News
Ranchers: Put agents on border
By Bill Hess/Wick Communications
SIERRA VISTA - A group of Cochise County ranchers had a message for two federal government representatives on Saturday: Border Patrol agents need to be on the border, not miles away from it.
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and the Border Patrol Tucson Sector Chief Robert Gilbert listened to the ranchers on Saturday during a more than two-hour meeting.
"The border is unpatrolled," said veterinarian Dr. Gary Thrasher.
When it comes to the much-touted border fence, he said, "I see more welders repairing the border fence than I see Border Patrol agents patrolling."
Rancher Derek Garland echoed that message.
"My house is situated closer to the border than the agents are," he said.
Setting the tone for the discussion, Giffords and Gilbert said the federal government is concerned about increasing border violence.
"Drugs and more violent problems continue to escalate. Border security remains a top concern for me," the 8th Congressional District congresswoman said.
Unfortunately, decisions being made in Washington, D.C., "don't take into consideration what the (Border Patrol) guys and gals do on the border," Giffords said.
As for Gilbert, he said that even though the number of apprehensions are down, the number of people caught who have criminal records has increased.
For example, in the first six months of the current federal fiscal year, there have been 2,600 cases involving marijuana smuggling in the sector with a total weight of 600,000 pounds confiscated. By the end of the budget year, more than a million pounds may be confiscated, and no other sector will have had such a large amount, Gilbert said.
At one time, Gilbert said, one drug cartel created trouble in Mexico, just across the line from Cochise County. Now, he said, there are two.
Thrasher said while there may be two cartels, the reality is that 10 to 12 people are known to break off from the cartels and create splinter groups, which increases the violence.
"I have clients, ranchers in Mexico, who say the border is not being controlled," he said.
Because of his profession, Thrasher visits many ranches and has worked in Mexico to help ranchers. He lives in rural Cochise County near the border, which gives him an additional appreciation for the amount of illegal activities crossing the international boundary.
A number of ranchers noted many times agents cannot communicate with each other even if they can see one another.
Gilbert agreed communication is a problem because of poor technology and lack of interoperability with some equipment. "My key concern is communications," the sector chief said.
Giffords said she shared the residents' concerns about failed equipment, saying in the past decision-makers in the Department of Homeland Security approached fixing the problems in a poor manner.
While high-tech systems, communications and surveillance systems have bugs that need to be corrected, he said one of the most successful operations is low tech - horse patrols.
The ranchers applauded the increased use of horse units as a success story.
The ranchers' comments were an expression of how they see their quality of life along the border and how it has been impacted by illegal activities such as people and drug smuggling.
While they could understand the problems with high-tech equipment the ranchers were not as forgiving when it came to the fence, many of whom declared it unproductive in stopping illegal immigrants and drug smugglers.
Last year, Giffords, ranchers and Border Patrol officials from the Tucson Sector met. At that meeting, which the congresswoman noted was a loud, angry event, the sides tried to find a way to work together.
Gilbert said he knows many of the newer agents do not understand the way ranchers live. Because of that, "Ranching 101" was established to give the younger agents an appreciation of what life is like on a ranch. The course addresses what can best be described as ranching etiquette, such as knowing they must close gates and to not destroy dirt roads on the land.
But ranchers still have frustration with bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.
"Washington is still the problem," said John Ladd, a Bisbee area rancher.
The ranchers made a number of suggestions on how to counter those engaged in illegal activities.
Ladd said those engaged in such activities use scouts to tell when there are shift changes by agents, allowing them to push illegal immigrants and drug smugglers across the border. He said there needs to be staggered shifts so there is always a physical presence of agents on the border.
Giffords agreed that many in the nation's capital do not understand border issues. She noted she and Gilbert toured some border ranch property on horseback.
She believes that since a westerner is head of the Department of Homeland Security, things will improve. The congresswoman was speaking of former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, who is now homeland security secretary.
But, the congresswoman said, even with Napolitano's knowledge about border issues, educating the new administration will be tough.
Jack Ladd, John Ladd's father, said there have always been promises of making things better.
"I don't think things have improved," the older Ladd said, adding it is time to stop making promises and to start taking actions.
Bud Strom suggested the creation of a Border Patrol auxiliary, using ranchers such as him as extra eyes, but with the stipulation that when an auxiliary member calls, response is immediate, not hours later.
Gilbert said the idea of creating such an auxiliary, based on something similar the Coast Guard has, was floated a couple of years ago, only to be sunk by Homeland Security lawyers.
Giffords said the auxiliary idea needs to be pursued again, to which Gilbert nodded in agreement. The sector chief also gave the ranchers something they wanted to hear.
"We (the Border Patrol) need to get closer to the border. We need to make up for decades of mistakes," he said.
Wendy Glenn, whose husband Warner, was honored by Giffords at the beginning of the meeting, said Giffords and Gilbert should be thanked for starting meetings with ranchers to talk about the tough border issues.The ranchers loudly applauded.
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and the Border Patrol Tucson Sector Chief Robert Gilbert listened to the ranchers on Saturday during a more than two-hour meeting.
"The border is unpatrolled," said veterinarian Dr. Gary Thrasher.
When it comes to the much-touted border fence, he said, "I see more welders repairing the border fence than I see Border Patrol agents patrolling."
Rancher Derek Garland echoed that message.
"My house is situated closer to the border than the agents are," he said.
Setting the tone for the discussion, Giffords and Gilbert said the federal government is concerned about increasing border violence.
"Drugs and more violent problems continue to escalate. Border security remains a top concern for me," the 8th Congressional District congresswoman said.
Unfortunately, decisions being made in Washington, D.C., "don't take into consideration what the (Border Patrol) guys and gals do on the border," Giffords said.
As for Gilbert, he said that even though the number of apprehensions are down, the number of people caught who have criminal records has increased.
For example, in the first six months of the current federal fiscal year, there have been 2,600 cases involving marijuana smuggling in the sector with a total weight of 600,000 pounds confiscated. By the end of the budget year, more than a million pounds may be confiscated, and no other sector will have had such a large amount, Gilbert said.
At one time, Gilbert said, one drug cartel created trouble in Mexico, just across the line from Cochise County. Now, he said, there are two.
Thrasher said while there may be two cartels, the reality is that 10 to 12 people are known to break off from the cartels and create splinter groups, which increases the violence.
"I have clients, ranchers in Mexico, who say the border is not being controlled," he said.
Because of his profession, Thrasher visits many ranches and has worked in Mexico to help ranchers. He lives in rural Cochise County near the border, which gives him an additional appreciation for the amount of illegal activities crossing the international boundary.
A number of ranchers noted many times agents cannot communicate with each other even if they can see one another.
Gilbert agreed communication is a problem because of poor technology and lack of interoperability with some equipment. "My key concern is communications," the sector chief said.
Giffords said she shared the residents' concerns about failed equipment, saying in the past decision-makers in the Department of Homeland Security approached fixing the problems in a poor manner.
While high-tech systems, communications and surveillance systems have bugs that need to be corrected, he said one of the most successful operations is low tech - horse patrols.
The ranchers applauded the increased use of horse units as a success story.
The ranchers' comments were an expression of how they see their quality of life along the border and how it has been impacted by illegal activities such as people and drug smuggling.
While they could understand the problems with high-tech equipment the ranchers were not as forgiving when it came to the fence, many of whom declared it unproductive in stopping illegal immigrants and drug smugglers.
Last year, Giffords, ranchers and Border Patrol officials from the Tucson Sector met. At that meeting, which the congresswoman noted was a loud, angry event, the sides tried to find a way to work together.
Gilbert said he knows many of the newer agents do not understand the way ranchers live. Because of that, "Ranching 101" was established to give the younger agents an appreciation of what life is like on a ranch. The course addresses what can best be described as ranching etiquette, such as knowing they must close gates and to not destroy dirt roads on the land.
But ranchers still have frustration with bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.
"Washington is still the problem," said John Ladd, a Bisbee area rancher.
The ranchers made a number of suggestions on how to counter those engaged in illegal activities.
Ladd said those engaged in such activities use scouts to tell when there are shift changes by agents, allowing them to push illegal immigrants and drug smugglers across the border. He said there needs to be staggered shifts so there is always a physical presence of agents on the border.
Giffords agreed that many in the nation's capital do not understand border issues. She noted she and Gilbert toured some border ranch property on horseback.
She believes that since a westerner is head of the Department of Homeland Security, things will improve. The congresswoman was speaking of former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, who is now homeland security secretary.
But, the congresswoman said, even with Napolitano's knowledge about border issues, educating the new administration will be tough.
Jack Ladd, John Ladd's father, said there have always been promises of making things better.
"I don't think things have improved," the older Ladd said, adding it is time to stop making promises and to start taking actions.
Bud Strom suggested the creation of a Border Patrol auxiliary, using ranchers such as him as extra eyes, but with the stipulation that when an auxiliary member calls, response is immediate, not hours later.
Gilbert said the idea of creating such an auxiliary, based on something similar the Coast Guard has, was floated a couple of years ago, only to be sunk by Homeland Security lawyers.
Giffords said the auxiliary idea needs to be pursued again, to which Gilbert nodded in agreement. The sector chief also gave the ranchers something they wanted to hear.
"We (the Border Patrol) need to get closer to the border. We need to make up for decades of mistakes," he said.
Wendy Glenn, whose husband Warner, was honored by Giffords at the beginning of the meeting, said Giffords and Gilbert should be thanked for starting meetings with ranchers to talk about the tough border issues.The ranchers loudly applauded.
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