to go back to my guys and tell them not to catch anybody, that their job is to chase people away. … They were not to catch anyone, arrest anyone. Their job was to set up posture, to intimidate people, to get them to go back.”

Dever said his recent conversation with the Border Patrol supervisor was the latest in a series of communications on the subject that he has had with various federal agents over the last two years. Dever said he plans to relay the substance of these conversations when he testifies under oath next month before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

“I will raise my hand to tell the truth and swear to God, and nothing is more serious or important than that,” he said. “I’m going to tell them that, here’s what I hear and see every day: I had conversation with agent A, B, C, D and this is what they told me.”

[moonshinner_09]

More signs of what hope and change brings !

[antceecee]

When does this go from hope and change to treason and dereliction of duty?????

[AlexW]

Obamies numbers are tanking...needs more illegal voters
for his illegal presidency.

[blondee123]

Yep, was just going to post “Bozo needs more votes!”

[count-your-change]

Some poor wretch pays thousands of dollars, walks three days across the worst landscape imaginable with fifty pounds of drugs on his back because he's been told ‘it's the silver or the lead’, and this guy is going to be intimidated how?
Maybe “no trespassing” signs and educational brochures? Or in my my best Judge Dredd voice, “I yam da lawww” warning?

[SECURE AMERICA]

The federal government enforces the laws they want and ignores others..
I wish I could say I was shocked........

[Brad from Tennessee]

Department of Homeland Security may want to reduce the number of arrests to create the illusion that fewer illegals are entering the U.S. due to DHS’s heightened efforts. Like Operation Fast and Furious it's a political scam.

[pepsionice]

We just need a law that says you need to obey the law...and that would fix everything.

[sheik yerbouty]

Butch Incompetento used her butchest voice in issuing the orders..

[Puckster]

“We just need a law that says you need to obey the law...and that would fix everything.”

We just need a law that says “Government Agencies” must also obey the law...and that would fix everything.

Just a refinement on an already solid idea.....let’s hope it’s a catchy idea.

[PowderMonkey]

They won't arrest because they simply can't. It's a human tsunami flowing Northward because our “leadership” in Washington won't defend the border. ‘Tis the season. From here until summer arrives, the number of illegals crossing the border will reach upwards of 50,000 per month. On foot. Unopposed. Solution? Impeachment followed by immediate removal from office. Now.

[bikerman]

at times even stop — arrests of illegal immigrants caught trying to cross the U.S. border

at times even stop — arrests of Democrat voters caught
trying to cross the U.S. border. (FIXED)

[freekitty]

I would tell the Feds to stick their heads you know where.

[GlockThe Vote]

Bump.

[Roccus]

“The senior supervisor agent is telling me about how their mission is now to scare people back,”

[Moltke]

Think I’ll skip most of today’s stories...

[Vinnie]

.....reduce the number of arrests to create the illusion that fewer illegals are entering the U.S. due to DHS’s heightened efforts. Like Operation Fast and Furious it's a political scam.

Bingo !

Expect Totus to point to his slowing down the illegal transient problem.

[Zeppo]

Nothing to see here.

When Obama finally swore to “faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States”, he had his fingers crossed.

[alexandria]

“We do not know who’s crossing that border, but that anyone who wants to can. That’s the message our nation needs to hear, that anyone who wants to can, and is. And our own Department of Homeland Security does not have clear definition of what securing the border even means," Dever said.

I know that the DHS needs to be exposed as the corrupt office it is but I cringe at the above statement being read by thousands of potential new border jumpers and their families/friends already here.

[HiJinx]

Ping!