Thread: U.S. Defends Crime Fighting Near Mexico

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 536D41.DTL

U.S. Defends Crime Fighting Near Mexico
By JENNIFER TALHELM, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
(08-16) 20:18 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

The U.S. government on Tuesday defended efforts by the United States and Mexico to stem violence and drug trafficking on the border following decisions by two Southwestern states to declare an emergency in their border counties.

In the last week, the governors of Arizona and New Mexico said the U.S. government's inability to control crime and violence related to illegal immigration was forcing them to take matters into their own hands.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States and Mexico are working together "to address violence stemming from organized crime along the Mexican border."

A spokesman for the Homeland Security Department said in an interview that the agency has made "extraordinary progress" by adding new technology and beefing up the number of border patrol agents on the ground. It also has intensified its work in Arizona.

The southwestern border has been a priority, said agency spokesman Jarrod Agen. "We've put resources toward it, and we have plans to increase those resources and initiatives in the future," he said.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Friday declared an emergency in four counties that he said have been "devastated by the ravages and terror of human smuggling, drug smuggling, kidnapping, murder, destruction of property and death of livestock."

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano followed suit in four more counties on Monday. Arizona is the nation's busiest entry point for illegal border crossings. The federal government "has not done what it needs to do and has promised to do" on the border, Napolitano spokeswoman Jeanine L'Ecuyer said Monday.

Their moves free up more than $3 million combined in state emergency dollars to pay for law enforcement overtime, repairs of border fences and costs related to illegal immigrants' deaths.

Richardson said Tuesday the Mexican government has to do more.

But Mexican President Vicente Fox suggested that the U.S. and Mexican governments share the responsibility to fight lawlessness on the border and called on everyone to work together.

Members of Congress from both parties said the actions in Arizona and New Mexico prove the federal government must fix its immigration system.

"I'm surprised it took so long" for the governors to declare an emergency, said Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who has co-sponsored an immigration bill in the House. "We have a huge problem here in Arizona."

Their moves free up more than $3 million combined in state emergency dollars to pay for law enforcement overtime, repairs of border fences and costs related to illegal immigrants' deaths

This is just TOO much! What business does the United States have paying for "costs related to illegal immigrant deaths?"

If they would stay HOME, there would be no deaths!