Something really , terribly, horribly wrong with all branches of government.
The below passage is from the recently approved H.R. 2673.
Provided further, That of the amount appropriated for rural utilities programs, not to exceed $25,000,000 shall be for water and waste disposal systems to benefit the Colonias along the United States/Mexico border, including grants pursuant to section 306C of such Act; not to exceed $17,465,000 shall be for technical assistance grants for rural water and waste systems pursuant to section 306(a)(14) of such Act, of which $5,513,000 shall be for Rural Community Assistance Programs and not to exceed $13,000,000 shall be for contracting with qualified national organizations for a circuit rider program to provide technical assistance for rural water systems:
And now, they are harassing Americans defending our border. Something the people in Washington have no interest in doing.
August 06, 2003
Thefts alter American Border Patrol's timeline, but not its efforts
BY BILL HESS
Herald/Review
SIERRA VISTA - As the American Border Patrol increases its high-tech inventory to fight what founder and president Glenn Spencer has in the past called an illegal immigrant invasion of the United States, extra care and concern is now the order of the day for the organization.
With someone taking electronic equipment and other items critical to supporting satellite transmissions from the group's headquarters, Spencer said the organization has to move to a more rural and secure area.
Since the first of the year, he has made two complaints to the Cochise County Sheriff's Department about items being taken from a home that is the organization's headquarters and Spencer's residence at the intersection of Equestrian Drive and Yaqui Street in a neighborhood south of Sierra Vista.
Sheriff spokeswoman Carol Capas said a complaint was filed in early January about electronic equipment being taken from a van at Spencer's home. Another complaint was made Friday about more high-tech items being taken.
On Tuesday, Spencer showed the trailer from which a generator to power the organization's mobile Internet satellite transmitter was taken either late Thursday or early Friday.
"One guy can't pick it up," he said.
The generator was on wheels, so those who took it probably rolled it away, Spencer said.
Because the generator is missing, the organization cannot send out real-time video of some of its operations, he said.
A large chain was used to secure a gate leading to a field behind his combination headquarters and residence. Spencer said the people who took the generator off the trailer used bolt cutters to open the gate. A piece of the chain was still on the ground.
For some reason, whoever used the bolt cutters left them near a bush, he said. That tool is now in the Sheriff's Department's custody as part of the investigation.
After apparently entering the locked field area, the thieves came into the small courtyard behind the house and took other electronic equipment, Spencer said. Pointing to an area not far from the covered patio, Spencer said, "I was asleep in that bedroom and I didn't hear them."
A little chagrin, Spencer said there was an in-ground sensor in the field where the trailer and truck was located, "but it wasn't plugged in."
American Border Patrol is in the process of testing and developing sensors, with 30 of them in place on private property to track the foot traffic of illegal immigrants and drug smugglers, he said.
Fine-tuning the sensors continues, with the long range goal of eventually putting in 500 of the devices, he said.
The organization also is testing and developing radio-controlled aircraft to be used to spot illegal activities crossing into the United States from Mexico.
The unmanned aircraft have day and night capabilities, and plans are progressing for a larger plane that will be able to carry more equipment and fly for more than two hours, Spencer said. Once an aircraft takes off, it will continue on a pre-planned flight. In case there is a need to send the plane to another location, a ground controller will be able to take over and fly the unmanned aerial vehicle to a different place.
A van also will be converted into a mobile command post for flight operations, Spencer said.
Moving the headquarters out of the area has been part of his plan, but the thefts have accelerated the process, he said. Saying he is looking for a small ranch in Cochise County near the border to lease or purchase, Spencer said being in a more rural area will give the organization extra security.
Spencer is accused of firing a rifle on his property on Friday night. He was arrested Saturday morning on three counts of disorderly conduct involving a weapon and a count each of endangerment and criminal damage.
Capas said Spencer told authorities that he heard noise outside his house Friday night and because of recent incidents he went out to investigate. She added he allegedly admitted to firing the rifle.
Spencer said he hopes to move the group's headquarters in a couple of months.
"I would like to lease some property. We may be here for three more years and then move to El Paso (Texas)," he said.
Such a move will mean the organization has been successful in Arizona by forcing the U.S. Border Patrol, which is not affiliated with the American Border Patrol, to do its job, he said.
The Border Patrol, which is under the Department of Homeland Security, has indicated it will be using more sensors and flying UAVs along the border, he added. Arizona's congressional delegation has requested that any UAV program for the U.S. Border Patrol be located at Fort Huachuca, where soldiers train on Army unmanned aerial vehicles.
Spencer said he knows those who oppose his organization's operations are concerned the group will be successful.
"If we force the (U.S.) Border Patrol to do its job they (those who oppose him) aren't going to be happy," he said.