Border Sheriffs Share Ideas In San Diego
Gene Cubbison, NBC 7/39 Reporter


UPDATED: 1:13 pm PDT May 7, 2007

SAN DIEGO -- Their southernmost county lines run a total of 2,000 miles along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Their jails are often crowded with inmates who came into the United States from Mexico illegally, fueling crime statistics and costs for law enforcement and incarcertion.

Now, 26 sheriffs from California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas are meeting in San Diego to share ideas on how to interact with each other, federal and state agencies in efforts against border area crime and potential terrorist threats.

Another common denominator: They all -- and always -- could use more money. But from where they ride patrol, "Uncle Sam" hasn't been a very generous relative -- reimbursing the states and counties for only a small fraction of costs that stem from the national problem of illegal immigration.

"That's one of the battles we're fighting," says Yuma, Ariz., County Sheriff Ralph Ogden, whose deputies cover 85 miles of border. "If we spend a dollar, we should get a dollar back. We shouldn't be getting pennies on the dollar."

So mutual aid is frequently the order of the day. Says Hudspeth, Texas, County Sheriff Arvin West: "We've gotten to where we send officers up and down the Texas border, because they're getting overrun."

The sheriffs say crime stemming from illegal immigrants begins most dangerously with the rampant drug traffic that victimizes citizens and public officials in Mexico.

"The cartels are running the country," San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolender told his counterparts and their deputies attending The Southwest Border Sheriffs' Coalition gathering at Old Town's Hacienda Hotel.

"They've killed police officers in Tijuana and people at all levels, and it's extremely problematic for us."

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, who served as chief of police for six years during his 26-year career with SDPD, told the group that while their efforts are paramount, "It's going to be a political solution that solves this. We're not going to stop people who want a better life from coming over here."

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/13271809/detail.html