Babeu: Border is full of holes

Posted: Saturday, January 29, 2011 11:58 pm | Updated: 12:00 am, Sun Jan 30, 2011.

By Marissa Freireich


Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu denied assertions that the border situation is improving, saying it is in fact getting worse in a speech Friday to the Republican Club of Green Valley-Sahuarita.

About 100 people attended the meeting at Friends In Deed. Babeu, 41, received a standing ovation when he was introduced as the newly named 2011 Sheriff of the Year by the National Sheriffs' Association.

Then he quickly got down to business, telling the audience that more than half of all illegal immigrants entering the United States come via Arizona.

"All roads lead to Pinal County," Babeu said, quoting the Border Patrol. He compared the counties in southern Arizona to a funnel that directs illegal immigrants to pass through Pinal County, which covers much of the area between Tucson and Phoenix.

Babeu criticized Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano's statements that the border is more secure than ever.

"Things aren't getting better, they're getting worse," he said.

Babeu has raised his profile on border issues in the past year, appearing regularly on national news programs and being openly critical of federal policies that have affected his fast-growing county.

He cited data that showed marijuana seizures in Pinal County had more than doubled in the past few years, from 19,619 pounds in 2008, to 45,500 pounds last year. Vehicle pursuits doubled from 142 in 2007 to 340 last year. Calls to the Border Patrol also doubled from 169 in 2008 to 370 last year.

"I'm sharing all these figures to tell you at a time when the person who's charged with our national security to defend our homeland is saying everything's just fine, I'm showing you everything is not just fine," he said.

Babeu said illegal immigration must be addressed through Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl's 10-point border security plan. He emphasized three points: deploying 6,000 armed soldiers to the border, building a double barrier fence along parts of the border, and streamlining border policies, such as ending opportunities for voluntary return.

"You're going to see the heaviest enforcement I can bring to bear because the federal government won't do the job," he said.

"This is within our ability to secure this border."

Babeu received another standing ovation at the end of his speech.

"We need a sheriff like Sheriff Paul," said Wally Watson, who attended the talk. "We're gonna have to get tough or we're gonna get run over," he said.

Grace Neil agreed.

"I'm impressed that he is really dedicated to what he believes in, and I believe in it, too," she said.

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