Thread: Napolitano border 'facts' disputed

Napolitano border 'facts' disputed

June 6, 2010

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano wrote on Friday that the nation's border is more secure than ever ("If you look at facts, border is more secure than ever," Opinions). She goes on to proclaim that the Obama "administration has made every conceivable effort to secure our border."

Let's look at what the administration has allegedly accomplished.

Secretary Napolitano claims that Border Patrol agents have doubled from 10,000 to 20,000. But the build-up was well under way before President Obama was even elected.

There were already 18,000 agents along the border in 2008, and 2,000 more were already funded and being hired before January 2009.

She states that the president has requested 1,200 National Guard troops to be sent to the border, but that's only one-fifth of the amount that was deployed in 2006 (and the situation today is far worse than it was then).

Moreover, the 1,200 Guardsman she mentions would be assigned to desk jobs, not border security.

Action speaks louder than words. The administration's head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently suggested his agency will not accept or process illegal immigrants turned over by local Arizona law enforcement.

The Department of Justice has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Arizona law that would sanction employers who hire illegal immigrants.

And Attorney General Eric Holder is devoting "round-the-clock" resources to devise ways to sue Arizona over its new immigration enforcement laws.

Meanwhile, illegal immigrants continue to flood into the United States - roughly 500,000 in 2009 alone, half of whom came through our state.

It's been said statistics can be manipulated to prove anything.

But the cold hard fact is that our border is far from secure, and much more needs to be done. The solution is to pass the McCain/Kyl 10-point border security plan into law immediately.

- John McCain and Jon Kyl, Phoenix


The writers, both Republicans, represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate.

www.azcentral.com

Action speaks louder than words. The administration's head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently suggested his agency will not accept or process illegal immigrants turned over by local Arizona law enforcement.

That is not quite what he said which was that they may not. There is a serious problem created by the Act which is that there will be a lot more detainees picked up by the state without ICEs detention and logistical resources increasing at the same time.

Originally Posted by Richard

Action speaks louder than words. The administration's head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently suggested his agency will not accept or process illegal immigrants turned over by local Arizona law enforcement.

That is not quite what he said which was that they may not. There is a serious problem created by the Act which is that there will be a lot more detainees picked up by the state without ICEs detention and logistical resources increasing at the same time.

With a secure border under the Act and with local and state law enforcement both securing the border and enforcing immigration law which adds all the states vast resources to the cause, ICE wouldn't be wasting our money deporting the same person 9 times like they are now, or holding them in the ICE Hotel for months. So our existing resources should be sufficient to deport 2 or 3 times the number of people we're deporting now. Plus, ICE's focus has been on violent "OTM's", which probably carry a higher cost per person to detain and deport. Arizona for example will detain them in tent cities at a very low cost per person until they're ready to be deported.

Furthermore, if and when ICE is doing its job efficiently and responsibly, I'm sure Congress will appropriate additional funds if and when they are needed.

Correct me if I am wrong.

Lasts year several congressional republicans including Jeff Sessions,tried to give ICE more money for enforcement but Napolitano said it was not needed and refused to take it..

Originally Posted by USPatriot

Correct me if I am wrong.

Lasts year several congressional republicans including Jeff Sessions,tried to give ICE more money for enforcement but Napolitano said it was not needed and refused to take it..

That is true! They wanted to appropriate money for another 5,000 to 10,000 Border Patrol Agents, but Janet said "OH NOES, we don't need them, besides it takes years to train them".

Why would she claim it takes years to train a Border Patrol Agent?

They also wanted to appropriate more funds to build more fence, but Janet said "OH NOES, we don't need any more fence, we're going after employers".

But they stopped raids on employers.

You can't believe or trust 1 thing the US government says about border security or immigration enforcement. Not 1 word.

Judy, I agree with the construction of tent detention facilities.

Originally Posted by Richard

Judy, I agree with the construction of tent detention facilities.

That's good! Tents are cheap and offers those in custody a unique opportunity to develop a new appreciation for nature!

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Originally Posted by Richard

Judy, I agree with the construction of tent detention facilities.

That's good! Tents are cheap and offers those in custody a unique opportunity to develop a new appreciation for nature!

Transporting illegals deep into Mexico - just as Ike did - would also give them an oppotunity to experience the beauty of their own country.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio stated in the news here in Phoenix that he will be aggressively enforcing the law come July 29th and that he has planty of room in his jails for illegal aliens.

He has other vacant county land available for his use and he has the ability to get as many additional tents as he needs to build the detention facilities if his current tent city needs expanding.

Man, it is freakin hot here in July and August so those that get arrested her will be pleading after a few days in the tent to be released to the Mexican border.

Originally Posted by Richard

Judy, I agree with the construction of tent detention facilities.

Thank you Richard. Sheriff Joe is on the right track with his tent cities. In fact, he could offer to take some of those off the hands of the ICE, charge a fee, and reduce our federal costs for ICE Hotels.