Posted on 11/18/2005 8:38:02 PM PST by King Dopplepopolous
COLUMBUS, N.M. – The U.S. Border Patrol is getting help from the U.S. Army to slow illegal immigration along New Mexico's southern border. Armored vehicles from a reconnaissance squadron based in Fort Lewis, Wash., were stationed along a 20-mile stretch of a highway between Columbus and Playas on Thursday, watching for illegal immigrants.
Some of the vehicles with the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment were equipped with mounted machine guns and long-range surveillance equipment.
Border Patrol spokesman Doug Mosier said the surveillance mission isn't unusual and was planned last year.
"These military resources provide more eyes and ears as force multipliers to help us with our mission," Mosier said.
The operation is the latest in a series of steps to tighten security between Deming and Lordsburg, the busiest route in New Mexico for illegal immigrants and smugglers. Other steps include the addition of more Border Patrol agents and the temporary assignment of state police officers to the Columbus area.
Members of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps have also been watching the Hatchita area this month.
"We're happy to see them," Minuteman spokesman Gary Cole said of the Army troops. "We hope they're here for a long time."
As members of the National Guard and active duty military units have done in the past, the troops provide surveillance of illegal immigrants for Border Patrol agents.
Lt. Andrew Kennedy considers the mission training for the troops. He added that it frees up Border Patrol assets.
Citing security and safety concerns, Mosier declined to disclose the number of troops involved and how long the mission would last.
The operation was arranged by Joint Task Force North, a Fort Bliss, Texas-based group that coordinates military homeland security support for law enforcement agencies.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20051021-0933-wst-bordersurveillance.html
This is a good thing... this is what the Minutemen having been working for.... now lets get Arizona, Texas, and California covered too!
Uh, the military is now on the border?
I would like to see confirmation of this.
Interesting, for a first post. I am wary of this.
If you go to the Minuteman home page they have a couple of articles on this
Thanks, I will.
I am just stunned that the military has evidently been deployed along our border and not one talk show host mentioned it? Of course, I may have missed that.
Talking heads won't discuss it in the MSM... simply for the fact that it proves there is a problem on the border... Fox has covered it briefly..
ome of the vehicles with the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment were equipped with mounted machine guns
Use um...
The whole story ran in the Albuquerque Journal about 2 weeks ago. Had pictures of the Stryker vehicles that they are using. Apparently AP picked it up from ABQJournal. Richardson cut some sort of deal with Fort Bliss and got these guys in.
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