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Posted on 10/15/2011 11:07:03 PM PDT by Clairity
Aerial surveillance missions such as this one are part of Gov. Rick Perry's multifaceted law enforcement effort, which has operated along Texas' portion of the 2,000-mile-long U.S.-Mexico border for five years.
Unique to Texas, and put in place because of what Perry said was inadequate enforcement by the federal government, the operation is designed to marshal the forces of dozens of state, federal and local entities in a cooperative "boots-on-the ground" offensive in border counties.
The Republican governor has repeatedly cited the law enforcement effort as a display piece in his presidential campaign, while warning that drug violence from Mexico presents "a clear and present danger" to the United States.
The governor's critics accuse the Republican presidential candidate of fear-mongering to score political points and question the value of the law enforcement operation, which has cost more than $400 million since it started in 2006. Even those who live and work along the border differ on the intensity of the threat and whether spillover violence is real or imagined.
A recent report commissioned by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples and DPS Director Steve McCraw, both Perry allies, presents an ominous assessment, saying that Mexican cartels seek to establish a one-county-deep zone inside the Texas border to serve as a point to distribute drugs farther north.
The Obama administration, as well as Texas Democrats in Congress, say that conditions along the border are far more secure than the depiction by Perry and his supporters. In a speech this month, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that "security along the U.S. border with Mexico is at an apex, and, indeed, those who live and work along it say it is safe and open for business."
(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...
Unlike People who spout "fence, fence", "electrified fence", without having any understanding of the problem and what it really takes.
Perry ping
Perry’s record:
http://governor.state.tx.us/initiatives/border/
Governing Principle
There can be no homeland security without border security, and there can be no higher priority than protecting our citizens.
While our focus begins with preventing the worst of the violence currently raging in northern Mexico from spilling over into the United States, the violence is only part of the destruction that can result from a porous border. The free flow of drugs, weapons and people resulting from inadequate security can undercut economic development, education and trade. As such, they can hurt Texas families in every way imaginable, from loss of jobs to the loss of family members to addiction, imprisonment or death.
Border security is a federal responsibility but a Texas problem, and Texas has invested hundreds of millions of state dollars in efforts to support and supplement security forces already in place. Still, this is a problem that will only be solved with more federal accountability and involvement.
Highlights
— Starting in 2005 with Operation Linebacker, the state has sought to provide funding, manpower and equipment to local law enforcement agencies operating along the Texas-Mexico border.
— The state’s latest operation, Border Star, builds on the successes of previous operations with unprecedented local, state and federal law enforcement coordination. With the assistance of the 80th and 81st Legislatures, the State of Texas has been able to appropriate more than $110 million each session to fund and amplify these efforts.
— In response to a rising tide of gang violence in Texas communities, the Governor allocated $4 million in criminal justice grants to cities across the state to increase patrols of gang hotspots. In 2009, Gov. Perry worked to secure more than $10 million in state funding for enhanced anti-gang efforts during the 2010-11 biennium.
— In September 2009, Gov. Perry announced the formation of highly-skilled Ranger Recon Teams — which include Texas Rangers, Texas National Guard Counterdrug forces, Highway Patrol and DPS Aviation assets — in order to address threats building in the unincorporated areas along the Texas-Mexico border.
— Since early 2009, Gov. Perry has repeatedly called on Washington to authorize the deployment of 1,000 Title 32 National Guard soldiers to the Texas-Mexico border to support border security operations currently underway. (see letter to President Obama, letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and request to Defense Secretary Gates)
— Gov. Perry has also recommended an expeditious deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles to provide real-time surveillance and intelligence to law enforcement on the ground.
Look at this - - drug smugglers build tunnels, MANY tunnels
Mexico Drugs Smuggling: Tunnel Found Under US Border By ... news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/15302712 - United Kingdom Jun 12, 2009 – A huge drug smuggling tunnel discovered on the US-Mexico border is one of the most sophisticated the authorities have seen.
Mexican drug smugglers tunnel into parking spaces in Arizona town Daily Mail - 1 day ago They have found tunnels at metered parking spots in the town on International Street, just yards from the border fence. Drug runners would park their cars ...
Drug tunnel found under US-Mexico border - ABC News (Australian ... www.abc.net.au/news/2009.../drug-tunnel...mexico-border/1167440 Dec 3, 2009 – Mexican authorities have uncovered a 300-metre cross-border tunnel and arrested a dozen people working inside, the US Drug Enforcement ...
etc., etc., see original link for list
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The only thing to stop millions of illegals walking across the border is a double wall fence with electronic sensors in between, and armed guards to monitor the sensors. The fact is whatever Perry is doing is not working.
Tunnels take very long time to construct. Most tunnels get discovered. 99% of illegals do not come via tunnels.
Perry doesn’t have all the resouces, it is a job for the Feds. Perry asked for National Guard Troops from Obama, who wouldn’t even take Perry’s letter and refused to have a meeting with him on the subject.
Perry had done and is doing more to secure the border than any of the other governors of border states, and certainly more than the clueless other GOP candidates, who speak in slogans, without knowing what it really takes to secure the border.
Militarize the southern border, that’s the only option now. We can do it in Korea, why can’t we do it here? It won’t happen because too much money is changing hands by keeping the border open, and too many influential contributing parties stand a lot to lose by shutting down the border to illegal trafficking.
Exactly. I don’t get the “if it won’t stop every single illegal immigrant, we might as well do nothing.” There’s no way we’re EVER gonna stop ALL illegal immigrants, some are going to find a way no matter what we do. The fact of the matter is a physical and virtual fence with armed guards will stop 95%+ of illegal immigrants.
The US -Mexico border is “just a bit” longer than the border between N and S Korea. But indeed, as Perry wants to do, it takes “boots on the ground” to secure it. Unmanned walls and fences are useless.
We are talking about SECURING the border so they can’t get in, not trying to make every US citizen into an immigration enforcement agent, which doesn’t work.
The “Perry is for Open Borders” people here on FR aren’t gonna like this article, Clairity.
To say that Perry has done more to secure the border than Governor Susanna Martinez, let along Jan Brewer, is patently absurd.
LaRaza Ricky does not WANT it to work! His crony pals who employ and enjoy all of the ILLEGAL cheap labor he allows are fine with the way things are! Little Ricky Perrynista is every bit as bad as Mitt or Paul. How so many are fooled by this fraud is really a case.
An estimated 100,000 illegal immigrants have left Arizona. A Department of Homeland Security report on illegal immigrants estimates Arizona's illegal immigrant population peaked in 2008 at 560,000, and a year later dipped to 460,000.
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