Border Patrol Locked out of Indian Reservation Known for Mexican Drug Trafficking

Judicial Watch ^ | May 24, 2016

[jazusamo]

An Indian reservation along the Mexican border is prohibiting the Border Patrol from entering its land, which is a notorious smuggling corridor determined by the U.S. government to be a “High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).” Homeland Security sources tell Judicial Watch that the road in the southeast corner of the reservation has been cordoned off by a barbed wired gate to keep officers out. A hand-written cardboard sign reading “Closed, Do Not Open” has been posted on the fence. “This is the location used most for trafficking drugs into the country,” a Border Patrol source told JW, adding that agents assigned to the area are “livid.”

The tribe, Tohono O’odham, created the barricade a few weeks ago, Border Patrol sources tell JW, specifically to keep agents out of the reservation which is located in the south central Arizona Sonoran Desert and shares about 75 miles of border with Mexico. The reservation terrain consists largely of mountains and desert making it difficult to patrol. For years it has appeared on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) HIDTA list because it’s a significant center of illegal drug production, manufacturing, importation and distribution. The reservation is a primary transshipment zone for methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana destined for the United States, a DEA official revealed in congressional testimony a few years ago. In 2015 Arizona led all four Border Patrol sectors in drug seizures with 928,858 pounds of drugs confiscated, according to agency figures.

The relationship between the Border Patrol and the tribe has been stormy over the years, with accusations of human rights violations by federal agents and allegations that the agents’ presence has implemented a police state. Though only 75 miles runs along the Mexican border, the reservation is about 2.8 million acres or roughly the size of Connecticut and has about 30,000 members. The tribe’s official website says that nine of its communities are located in Mexico and they are separated by the United States/Mexico border. “In fact, the U.S.-Mexico border has become an artificial barrier to the freedom of the Tohono O’odham,” the tribe claims. “On countless occasions, the U.S. Border Patrol has detained and deported members of the Tohono O’odham Nation who were simply traveling through their own traditional lands, practicing migratory traditions essential to their religion, economy and culture. Similarly, on many occasions U.S. Customs have prevented Tohono O’odham from transporting raw materials and goods essential for their spirituality, economy and traditional culture. Border officials are also reported to have confiscated cultural and religious items, such as feathers of common birds, pine leaves or sweet grass.”

A New York Times story published years ago explained that tightening of border security to the east and west after the 9/11 terrorist attacks funneled more drug traffic through the Tohono O’odham reservation. This created a need for more Border Patrol officers to be deployed to the crime-infested area. The article also revealed that tribe members are complicit in the trafficking business. “Hundreds of tribal members have been prosecuted in federal, state or tribal courts for smuggling drugs or humans, taking offers that reach $5,000 for storing marijuana or transporting it across the reservation,” the article states. “In a few families, both parents have been sent to prison, leaving grandparents to raise the children.” The drug smugglers work mainly for the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, the piece revealed.

Nevertheless, federal officers have been told by Homeland Security superiors that they can’t cut the new wire fence obstacle to access the reservation even though it sits in the Border Patrol’s busiest drug sector. Perhaps the U.S. government can use money to force compliance. The Tohono O’odham recently got a huge chunk of change from Uncle Sam, $2.75 million, to build single-family homes for its largely poor tribe members. Maybe the feds can withhold future allocations for the tribe’s various projects until it allows Border Patrol officers to do their job. In the meantime, a veteran Arizona law enforcement officer who’s worked in the region for decades says “a little wire and a small gate can cause huge security problems.”

[HiTech RedNeck]

Sounds like what Trump would do. And catch the problem on the American side. People are getting their feathers ruffled over nothing.

[Thibodeaux]

resume the war, send in the cavalry with the tanks

[dware]

It's complicated.

I worked for 2 different Tribes for a number of years. It's only as complicated as the Tribes allow. It's real simple: Sovereign Nation means Sovereign Nation. When one Sovereign Nation can tell another Sovereign Nation what to do, how to do it, when to do it, etc., then one of those Nations is not sovereign, period.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Unless the tribe is the only consumer of the illegales and the merchandise, highly implausible, it has to leave the reservation at some point. So sit there and watch.

[jazusamo]

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[Ditter]

Beautiful country, we have driven through there. I hate it that this crap is going on there.

[Hulka]

The agreement allows the indians to pass through the fence at designated gates, gates not manned and are simply there for convenience tor the indians when they cross. Sometimes the indians jump the fence to avoid walking to a gate, and that gets them a stern talking to from the BP. . .but that is it.

[DIRTYSECRET]

I’m surprised there are no health care facilities on tribal lands. Get away from government encroachment. Guess Casinos are more profitable.

[Hulka]

I believe that number is based on a report from 2006. Since then, the Ajo BP Station has increased from 75 Agents to over 400 Agents. . .and the number of illegal aliens has dropped off significantly and they now jump the border far out west, off reservation property.

[AlaskaErik]

No one likes the Border Patrol, me included, but this is ridiculous.

I like the Border Patrol and have no objection to their check points. I've gone through them many a time. I've also talked with a lot of BP agents and they all hate Obama's interference with their duties.

[xrmusn]

When you see about ‘poor Indians’ on their reservations one must wonder what is happening to ALL the Casino Money?

They must have taken lessons from the US Govt on how to skim the Lottery Money that is supposedly for the ‘children’ and education BUT the taxes keep going up despite the ‘tax’ the citizens are paying when buying lottery tickets.

I say tax because 1/2 the money going into the fund doesn’t come back to the ‘players’ AND when one wins, the various Governments takes its cut from YOUR winnings.

Want to retire the debt?

Have all taxpayers give an extra 1(?) dollar per month/week or whatever and hold a NATIONAL lottery, with a 60% winnings going to the winners, tax free with your ticket being YOUR Social Security Number.

Got 9 #s to play with- have all kinds of payoffs, no outlets, no machines, and it could get interesting when YOU, Ivan & HoseA & HoseB & Muhammed et al show up with the same SS #.

Oh yes, immediate deportation of the phony holders, lose all assets and never be allowed back.
Arrest on spot, take to holding, deport.

[WMarshal]

If the tribe won’t police the border with Mexico then cut off all federal aid to the tribe and start enforcing the tribe’s borders like you would Mexico.

[Hulka]

“No one likes the Border Patrol, me included, but this is ridiculous.”

I like them, in fact, love one of them. . .my son. Like many more as I’ve met many of his peers and they are great stand-up brave young men that fearlessly wander the desert seeking the drug smugglers and human smugglers. . .and usually without a partner. Back-up can be over an hour away.

Son’s been injured on the job fighting illegals and shot a drug smuggler that tried to kill him. . .

A sincere question: Just how far from the border can a BP Agent ask someone if they are an American citizen?
100yrds?
A mile?
Is just clearing the fence enough to make them “home free.”

“Those internal checkpoints are absolutely illegal and immoral.”

Supreme Court Case Law: http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/428/543.html

BP checkpoints are legal as it stands.

If you argue they are not legal, petition Congress to write a new law or petition the Supreme Court to change its ruling because we know Supreme Court rulings can ‘evolve.’ Until that happens, they are legal.

[Tammy8]

Maybe. Or maybe the BP has been doing something wrong to get locked out. Several of the ranchers here have locked them out at one time or another, usually for leaving gates open allowing livestock to get out. BP does not always do a good job training their agents, some of them play 4-wheeler games with the BP vehicles tearing up land. Some leave gates open or cut fences while in pursuit and don’t notify anyone the fence is cut.

Often when BP has bad manners they get locked out until they learn some manners.

[dware]

If the tribe won’t police the border with Mexico then cut off all federal aid to the tribe and start enforcing the tribe’s borders like you would Mexico.

Absolutely.

[dontBSme]

RE: Sovereign Nation” - I’ve also worked directly for two, and consulted for an even dozen others. Their attorneys have told me, without exception, that they are, with few exceptions, “Dependent nations” subject to the laws of the U S. One gave me two concrete examples: (1) Tribes cannot enter into treaties with foreign countries;, and (2) Tribes cannot issue monies that will be recognized outside their federally recognized boundaries.

[Hulka]

“I’m surprised there are no health care facilities on tribal lands.”

There are: https://www.ihs.gov/Tucson/healthcarefacilities/sanxavier/

[kaehurowing]

Isn’t this the tribe Fauxchohantas is from?

[Tammy8]

I want to add when BP is locked out or not allowed to travel a private road they still legally have access, but cannot take a vehicle into the restricted property.

BP needs to do more training before they send the agents out in the field. Most show up acting as though they personally own everything and can do as they please. The BP that have been on the job for a while understand having manners and getting along.

I respect and appreciate the BP, as most people I know on the border do. We see first hand how hard most of them work and what a dangerous, thankless job it is. There are always a few bad apples and more training of new agents would help most of the hard feelings.

[Hulka]

“Or maybe the BP has been doing something wrong to get locked out.”

The reservation is not gated.

The indians are angry at losing drug revenue and getting their drug-assisting toothless-mouth-breathers locked up.