Posted on 02/21/2007 7:44:09 PM PST by Tactical
Top Homeland Security official Michael Chertoff announced in Yuma on Tuesday that increases in Border Patrol agents in the summer will halt due to progress in constructing infrastructure along the border.
Chertoff said the federal Arizona Border Control Initiative, which started in 2004 to put more boots on the ground in an attempt to curb illegal entry and immigrant deaths, won't be necessary in 2008. The Department of Homeland Security secretary made the statement during a border tour with senators and congressmen from across the country and Yuma sector Border Patrol agents.
"We will no longer need to surge in this particular sector because we will have the problem under permanent control. And that's something that's going to mean a lot to the men and women who serve out here as well as to the communities along the border who have to live with illegal migration," he said.
Chertoff said now isn't the time to declare victory, but that clear progress is being made in securing the border. He and other politicians took turns welding pieces of the wall together near San Luis, Ariz., during their tour Tuesday.
Primary and secondary walls are being built in that area, which was previously controlled only by a small barbed-wire fence and the agents on patrol, according to Yuma sector Border Patrol spokesman Chris Van Wagenen.
Van Wagenen said the new walls and presence of the National Guard through Operation Jumpstart have drastically decreased the number of illegal aliens entering the country. He said apprehensions are down 65 percent - from 500 to 600 per day to 100 per day - since Jumpstart began.
"It does my heart good to see this," Van Wagenen said of the fence.
In Mexico, the sentiment is not the same. Mexican government officials, including President Felipe Calderon and border rights groups, decried the decision by Congress to approve the building of 700 miles of fence on the southern border. While Chertoff said many remote areas will use new technology, such as sensors and unmanned aircraft, rather than physical fences, he said the changes are necessary.
Critics say that building fences forces illegal immigrants into more dangerous areas, threatening their lives. Chertoff said there would be illegal immigrants who would try to cross in the desert heat, but the U.S. had to work toward a solution to the illegal immigration issue.
Chertoff said the Bush Administration would work toward achieving comprehensive immigration reform this year to meet the labor needs for agriculture and other industries. "It's the last piece of the puzzle to solve a problem we've had for 30 years or more," he said.
However, those on the border tour didn't all agree that immigration reform should happen so soon. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said there must be operational security of the border before any reforms are considered to deal with the 10 million to 12 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S.
"I hope we don't get anything definitive until we have more border security, so we don't encourage more people to come across the border in the interim," he said.
Many in Congress have expressed similar opinions, which has kept comprehensive reform from being passed. Nelson said he expected reform bills to be presented in March.
Would you buy a used car from this man?
(ignore those BP agents in jail, wrongfully imprisoned...)
For crap sakes, they are bulding a wall in that area, and for another 690 miles.
I live here, and from what I have seen, it is a lost cause anyway. I've only lived here two years, granted, but as an outsider who is stuck here, it has never seemed as though this city has ever really wanted to do anything about illegal immigration. The farms love the day labor, and the retailers love the shoppers. The snowbirds also love to go the other way and cross the border to Mexico for medication and dental. JMHO, of course, not that it's worth much.
1954 Operation Wetback - President Dwight D. Eisenhower
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0706/p09s01-coop.htm
One of the worst government appointees of my life time, his piss poor job performance is only surpassed by his general incompetence.
Chertoff said there would be illegal immigrants who would try to cross in the desert heat, but the U.S. had to work toward a solution to the illegal immigration issue.
How about a fleet of nice air conditioned vans to pick up
the "immigrants" so they don't get sunstroke.
There will be a space colony on Mars before a fence is built between USA and Mexico.
Chertoff: What an ASS!!!
Okay, now for some civil discourse... LoL... This administration, in December 2004, cut back the mandate in the Homeland Security Bill --- to add 10,000 new BP agents --- to a few hundred BP agents.
Last year, there was TALK of once again of increasing BP numbers. Now, there is no need for them.
This charade insults my intelligence.
Chertoff is just a highly paid lakey for Bush/Rove & Co.
And this administration has nothing but contempt for our intelligence.
I gave the article another, closer read and the messages therein are clear.
I don't know what the quality of this wall or fence is, but only a few miles of it have been built so far and already this administration is calling off the increase in BP agents. Hence, to hell with border security.
The next message is that this administration will continue to doggedly push for the amnesty contained in Senate Bill 2611, passed last year and sent to the House, a bill co-authored by Ted Kennedy and John McCain.
Now there is the understatement of the year!
“For the first time in our nation's history, one agency has the lone responsibility of protecting our borders. As the single, unified border agency, CBP's mission is vitally important to the protection of America and the American people. CBP's priority mission is preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States, while also facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel,” continued Commissioner Bonner.
CBP uses multiple strategies and employs the latest in technology to accomplish its dual goals. CBP's initiatives are designed to protect the homeland from acts of terrorism, and reduce the vulnerability to the threat of terrorists through a multi-level inspection process.
ROFLMBO!!!!
No fence + no Border Patrol = U.S.A. is screwed!!!
"No fence + no Border Patrol = U.S.A. is screwed!!!"
We knew this was coming : )
It's that "free flow" thing that Condi talked about, sjb. Just "go with the flow".... down the toilet.
Thanks for the ping.
Yesterday, I saw Chertoff on TV nailing a board to the fence. The slats looked more like steps for the illegals. What an a$$!.
Chertoff and Cornyn have been going to the Texas mayors and talking against the fence.
You are right. We are screwed.
Read it a bit closer. He said that the SECTOR with the fence would not need more BP agents.
Doesn't matter. Every fence still needs patrolling; ask any rancher.
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