BUMP!!
Posted on 03/09/2003 1:05:17 PM PST by madfly
Tribe to host hearing on border issues
By Jonathan J. Higuera
If you go
- What: Congressional hearing
- When: Monday, 10 a.m.
- Where: Tohono O'odham tribal offices in Sells
- How to get there: From Tucson, take Ajo Way to Arizona 86. Travel 60 miles to Sells. Once there, take the business loop and follow the signs to the Tribal Council Chambers.
For more information, call the chamber at (520) 383-2028.
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
The Tohono O'odham Nation will host a hearing Monday at which three U.S. congressmen will hear testimony about the growing problem of drug smugglers and illegal border crossers along the nation's 75-mile border with Mexico.
The House Government Reform subcommittee on criminal justice, drug policy and human resources will hold a field hearing at the tribe's council chambers in Sells.
The hearing, initiated by subcommittee Chairman Mark Souder, R-Ind., is part of a series of meetings to address illegal migration and drug smuggling on all of the country's borders - and the first to be held on an Indian reservation.
Two other congressmen - who are not members of the subcommittee but who have shown interest in border issues - will also be present. Reps. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., and John Shadegg R-Ariz., plan to attend.
"We're not zeroing in on Indian reservation issues alone but that's certainly one of the areas we need to have control of to protect the sovereignty of the Indian nation and the U.S.," said Souder, whose subcommittee also held a hearing in Sierra Vista last year.
Last year the panel put out a 100-page report that summarized findings from earlier hearings.
A follow-up report will be released later this year.
Witnesses expected to testify include representatives from the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs (now part of the Department of Homeland Security), the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Tohono O'odham Nation.
Tohono O'odham leaders are expected to seek more federal funding to combat the surging illegal activity caused by drug and people smugglers.
"With these other border towns being shut down, it has redirected the flow of illegal activity through here," said Tohono O'odham Police Chief Richard Saunders. "Narcotics and people smuggling is not our primary mission. It is a federal law enforcement responsibility."
Saunders said that in the first two months of this year, local police officers have seized more than 17,000 pounds of drugs, a marked increase from several years ago.
"This has been ongoing for years," he said. "We're just seeing record numbers the last two years.
Souder said he wants to hear about the impact of illegal drug smuggling and border crossers on park lands.
The hearing in Sells is making good on a promise to the family of slain National Park Service Ranger Kris Eggle, he added.
"I promised them I would hold a hearing out there," Souder said. Eggle was killed Aug. 9 at Organ Pipe National Monument while chasing two men suspected by Mexican officials of killing four men over a drug debt.
Shadegg, who along with Souder was recently named to the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, said he wants the hearing to show how strengthening border enforcement in one area moves the routes to less protected areas.
"We ought to have a more comprehensive view on how we deal with all the border west of Nogales," he said.
Hope that some Freepers can make this meeting on such short notice! Once again Cong. Tancredo is in our state to address the increasing problems at the border and Arizona cities.
BUMP!!
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/local/3_8_03hearing.html
LUKE TURF
Tucson Citizen
March 8, 2003Three congressmen are expected at a hearing about law enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border and the drug trade's impact.
Tancredo's visit spawned a protest by Tucson-based Derechos Humanos, an immigration reform group. illegal alien support group and advocate of open borders.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0309AzinDC09.html
Grijalva won't be there
Shadegg, Arizona's only member on the new U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, will be among those at a congressional field hearing on Monday in Sells on "The Impact of the Drug Trade on Border Security and National Parks."
However, Rep. Raul Grijalva, a freshman Democrat whose district includes Sells, won't attend, although he has generated headlines - and controversy - for his efforts to get federal authorities to crack down on border vigilantism, which he has termed "a racist movement." His spokeswoman, Natalie Luna, blamed scheduling conflicts with Monday meetings in Washington, insisting the congressman would like to be at the field hearing.
Open to the public, the hearing is set for 10 a.m. at the Tohono O'odham Nation Legislative Council Chambers. The focus is to be on law enforcement along the Arizonan-Mexican border, particularly in the national parks. In August 2002, U.S. Park Ranger Kris Eggle was killed by drug smugglers in Organ Pipe National Monument.
Although Grijalva can't attend, his office released a statement saying is concerned about the health of children and law enforcement personnel, and that "the federal government must work in partnership with the local Arizona border communities and nations to do everything we can to stem the flow of drugs."
He doesn't seem to be too interested in the flow of illegal aliens.
I'd be curious what per capita proportion of "bad" drug consumers they are. This could suggest a way for doddering old Uncle Sam to kill two birds with one stone, hint hint hint
I was introduced to Rep. Tancredo before the dinner and had some moments to speak with him. I told him that lacking appropriate representation from our current congressman, RINO Kolbe, that we consider Tom Tancredo our "honorary" representative in Washington. He said that my sentiment was shared by many that he has spoken to in southeast Arizona.
Along with 99.9% of voters. Throwing your support Tancy's way is laughable.
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