On the heels of the unprecedented move within Homeland Security where Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agents 258-0 voted "no confidence" in their superiors, U.S. Border Patrol Agents are slamming the Obama administration and Attorney General Eric Holder, in particular.
Via Family Security Matters -
"We are receiving reports… that Eric Holder and DOJ have signaled that they [will continue to] challenge SB1070. If this development wasn't so sad, it would be funny," according to the membership of the National Border Patrol Council Local 2544, which represents U.S. Border Patrol agents in Tucson, Arizona.
While lamenting the disinterest in the Obama Administration for border security and immigration enforcement, Local 2544 officials said in a statement,
"Now, [Attorney General Eric] Holder and DOJ [Department of Justice] apparently have found resources to challenge SB1070. This is an obvious political ploy, and Americans should be outraged [that] they actually go after a state for trying to do something about the out-of-control illegal immigration mess."
"How many times have Americans heard lawmakers, mayors, governors, and immigration advocates when asked about Arizona enforcing immigration law, claim that their police officers aren't authorized or trained to enforce immigration laws?" asks a career law enforcement officer from New York.
"Well, either these government leaders are too ignorant to hold office or they're out-and-out lying to the American people," said former NYPD detective Sid Franes.
The Immigration and Nationality Act includes section 287(g), added in 1996, that grants local and state jurisdictions the ability to enforce immigration law with proper training and supervision by federal authorities. In 2003, Alabama became the second state in the nation to participate in the program by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Homeland Security. Florida was the first state to participate, in 2002, and later Arizona's Sheriff Joe Arpaio sent his deputies for training.
While many politicians claim their police officers are not allowed to enforce immigration laws, their excuse for ignoring illegal aliens is a canard. Too few police agencies are taking advantage of the training offered by ICE and DHS.
"Partnerships with our state and local law enforcement colleagues have always been essential to our fight against illegal immigration," said Paul Kilcoyne, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's deputy director for investigations.
"This innovative and cooperative effort allows our state troopers to become force multipliers for America's border security mission. We always welcome those who enter our country legally, but we won't stand idly by and do nothing when we catch illegal aliens, some who have committed crimes like armed robbery, rape and drug smuggling, in our state," he said.
During a little publicized recent border security conference at the University of Texas-El Paso, UTEP, Obama Border Czar Alan Bersin announced that it would take Thirty Years to Secure the Border. That's right, THIRTY YEARS! Even though the Obama administration admitted they've yet to find a "clear definition" on what "secure the border" means, they have come up with a "30 year plan"? The Obama administration believes it will take the U.S. thirty years to secure the border and fight Mexico's organized crime and the drug cartels. Unreal.
There's more…
Via Death By 1000 Paper Cuts -
Attending the conference, two Obama Czars, Border Czar Alan Bersin, Commissioner U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Drug Czar R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Question: Do you feel we are adequately securing our border?
Obama Drug Czar R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy:
"That's a difficult question to ask. I've spent a lot of time now flying, driving, being on the border then talking to a lot of people on the border. It's incredibly difficult when you don't have a clear definition of what secure the border means."
Another tidbit we learned: Border Czar Alan Bersin telling the conference attendees:
Our people are the key, bi-nationally as well as each of our countries. The challenges to leave behind, the old ways of seeing the border, to stop thinking in the past. Stop thinking that the Federal government is going to come and pay for all the projects. Rather, it is devise business solutions that provide the private capacity to make these things work. Whether it is crossing the border in a safe, secure facilitated entry but to do it with private initiative rather than waiting for government handouts. What the government has to do is be responsive to a community that takes its future into its own hands. Yes, we on the regulatory side will respond appropriately but you've got to do this and not look to the government to do it.
Government handouts for a "safe, secure facilitated entry"? "Private initiative"?
Wait a minute! Isn't protecting our borders the federal government's JOB? Isn't Arizona showing "initiative"? This administration is guilty of talking out of both sides of its mouth.
Is it any wonder that our federal, state and local law enforcement is losing confidence in this administration? These hard working, patriotic man and women who put their lives on the line every day protecting our country and its borders deserve our support and the support of our government.
Is it any wonder that the American people are losing confidence in this president and his administration?
h/t Rachel P
