Thread: Napolitano to cartels: Not across this border

Napolitano to Cartels: 'Don't Even Think About Bringing Your Violence ... Across This Border'

February 01, 2011 10:47 AM

By Ramon Bracamontes

The El Paso Times

While in El Paso on Monday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano delivered a clear and unmistakable message to the Mexican drug cartels:

"Don't even think about bringing your violence and tactics across this border," she said. "You will be met by an overwhelming response. And we're going to continue to work with our partners in Mexico to dismantle and defeat you."

Napolitano spent Monday morning in El Paso talking about President Barack Obama's strategy along the Southwest border. The vast majority of her 45-minute speech at the University of Texas at El Paso centered on border security and what the Obama administration has done in the past two years to secure the border.

But she also talked several times about Mexico and the drug cartel violence that has plagued it for more than three years now.

"We are deeply concerned about the drug cartel violence taking place in Mexico," she said. "We know that these drug organizations are seeking to undermine the rule of law in northern Mexico and that we must guard against spillover effects into the United States."

After talking about how many federal agents are now patrolling the border, she issued her warning to the cartels.

"We also need to send an unmistakable message to those who would threaten the safety and security of our border communities," she said.

Richard Pineda, a UTEP professor who specializes in political communications, said Napolitano's message to the cartels was appropriate.

"It fits in with the context of her visit," Pineda said. "I think it is the right comment when she comes to a place like El Paso."

However, the reason for the message, Pineda said, was not so the cartels could hear it but so that U.S. citizens could hear it.

"She was trying to minimize people's fears and let them know that the government is doing something about it," he said. "That was the number one priority."

After the speech, U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, re-emphasized that Napolitano's overall message was more about how secure the border is and less about delivering a message to the cartels.

"She was just making it clear to the cartels that they will not be allowed to conduct the same kind of violence in North America that they are doing right now over there," Reyes said.

Since 2008, when the drug cartel wars broke out in Mexico, more than 34,000 people have been killed in that country. In Juárez, more than 7,500 people have been killed, including 3,112 last year.

During her remarks, Napolitano continuously repeated that it was inaccurate to state that the border is overrun with violence and out of control. She then gave specifics as to why the border is a priority for Obama.

Since 2009, the federal government has:

Increased the size of the Border Patrol to more than 20,700 agents, more than double the size it was in 2004.

Began screening southbound rail and vehicle traffic looking for illegal weapons and cash.

Added 250 new CBP officers at the ports of entry.

Added 250 new ICE agents focused on transnational crime.

During the past two fiscal years, the U.S. has also seized 35 percent more illegal currency, about $282 million, than ever before. And agents have seized 6,800 weapons that were headed south.

"We need to be honest with the people we serve about what is and what isn't happening in our border communities," she said. "As I've said, we know challenges remain, but significant progress has been made."

She also said immigration enforcement is up throughout the country. In the past two years, ICE removed 779,000 undocumented immigrants. ICE has also audited more than 3,500 employers who were suspected of hiring illegal labor. Of those, 235 companies were debarred and $54 million in fines were assessed.

www.elpasotimes.com

Related:
Napolitano Accuses Critics of Politicizing Border Issues
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-226594-napolitano.html

Napolitano Touts Safety of U.S. Border Communities
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-226633-napolitano.html

Yeah...Im sure the cartels are quakin in their boots, Napps.

Napolitano to Cartels: 'Don't Even Think About Bringing Your Violence ... Across This Border'

February 01, 2011 10:47 AM

By Ramon Bracamontes

The El Paso Times

While in El Paso on Monday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano delivered a clear and unmistakable message to the Mexican drug cartels:

"Don't even think about bringing your violence and tactics across this border," she said. "You will be met by an overwhelming response. And we're going to continue to work with our partners in Mexico to dismantle and defeat you."

Napolitano spent Monday morning in El Paso talking about President Barack Obama's strategy along the Southwest border. The vast majority of her 45-minute speech at the University of Texas at El Paso centered on border security and what the Obama administration has done in the past two years to secure the border.

But she also talked several times about Mexico and the drug cartel violence that has plagued it for more than three years now.

"We are deeply concerned about the drug cartel violence taking place in Mexico," she said. "We know that these drug organizations are seeking to undermine the rule of law in northern Mexico and that we must guard against spillover effects into the United States."

After talking about how many federal agents are now patrolling the border, she issued her warning to the cartels.

"We also need to send an unmistakable message to those who would threaten the safety and security of our border communities," she said.

Richard Pineda, a UTEP professor who specializes in political communications, said Napolitano's message to the cartels was appropriate.

"It fits in with the context of her visit," Pineda said. "I think it is the right comment when she comes to a place like El Paso."

However, the reason for the message, Pineda said, was not so the cartels could hear it but so that U.S. citizens could hear it.

"She was trying to minimize people's fears and let them know that the government is doing something about it," he said. "That was the number one priority."

After the speech, U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, re-emphasized that Napolitano's overall message was more about how secure the border is and less about delivering a message to the cartels.

"She was just making it clear to the cartels that they will not be allowed to conduct the same kind of violence in North America that they are doing right now over there," Reyes said.

Since 2008, when the drug cartel wars broke out in Mexico, more than 34,000 people have been killed in that country. In Juárez, more than 7,500 people have been killed, including 3,112 last year.

During her remarks, Napolitano continuously repeated that it was inaccurate to state that the border is overrun with violence and out of control. She then gave specifics as to why the border is a priority for Obama.

Since 2009, the federal government has:

Increased the size of the Border Patrol to more than 20,700 agents, more than double the size it was in 2004.

Began screening southbound rail and vehicle traffic looking for illegal weapons and cash.

Added 250 new CBP officers at the ports of entry.

Added 250 new ICE agents focused on transnational crime.

During the past two fiscal years, the U.S. has also seized 35 percent more illegal currency, about $282 million, than ever before. And agents have seized 6,800 weapons that were headed south.

"We need to be honest with the people we serve about what is and what isn't happening in our border communities," she said. "As I've said, we know challenges remain, but significant progress has been made."

She also said immigration enforcement is up throughout the country. In the past two years, ICE removed 779,000 undocumented immigrants. ICE has also audited more than 3,500 employers who were suspected of hiring illegal labor. Of those, 235 companies were debarred and $54 million in fines were assessed.

www.elpasotimes.com

Way to go Secretary Napolitano! Advise those people we Americans will never put up with their unlawful and deadly actions not for one second.

"She was trying to minimize people's fears and let them know that the government is doing something about it," he said. "That was the number one priority."

You've got to be kidding me! She's basically shaking her pointy fingre at the cartels and saying "Don't you dare!" ??? Oh yeah, I'm sure the ranchers feel alot better now.

While in El Paso on Monday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano delivered a clear and unmistakable message to the Mexican drug cartels:

"Don't even think about bringing your violence and tactics across this border," she said. "You will be met by an overwhelming response. And we're going to continue to work with our partners in Mexico to dismantle and defeat you."

Just when I thought it wasn't possible for this woman to embarrass this country and herself (not to mention endanger all of us) any further, she proves me wrong! I used to believe she merely suffered from a bad case of progressivism. However, I seriously think this woman is suffering from sort of mental psychosis, like a detachment from reality malady. Making comments like this only acts to bolsters my suspicions...

I just have a couple of points and I'll leave this alone. 1st is would she even have to go to all these boarder comunitties and tell them how safe they were and how much obama's doing IF THEY WERE REALLY DOING SOMETHING! I think the people who live there know if there's been changes and sending nappy down there to tell them so dosent make it so! 2nd is by telling the cartels to stay away is that really the solution to this why dosent the mexican goverment just tell them to go away! We could all be do with it because its just that easy! I thought we were done with this witch can't she just fly away

"She was just making it clear to the cartels that they will not be allowed to conduct the same kind of violence in North America that they are doing right now over there," Reyes said.

You notice that Reyes uses the term "North America", not United States. That tells me his loyalties lie with Mexico and not the U.S.. Another politician that sees no borders.