It's been a year since ICE Agent Zapata has been killed-RIP

It’s been a year since Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agent Jamie Zapata was killed in Mexico. This somber day is a reminder that Mexico remains a dangerous country for American law enforcement officers who serve south of the border.

The heavily armed-drug cartels continue to operate freely in Mexico, while U.S. agents are still forced to investigate cartel activity without any firearms- in other words, it's business as usual.

One year ago Special Agent Zapata was traveling along a major highway in Mexico when his suburban was boxed-in by alleged cartel members, forced to the median where he lowered his window slightly to identify himself as an ICE agent, and was ultimately killed when the cartel opened fire leaving behind some 90 rounds of AK-47 bullets.

Several alleged killers have been arrested, and one, Julian Zapata Espinoza aka “Piolin” or “Tweety,” has been extradited to the U.S. to face murder charges.


While “Tweety” awaits trial, ICE headquarters released a statement regarding Agent Zapata’s death. The agency explained the loss has touched all who knew Mr. Zapata, but they also wanted to remember how courageous and honorable he was.

It’s widely believed by agents and law enforcement agencies that Zapata was killed with a gun from the botched ATF Fast and Furious program. Mexican officials have already confirmed the gunwalking operation has killed hundreds of Mexican nationals, but the U.S. hasn’t said a Fast and Furious gun killed Zapata.

"He was the type of person who wanted to contribute something significant to this world," said ICE Director John Morton.

ICE headquarters said Zapata joined the agency in 2006 and was assigned to the Deputy Assistant HSI office in Laredo, Texas, where he served on the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Unit, as well as the Border Enforcement Security Task Force.

“He was detailed to ICE's attaché office at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City at the time of the tragedy. By extending his service across the border, SA Zapata put his life on the line to keep this country safe,” a statement read. “Having lived and worked along the Southwest border, Zapata was familiar with the challenges of being a law enforcement officer in that area.”

The ultimate sacrifice Agent Zapata made for America has not been forgotten. During National Police Week in May 2011, ICE honored SA Zapata's life and legacy with a plaque on the ICE Wall of Honor.

His hometown in Texas also honored Zapata in April 2011, when they renamed a street after him. “This street, close to his parents' home, was named Jamie J. Zapata Avenue. Zapata's family was the first to drive on it.”

ICE also said other memorials for Zapata include a criminal justice training facility named after him at Kaplan College in McAllen, Texas; a resolution passed in the Texas Senate in his honor; and federal law enforcement legislation sponsored in his name.

Director Morton said he would be spending the day with Zapata's family in Texas.

"No one will ever be able to replace Jaime," said Morton. "He lives on in all of us. He inspired each of us on a personal level to be the best we can be – as a son or daughter, brother or sister, a public servant, or any other role."

Among those who are remembering Agent Zapata are the retired Border Patrol Agents at NAFBPO. “As a retired Border Patrol Agent, I pray there is justice for both Jaime Zapata and Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, both killed because of Fast and Furious. Those responsible must be held accountable. Honor First,” Alan Ferguson of NAFBPO concluded.

While it is right to honor the fallen ICE agent, one must wonder why the same treatment has not found its way to murdered Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, who died after a shootout in Arizona by a drug smuggler using a Fast and Furious ATF gun?

Rest in peace...agents... rest in peace.

For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/kimberly-dvorak

© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.


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Border Patrol snags 100 pounds of cocaine at San Diego checkpoint

The Interstate 8 Border Patrol checkpoint east of San Diego snagged more than a million dollars worth of cocaine headed to America’s streets yesterday.

Border Patrol agents became suspicious of a 52-year-old male Mexican national, who was driving a green Peterbilt semi-truck when he stopped at the checkpoint. Their suspicions were confirmed during the secondary inspection when the K-9 team located illegal narcotics.

The Border Patrol K-9 team located the cocaine near the rear-side of the passenger panel inside the truck. “Agents searched the truck and discovered a total of 42 bundles of cocaine concealed inside of an air vent,” CBP agents said.

“The cocaine weighed a total 107.48 pounds and had an estimated street value of $1,074,800. The suspected smuggler and narcotics were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration,” according to agents.

The tractor trailer was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.
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Since October 1, 2010, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents have seized more than 2,300 pounds of cocaine, more than 540 pounds of methamphetamine and 68,550 pounds of marijuana.

For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/china-s-war-strategy-why-it-s-working-part-one

© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

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More than 11 pounds of black tar heroin seized in SUV engine

Border Patrol agents stationed at the State Route 94 checkpoint east of San Diego snagged 11 pounds of black tar heroin.

Agents stopped a red 1999 Dodge Durango over the weekend driven by a 39-year-old female U.S. citizen as she arrived at the checkpoint. During the inspection process, agents noticed the woman’s nervous demeanor and referred the driver to the secondary inspection area.

Once the Border Patrol K-9 team performed the examination of the vehicle, the K-9 alerted agents to the front of the vehicle where the heroin was discovered. Border Patrol thoroughly searched the Durango and discovered a non-factory compartment inside the vehicle’s intake manifold.

“Inside the compartment, agents discovered four foil-wrapped bundles of black tar heroin with a total weight of 11.1 pounds and an estimated street value of $133,200,” said Scott E. Simon, Border Patrol Agent for the San Diego Sector Information and Communication Division.
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“The suspected smuggler and drugs were taken into custody and subsequently turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration,” Simon reported. “The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.”

Since October 1, 2010, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents have seized more than 68,500 pounds of illicit drugs and taken a number of drug smugglers into custody.

For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/kimberly-dvorak

© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

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Dozens of suspected drug-cartel members arrested in San Diego

A multiagency criminal sweep in San Diego arrested dozens of alleged Mexican drug-cartel members today.

The task force titled, “Operation Second Sole,” arrested 43 “high value” drug-cartel suspects trafficking drugs, weapons and stolen property. Authorities said these assailants engaged in “incredible acts of violence” throughout San Diego communities.

“Many of the suspects arrested today have significant criminal histories and were considered to be armed and dangerous,” San Diego Police Lieutenant Kevin Ammon said. “The success of today’s operation rid the county of a serious threat to the safety and security of our citizens.”

Federal, state and local law enforcement officers used search warrants to take down and arrest 43 cartel suspects. The morning raids captured criminals without incident in and around San Diego County.

Ammon explained the joint task force was successful in “disrupting criminal enterprises.”

Law enforcement agencies launched ‘Operation Second Sole’ to “interrupt and prevent dangerous individuals from committing acts of violence in furtherance of narcotics trafficking,” said John Torres, ATF special-agent-in charge in Southern California.
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“As a result of this joint effort, suspects implicated in criminal activity ranged from homicide to armed robbery. (All) have been taken into custody along with (the) seized contraband, including illegal firearms and methamphetamine,” Torres said.

The Mexican cartel sweep is part of an effort to disrupt criminal gangs along the U.S. border and break up illicit drug rings.

The multi-agency taskforce included, San Diego Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives (BATFE), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), San Diego County District Attorney's Office, U.S. Attorney's Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), California Border Protection Alliance Group (HIDTA), San Diego County Sheriff's Department and finally the Chula Vista Police Department.

For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/kimberly-dvorak

© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

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Mr. President – Protect America First

The U.S. border security debate is contentious, loud and needed and Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu makes his case to President Obama...

President Obama says the border is more secure than ever, declared the border fence complete and said, “These people will never be satisfied, until we build a moat and put alligators in the moat.”

We don’t need a moat or alligators in Arizona – we simply need the federal government to do their job and secure the border! Last year, 219,300 illegal immigrants were apprehended in just one sector of Arizona and many with violent felony criminal records.

The U.S. Border Patrol estimates another 400,000 made it safely past them in Arizona and now reside in your community. If the majority of regular illegal immigrants can sneak into America, what does this say about the ability of terrorist sleeper cells?

The porous U.S./Mexican border is the gravest national security threat facing America. This is no longer just a political fight to stop Barak Obama from giving amnesty to over 12 million illegals, it’s also about protecting our nation from terrorist threats.

Thousands of illegal entrants hail from State Department countries of interest--Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and others. In some cases, we have confirmed their troubling ties to terrorism.

Yet for those we apprehend how many today live amongst us? If the border is secure, why did the feds post 15 Billboard signs in Pinal County warning American citizens; Danger – Public Warning – Travel Not Recommended, due to armed drug cartel smuggling?

This is 70 miles into Arizona, where Homeland Security confirms that no fewer than 100 of our beautiful mountains have been repurposed as lookouts for the Mexican Drug lords.

America can secure the border if we replicate the success of what was accomplished in the Yuma Sector. The Yuma Sector has now attained a 96% reduction of illegal border crossings. The Senator McCain/Kyl 10-Point Border Security Plan is developed largely from the learned successes of the Yuma Sector during Operation Jump Start.
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This plan calls for immediate deployment of 6,000 armed soldiers for a period of two years. While soldiers are deployed, the double barrier fence is completed with video surveillance, lighting, sensors and roads to support rapid deployment of US Border Patrol.

Thirdly, fully enforce the law without any diversion option. We need focus on the solution to secure our border, not on a path to citizenship or amnesty for 12 million.

If President Obama were sincere, why did he not pass immigration reform in his first two years, when he had supermajorities in the House and Senate? Instead, in a purely politically and racially divisive manner, he says he’ll fight now when there is little hope of passage.

The President has failed to fulfill his core constitutional duty to protect America.

President Obama led us to believe he would end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We’re no closer to leaving than when he made these false promises. He bombs Libya for humanitarian reasons and yet ignores the outcry of neighboring Mexico in their war against the drug cartels, which have claimed over 35,000 lives and nearly toppled their government.

Mexico is America’s second largest trading partner and we share nearly 2,000 miles of porous border, which presents a far graver national security threat than anything we face in the Middle East.

Mexico is not our enemy. The cartels are the enemy of Mexico and America. They have brought their violence here to America. Local Sheriffs can’t fight them alone. We can address this growing threat, or we can make jokes, laugh and believe the border is more secure than ever.

Sheriff Paul Babeu is President of the Arizona Sheriff's Association and the 2011 National Sheriff of the Year.

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Fantastic news Obama’s immigration speech says the border fence is finished

President Obama stood before thousands of Texas Democrats and La Raza (The Race) supporters and told a whopper of a lie- “They (GOP) wanted a fence. Well, that fence is now basically complete.”

This is welcome news for those who live near the 2,000-mile southern border; unfortunately it is another propaganda-type lie.

Let’s educate Mr. Obama regarding what exactly is a fence. According to Webster’s Dictionary, a fence is a barrier that serves to enclose an area; an inclosing structure of wood, iron, or other material, intended to prevent intrusion.

Keeping this in mind, the President’s claim that the fence is “basically complete” is untrue. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) February 2011 report says Border Patrol does not control the border. In fact Border Patrol only has the ability to control or prevent illegal entry for 129 miles of the 1,954-miles of U.S./Mexico shared border.

To date the GAO report concluded that Homeland Security has only built 646 miles of border fence. Of this very little was the “two layers of reinforced fencing” that was required by the Secure Border Act. Also included in this secure fence number was 347 miles of pedestrian fencing as well as 299 miles of vehicle barriers.

"Pedestrian fencing is designed to prevent people on foot from crossing the border and vehicle fencing consists of physical barriers meant to stop the entry of vehicles," said Richard Stana, director of homeland security for GAO.

In March, Stana told the committee that Homeland Security had only improved the total length of border fence by three miles last year.

The GAO goes on to reveal that an additional 744 miles of border region gives the Border Patrol power to stop an illegal entry at "distances of up to 100 miles or more away from the immediate border."

Add those numbers up and that leaves 1,081-miles of America’s southern border open and means Homeland Security has no "operational control" along much of the border.

That doesn’t sound secure.

The president also alluded to the fact that border cities are the safest cities in all of America.

Lie number two.

Looking at an annual statistical report put out by the Executive Office for the United States published in 2010 highlighted the violence on the border.

"The violence along the border of the United States and Mexico has increased dramatically during recent years and the violence associated with Mexican drug trafficking organizations pose(s) a serious problem for law enforcement," the report indicated.

It continues to describe that "Illegal immigration provides the initial foothold with which criminal elements, including organized crime syndicates, use to engage in a myriad of illicit activities ranging from immigration document fraud and migrant smuggling to human trafficking. Federal prosecution of border crime is a critical part of our Nation's defense and federal jurisdiction over these offenses is exclusive."

Even President Obama's own Justice Department, says there were more than two-and-a-half-times as many criminals (8,435) charged in federal court in Western Texas, coincidentally El Paso is located in this sector, than in the combined districts of Southern New York (1,959), which includes Manhattan and the Bronx, and the Eastern New York (1,377), which includes Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island, according to CNSNews.

There are other issues and expenses attached to the mass amnesty President Obama is recommending.
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“An amnesty would cost taxpayers millions, if not billions of dollars—at a time where debt is at its ceiling and budgets are busted. It would also reward those who broke the law and came to the U.S. illegally over those who came to the U.S. the legal way,” explained Jena McNeil of The Heritage Foundation.

“Winning Hispanic votes is his (Obama’s) end game,” Israel Ortega says. “It's obvious that political calculations are driving the President's push for immigration reform in light of his all-time-low support among Hispanics. President Obama's advisors remain convinced that immigration reform will guarantee their support, despite polling that indicates that unemployment and education are issues that keep most Hispanics up at night.”

Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-CA) who represents a San Diego community directly affected by illegal immigration thought Obama’s speech was overly optimistic.

“The President provided plenty of good examples for success stories of legal immigrants in his campaign speech. But exploiting their success stories as justification for amnesty to an estimated 11-20 million illegal immigrants who have violated our nation’s laws and cut in line is completely irresponsible,” Bilbray said. "While the crime rate and number of illegal crossings along the border is down, the federal government has still not done enough to address the source of the problem – employers who use illegal labor.”

Congressman Bilbray along with many immigration-minded lawmakers also favor a nationwide implementation of E-Verify to ensure all employers play by the rules and hire only those legally able to work in the U.S.

“The President mentioned holding employers accountable for hiring illegal workers but he has yet to join me in the call for nationwide implementation of the E-Verify system. I call on President Obama to join with members of the House Immigration Reform Caucus to implement a nationwide E-Verify program to hold employers accountable,” Chairman of the House Immigration Reform Caucus finished.

Meanwhile, south of the border in Mexico the warring drug cartels continue to step up their brutal murderous ways; this week in Durango, Mexico six human heads were left at the entrance of a secondary school forcing classes to be cancelled because the scene was too gruesome. Authorities conducted an extensive search for the bodies without any success; unfortunately these gruesome scenes are the rule- not the exception.

With scenes like this playing out around the savaged Mexican country, it’s not hard to understand that Mexicans’ want to run the border and grab a better and safer life, but none of the proposals included in President Obama’s comprehensive immigration reform plan addresses the rush of illegal aliens leaving Mexico and other Central American countries.

If America moves forward with an immigration reform plan without addressing the drug cartels and massive corruption in the Mexican government, it will only be a matter of time before the second and third wave will head north looking for that “better life” courtesy of the American taxpayer.

For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/kimberly-dvorak

© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

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Bipartisan effort to terminate Mexican cross-border trucking program

Responding to mounting criticism from Americans and the U.S. trucking industry two Congressmen will work together in a bi-partisan manner to terminate President Obama’s stamp of approval that allows Mexican trucks to operate in the United States.

A letter addressed to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, from Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) as well as 42 bipartisan lawmakers urged the Secretary to immediately terminate the cross-border trucking program. The plan was established more than 10 years ago under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that will open U.S. roadways to Mexican truck carriers.

Hunter and Lipinski highlighted safety, security and cost concerns with the program, as reasons to leave the current system limiting Mexican carriers to a defined commercial zone in place.

“The cross-border trucking program clearly puts foreign interests above our own,” said Congressman Hunter. “It’s bad for the American economy. It’s bad for American truckers and the entire commercial trucking industry. And it’s bad for border security. Simply put, the cross-border trucking program is a straight handout to Mexico at the expense of American jobs, taxpayer dollars and security.”

Hunter continued to point out that Mexican trucks are the big winners. “They will soon have unrestricted access to U.S. roadways, leaving their American counterparts at a serious disadvantage. Adding insult to injury, American taxpayers will be expected to buy the required Electronic On-Board Recorders for Mexican trucks, while American truckers will need to purchase the same equipment themselves. There is nothing good about this agreement for the U.S., which is why it needs to be terminated immediately.”

Congressman Lipinski added, “Past inspection failures and gaps in security at the border show that opening our roads to Mexican truck traffic could result in the entry of unsafe vehicles and drivers that pose a threat to the safety of the public. Furthermore, inviting trucks from Mexico to freely transport goods throughout the U.S. provides drug traffickers with another potential avenue to exploit at a time when crime and violence in Mexico are on the rise. The fact that the agreement would also require taxpayers to subsidize required equipment for Mexican truckers that American truck operators would have to pay for themselves is yet another reason that it should be rejected.”
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Another problem associated with the Mexican trucks is the pesky environmentalists who want those trucks to operate within U.S. standards. Lucky for the Mexican truckers, the U.S. taxpayer will pick up the tab to upgrade foreign-owned trucks ensuring their emissions meet environmental standards.

According to air-quality regulators, state or federal agencies cannot force trucks purchased and manufactured in Mexico to operate within the much-higher air-quality standards inside the U.S.

So clearly another problem with NAFTA presented itself. However, the folks at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) decided to implement a new program.

They decided to approach Mexican truck drivers with a compromise, the U.S. taxpayer will pay the approximately $1,600 to install a new catalytic converter that will reduce the harmful diesel emissions by 30 percent and the Mexican truck drivers can drive in the U.S. knowing they are not unnecessarily polluting the environment.

“It’s about establishing this relationship on environmental issues,” says ADEQ Director Henry Darwin. “It’s especially important on air quality because you can’t stop the air from moving across the border.”

Darwin says the best solution is to use the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) money to fix the Mexican big rigs.

However, independent U.S. truckers are not entitled to the same deal.

“If I don’t pass my smog test I have to pay to fix my truck in order to get it registered,” says Tom Matthews of San Diego. “Not only are these rigs getting taxpayer money to upgrade their trucks, but they are competing with me for work. That’s just plain wrong.”

While Mexico does very little to protect the environment, it remains to be seen if retro fitting their fifth-wheeler trucks will change anything in the grand scheme of things. For example Mexico still burns its trash and the majority of the cars on the road are big-time polluters.

But Darwin contends, “That it’s really the first step.”

Matthews just wishes he could get the same deal.

For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego

© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

Ex-Minuteman Shawa Forde gets the death penalty for two Arizona murders

Shawna Forde, a rogue ex-minuteman border activist from Everett, Washington was convicted of first degree murder for the double homicide of a suspected Mexican drug dealer, Raul Flores and his 9-year old daughter, Brisenia Flores and today the jury sentenced her to death.

It only took the jury four hours of deliberation before concluding Forde could have stopped the murders and should pay the ultimate price for her role in the heinous crime. Currently, Arizona has only two women on death row.

During the week-long penalty phase of the trial, Forde’s defense attorney Jill Thorpe pleaded to jurors to spare her life. Thorpe said Forde was a “broken person” who suffered years of abuse.

However once the jury heard a taped conversation between Forde and an FBI informant after the murders, the jury concluded Forde knew exactly what she was doing and showed no remorse.

According to the Arizona Daily Star, “Forde brags about both cops and drug smugglers not liking her. She tells the informant, ‘I'm the one person they know is willing to take it to the next level and that scares a lot of people.’”

Once the penalty was determined, Minutemen organizations were quick to respond to the former-Minuteman turned murderer.

“Although Shawna Forde was not a Minuteman and had been kicked out of the national Minuteman group more than 2 years before the murders, the border security movement in America is very pleased that Forde will be paying for her deplorable crimes, including the cold-blooded murder of an innocent 9-year old girl,” said Jeff Schwilk founder of the San Diego Minutemen. “The Minutemen condemn all violence on both sides of the border. True border security and enforcement of our laws is the only answer to stopping the Mexican drug killings that has infested our border region.”

The murders took place in May 2009 in the small border town of Arivaca, Arizona. The jury learned Forde had formed a criminal gang a few weeks earlier made up of several other criminals, radicals and local drug dealers to plan and execute a series of robberies of known-drug traffickers on the U.S. side of the border.

Forde and her two accomplices were arrested within two weeks of the murders. Jason Bush and Albert Gaxiola are expected to begin their murder trials in March and June respectively. Both are eligible for the death penalty and neither of these men had any Minuteman involvement.

For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/kimberly-dvorak

© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

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Fired former 'Minuteman' convicted in Arizona double murder

Shawna Forde, a rogue ex-minuteman border activist from Everett, Washington was convicted Monday of first degree murder for the double homicide of a suspected Mexican drug dealer, Raul Flores and his 9-year old daughter, Brisenia Flores in a home invasion that went terribly wrong.

The murders took place in May 2009 in the small border town of Arivaca, Arizona. The jury learned Forde had formed a criminal gang a few weeks earlier made up of several other criminals, radicals and local drug dealers to plan and execute a series of robberies of known-drug traffickers on the U.S. side of the border.

Gina Gonzales, the murder victim’s wife and mother gave the court her victim impact statement on Tuesday. She detailed for the court how she remembered that fateful day.

Gonzales described what she heard while she was on her living room floor. She explained that her husband was immediately shot as he answered the door and that she could hear her daughter answering questions about the rest of the family. The perpetrators told the little girl she would be okay. They lied.

Moments later 9-year-old, Brisenia, was shot at close range. “I miss my husband, I miss my daughter, I miss my family, I miss my life...and that's all because of a choice she (Forde) made,” Gonzales said in court.

The jury ruled on Tuesday that Forde is eligible for the death penalty.

Looking back

While illegal alien activists were quick to condemn the entire Minuteman border- watch movement because Forde was briefly a Minuteman member five years ago, the facts illustrate the real Minuteman and border security groups throughout the U.S. have a 6-year record of peaceful and law-abiding activism, including rescues and administering first aid to injured and distressed illegal aliens near the border.

In fact, the now-defunct national group Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (MCDC) based in Arizona, expelled Forde from their group in 2007 after she was caught misrepresenting herself as a leader in the group and partaking in other questionable activities.

In a statement released on Monday after the guilty verdict, former MCDC media relations director Dave Bertrand confirmed that “Forde's membership in MCDC was revoked in February 2007 and that she was warned to stay away from all MCDC border operations.”

Once Forde was kicked out of MCDC, the other mainstream border security groups refused to work with her and even warned other activists about her increasing erratic behavior and radical public statements.

Despite her tiny following, Forde continued to camp near the Arizona border where she posted constant Internet updates about the “invasion” of Mexican drug smugglers and her alleged run-ins with them.

Chelene Nightingale, coordinator for the SoCal Patriot Coalition and former California gubernatorial candidate, also tracked Forde before the murders and warned her members to stay clear of Forde. “The American Patriot and secure borders movement has always and will always strongly police their own groups to weed out any radicals, criminals, and mentally unstable individuals who try to join or infiltrate law-abiding political activist groups. Our message to Washington nearly six years ago when this movement started was simple, the American people just want our dangerous southern border with Mexico secured and our laws enforced equally," Nighingale said.

From bad to worse....

Forde’s shenanigans finally caught up with her in December 2008, when someone tried to kill her estranged husband, in Everett, WA after she returned from a border operation. He was shot several times at close range in his home by unknown assassins, but miraculously survived.

Forde claimed she had nothing to do with the assault; however their divorce was only a few weeks away from being finalized. She even posted on her website that Mexican drug cartels were responsible for the attempted hit.

However, Forde was never interviewed by the Everett Police, despite several requests made by the department. She eventually left town without being questioned about the attempted murder of her husband. According to reporter Scott North at the Everett Herald, who has been following Forde’s activities for years, “Court papers showed that Shawna Forde has from the outset been suspected of somehow being involved in her (husbands’) attack.”

Immediately after her husband had been shot, Forde claimed that MS-13 gang members were targeting her family and behind the attempted murder of her husband. However, many border advocates were suspicious of her claims which prompted Forde to then claim a week later that MS-13 gang members had broken into her home, beaten, raped and sodomized her.

Shortly after she spoke about the MS-13 gang attack, Forde posted numerous pictures of herself on her website. Many were semi-nude showing dark bruises and possible scrapes on various parts of her body.

However, Everett Police were unable find any evidence of her claims and determined that she had most likely made up the whole story.

Once news broke about the attempted murder of Forde’s husband and the alleged attack on Forde, several prominent Minuteman leaders began to suspect Forde was in serious trouble in Everett, WA.

Founder of the San Diego Minutemen, Jeff Schwilk, suspected Forde’s story was unraveling quickly and said she was trying to garner sympathy by making-up attacks by Mexican gang members.

In early 2009, Forde also claimed she was shot in a dark alley. However, according to the Everett Police Department there was never any evidence to back-up her claim. Then, in mid-January 2009, two weeks after she claimed she was raped, Forde was shot in her arm in a dark alley and claimed unknown assailants drove up and shot her. Again Everett Police found no evidence of an attack and believe Forde may have staged the shooting.

Schwilk said, “After that third alleged violent incident most leaders in the border security movement concluded Forde was staging these alleged attacks in an effort to convince people that the Mexican drug cartels were now targeting border activists.” Forde used these incidents to recruit border watchers for her planned border mission in Arizona in the spring.

It would be April 2009 when Forde would migrate back to southern Arizona and resume her “border operations.”

Forde was forced to recruit for her new crew using her Internet network of criminals and known drug-trade peddlers. Under Forde’s direction, her newly-formed group began plotting home invasions to fund their future border operations.

Raul Flores, the murder victim, was believed to be Forde’s first foray into the robbery business, but it turned deadly and ultimately led to her downfall. Forde and her two accomplices were arrested within two weeks of the murders. Jason Bush and Albert Gaxiola are expected to begin their murder trials in March and June respectively. Neither of these men had any Minuteman involvement.

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© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

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Border Patrol snares 31 illegal aliens along San Diego coastline

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested 31 illegal aliens yesterday who tried to unlawfully enter the country aboard small, panga-style boats off the San Diego coastline.

Just after midnight, Border Patrol agents, working in conjunction with CBP Air and Marine Branch, spotted a panga boat cross the U.S. international boundary and travel north along the California coast.

The vessel came ashore near the mouth of the Tijuana River, several individuals disembarked and then the boat quickly returned south towards Mexico. Border Patrol agents wasted no time and apprehended 14 individuals and placed them under arrest for unlawfully entering the United States.

According to CBP, two female and 11 male Mexican nationals as well as one male Honduran national were transported to a local Border Patrol station for processing.

“A second maritime smuggling attempt was intercepted this morning near Camp Pendleton, California. At approximately 2:50 a.m., Border Patrol agents observed a panga-style boat approach the shoreline near Red Beach. Several individuals jumped out of the boat and headed toward cliffs east of the shoreline,” a CBP statement read.

Border Patrol agents quickly responded to the scene and arrested 17 individuals who all claimed to be Mexican nationals illegally entering the United States. Agents transported 13 males and 4 females to a local Border Patrol Station for processing.

However the boat absconded back toward Mexico, before agents could reach the location.

With the deployment of the National Guard along the California coast, CBP and Border Patrol have been able to hone their nighttime observation skills and been able to foil many daring maritime entries into America along the Southern California coast.

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© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

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Want to practice your illegal alien smuggling skills? There’s an app for that

A new iPhone/iPad app is set to be released next month. This new controversial game is called “Smuggle Truck- Operation Immigration,” and it allows gamers to fill their truck with as many illegal “immigrants” as they can and race across the desert landscape into America.

“Smuggle Truck was inspired by the frustration our friends have experienced in trying to immigrate to the United States. With such a troublesome issue being largely avoided in popular media, especially video games, we felt the best way to criticize it was with an interactive satire,” said app creators Owlchemy Labs.

“This idea originated as a result of learning that the process of legal immigration was not as straightforward as we had assumed,” the game designer said. “As we lived through a painful 12 months of our friend struggling through the absurd legal minefield that surrounds U.S. immigration, we felt that we should create a game that touches on the issue.”

The satirical game came about after immigration discussions sparked a very real concern. "It's so tough to legally immigrate to the U.S., it's almost easier to smuggle yourself over the border."

The game’s goal is to load up a truck with passengers and quickly speed across a fictional border. Drive too fast up-and-down the hillsides and your “immigrants” will fall off of the truck and reduce your illegal alien tally.

The game’s designers claimed that they kept a “meticulous eye (in order) to avoid depicting stereotypes and specific locales. Through user testing and feedback from fellow developers and random strangers, we worked to represent the game in a more abstracted form.”

Owlchemy Labs hopes the fictional, satirical game will spark attention to America’s very real immigration issues.

To preview the iPhone or iPad app; http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_wBzcnoRPag

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© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

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Drug smugglers caught on tape 35 miles north of U.S. border

A weekend video clip posted by Arizona Border Defenders shows six drug cartel mules (lackeys that transport drug-laden backpacks) carrying loads of marijuana more than 35 miles north of the U.S./Mexico border.

Arizona Border Defenders is a patriot group dedicated to exposing the porous southern borders by using hidden video cams throughout the region in order to document the hoards of illegal traffic flowing north into the country.

While a great many of these illegal aliens are seeking a better life for themselves or their family, drug cartels are also using the smuggling routes to transport drugs often making for a dangerous trek.

There are several reports of illegal aliens being robbed, beaten or raped by desert bandits preying on unsuspecting migrants who are walking through the harsh terrain.

The brief hidden camera video clip points to the risky side of passing through the desert at night. Many of these drug smugglers will use violence if anyone threatens their ability to transport their illicit drugs to a hungry U.S. consumer.

These well-placed hidden cameras provide a birds-eye view of just how dangerous the southern-border region remains and prove America’s borders remain unsecure.

To view the video clip; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHh_ubAbb6k&feature=player_embedded

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© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

Border Patrol foils dive -scooter coastal invasion by illegal aliens

Border Patrol agents nabbed a pair of Mexican nationals trying to enter the U.S. illegally using a jet-propelled dive scooters. The two were apprehended in Imperial Beach, Calif. and processed for illegally entering the country.

The agents arrested two male Mexican nationals after they illegally landed on U.S. shores. The dive scooters used by the illegal aliens are self-propelled underwater devices that are often used by deep-sea divers.

The daring nighttime invasion was discovered by crew of a Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine aircraft who spotted two suspicious subjects in wetsuits who were carrying the dive scooters.

The Hispanic males proceeded to walk north on the beach when Border Patrol agents responded to the scene and found the two individuals attempting to hide in the sand.

Agents questioned both males, a 38-year-old and a 16-year-old, and placed them under arrest after determining they were the Mexican nationals who had used the dive scooters to unlawfully enter the country.

Border Patrol transported the criminals to a local processing station.

The Maritime Unified Command, who spotted the wayward travelers, utilizes the fusion of intelligence, planning and operations to target the threat of transnational crime along the coastal border and works with agents on the ground to protect all of America’s borders.

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© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

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Calfornia madness continues- free college for illegals

California is broke. It owes more than $25 billion, businesses and residents are fleeing like dine-and-dash customers to less taxed states; this financial catastrophe is leaving a gaping spending and revenue problem for the Golden State.

Rational lawmakers would see the writing on the wall and start cutting the budget line by line. However, adding insult to injury, one California lawmaker thinks the state should allow illegal aliens to apply and receive dwindling financial aid for colleges.

Only in America would Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, (D-Los Angeles) introduce legislation (AB130 and AB131) that would place illegal aliens on a level playing field with residents who have lived and paid taxes in sunny California.

Californians are struggling to stay afloat during the state’s lingering recession that teeters on the brink of financial collapse. Despite the looming financial meltdown lawmakers continue to introduce legislation that punishes legal residents and aids illegal alien students. Both AB130 and AB131 bills increase the number of illegal alien students who are exempt from paying nonresident college tuition.

Cedillo says it’s no big deal but he is very wrong, after a two-day college budget summit, the University of California regents came to the conclusion that serious changes are on the horizon.

The UC colleges (not the state colleges which are facing identical challenges) said the new cuts equate to a 16.4 percent reduction of state support, an 8 percent tuition increase, and nearly half of the UC financial aid as well as 80 percent of student services funding will see cutbacks.

Additionally, 22,000 out-of-state students will gain preference over residents and the UC College regents say they will have to cut 50,000 students beginning this fall semester.

According to activist groups, AB131 legislation would penalize citizens or legal immigrant students by reducing the financial aid available to them and blurs the lines between those who are here legally and those who broke federal immigration laws.

In the past California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, vetoed similar bills, but it appears newly-elected Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, has indicated he supports giving financial aid to illegal alien students and will sign the legislation.

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© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

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La Raza targets lawmakers who voted against the DREAM Act

The National Council of La Raza (NCLA) announced it will begin a new ad campaign targeting those lawmakers who voted against the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors) during last year’s lame duck Congressional session.

La Raza (the race in Spanish) launched an online and print ad campaign named “We Will Not Forget.”

The campaign will serve as a reminder to voters that Congress members of both parties voted against the DREAM Act and Latino organizations were watching.

The ads will be running in Spanish-language newspapers in some states as well as select online websites in both English and Spanish.

The big red poster is downloadable and includes the pictures of all lawmakers who did not support illegal aliens’ children’s right to amnesty and qualify them for in-state college tuition. La Raza hopes supporters will download the poster and put it on their refrigerator to serve as a daily reminder.

“As we move into the new Congress and work toward advancing important legislation for our community, it’s crucial not to forget what happened in the lame duck session of 2010,” said Laura Vazquez of La Raza. “The ‘DREAM Act’ was an important measure of support for our community and we need to remember who stood with us and who turned their backs on us.”

To view the ad; http://www.nclr.org/images/uploads/pages/DREAMAdEng.pdf

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© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

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Want to help your illegal relative get citizenship? There’s a class for that!

The United States and Immigration Services Office (USIS) of Public Engagement is holding a new series of seminars aimed at legalizing relatives of legal immigrants.

The new “Enlace” webinar is aptly named, “How do I help my relative become a permanent resident in the United States?”

The federal government will provide the details only in Spanish, English-only residents will not be addressed at this seminar. The forum is meant to answer questions regarding legalizing family members and will only cover “general” queries.

The first in-person seminar is scheduled in Fairfax, VA on Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. However the USIS will broadcast the controversial seminar via the Internet and conference call.

Those who wish to participate are encouraged to email public.engagement@dhs.gov, and type the word “Enlace” in the subject line.

For more information about the seminar click USIS website.

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© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

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California Democrats seek approval from voters to grant amnesty

While the DREAM Act failed on a national stage, California State Democrats would like to skirt federal law and provide a pathway to citizenship for those who are illegally residing in the Golden State.

State Assembly Bill 78, written by Tony Mendoza (D-Arcadia) seeks to put an advisory measure on the state ballot asking California voters if they think the United States is responsible to grant amnesty to longtime illegal aliens currently living unlawfully inside America.

The Democrat’s proposed “pathway to citizenship bill” would give illegal aliens who have worked in the U.S. for five years, have no felony convictions, speak English and are current with all their taxes a chance to legalize their status.

The bill’s author, Mendoza claims the illegal immigration debate is front-page news across the country and says the nation's "broken immigration system" requires an overhaul that "rewards work, reunites families, restores the rule of law, reinforces immigrant workers and redeems the 'American Dream.'"

The Southern California Democrat hopes the measure will qualify for California’s statewide primary election in June 2012.

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© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

Judge rules illegal aliens can collect workers compensation

Straight out of kangaroo court, a D.C. Court of Appeals judge ruled that illegal alien, Palemon Gonzales, is eligible to receive about $11,000 in worker's compensation benefits.

The employer at the time, David Karim claims he knew nothing about the employee's legal status as he used his cousin, Armando Casarrubias' green card to obtain a busboy job.

The illegal alien's identity came to light after he was injured on the job by a flying beer bottle that sent him to the hospital.

The aptly named bar, Asylum, found out their employee was using falsified documents to work once the hospital began sending medical bills in his real name.

The bar owner, Karim, testified at the workers' compensation hearing saying Gonzales snookered him and presented false documents to acquire employment at his bar.

Once management found out the illegal alien provided false documents they promptly fired him, but this action led to the courtroom where the workers' compensation board gave Gonzales his benefits.

The D.C. Appeals Court said it is legal under the District's workers compensation laws to provide benefits to any employee regardless to legal status. The court claimed it is "consistent with the principle that the (workers' compensation act) is to be construed liberally to achieve its humanitarian purpose."

The court suggested the opposite decision could lead to employers reneging on their responsibility to protect workers. By paying workers compensation for illegal immigrants the court stated it would avoid a "powerful incentive for employers not to hire such individuals."

However, anti-illegal immigration advocates see things differently.

"The court noted that it was trying to send a message to those who would employ illegal aliens- putting them on notice that they must not treat employees unfairly," said Michael Cutler former INS agent and immigration expert who has testified before Congress numerous times. "I certainly agree that we must do all that we can to discourage the employment of illegal aliens by employers- however, what about the message that this decision sends to illegal aliens and foreign nationals who may, at this moment, be contemplating running our nation's borders and seeking illegal employment?"

Cutler contends this case is reminiscent of the President and members of Congress who said they wanted to put illegal aliens on a pathway to United States citizenship. "The idea is that if your violate our borders, violate our immigration laws and likely other laws along the way, we will not only let you get away with these violations- we want to reward you for those violations."

In essence, comprehensive immigration reform and other forms of amnesty send precisely the wrong message to the illegal aliens as does this Appeals Court decision, according to Cutler.

"There is nothing in the decision that deters or dissuades aliens from running our borders and working illegally- quite to the contrary, the court decision will likely be seen as an additional inducement for aliens to ignore our borders and our immigration laws while the Court claims the point was to discourage employers from intentionally hiring illegal aliens," he finished.

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© Copyright 2010 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.

Despite cartel violence, DHS moves to increase travel between countries

Looking to strengthen the Obama Administration’s ongoing commitment with Mexico, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano traveled to Mexico City to meet with her counterpart and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to fighting terrorism and other transnational crimes.

Among the business conducted by Napolitano was the “signing an agreement to facilitate secure, legitimate travel as part the United States' and Mexico's continued efforts to enhance the security of both nations.”

A statement released by DHS explained that “In the face of ever-evolving, multinational threats, the United States is committed to working with our international partners to enhance information-sharing and our mutual security.”

Secretary Napolitano described her confidence in the relationship between the two countries. “We look forward to our continued partnership with the Mexican government as we forge an unprecedented international security framework that facilitates legitimate trade and travel while protecting our citizens.”

The Mexico City meeting included the signing of an accord expressing both countries intent to develop a Global Entry International Trusted Traveler program pilot. Secretary Napolitano and Mexico Ministry of the Interior Secretary José Francisco Blake Mora shored up plans for a Global Entry “to facilitate secure, legitimate travel between the two nations.”

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) describes the Global Entry as a program that would allow pre-approved members, who undergo a vigorous background check as well as provide biometrics in order to expedite U.S. customs processing.

This new program could reduce average border crossing times and permit law enforcement to focus on other serious security threats at America’s busy points of entry.

The anticipated program would provide Global Entry kiosks at America’s ports of entry that require members to insert their passport or lawful permanent resident card (LPR) into a document reader, provide their digital fingerprints for comparison with fingerprints on file, answer customs declaration questions and finally spit out a transaction receipt for the traveler to give to a CBP officer in order to leave the inspection area.

Disqualifiers for potential applicants include providing false or incomplete information on the SENTRI application; a criminal conviction or pending criminal charges; violations of any immigration laws; subject of an ongoing investigation by any federal, state, or local law enforcement agency; the inability to satisfy CBP of their low risk status.

Other business conducted by Secretary Napolitano, Minister Blake Mora and Mexican Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Julian Ventura was a signed “Letter of Intent” between DHS, Mexico's Secretariat of Governance and Secretariat of Foreign Affairs affirming their shared commitment to collaborate on a plan to expeditiously and humanly repatriate Mexican nationals to interior parts of Mexico once they’ve been processed and deported.

“The Letter of Intent builds on the framework of 30 Local Arrangements for the Repatriation of Mexican Nationals between consular and immigration authorities of both nations established by Secretary Napolitano and Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa on April 3, 2009–formalizing the operational coordination between governments to guarantee a safe, orderly and humane repatriation process,” the statement concludes.

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© Copyright 2010Kimberly Dvorak all rights reserved

A shift in messaging for Border Patrol stirs border battle debate

The uptick of violence along America’s southern border has brought the U.S. Border Patrol agency under the microscope and has raised several questions leaving many rank-and-file agents concerned as to what their job title really means.

According to the agency’s website the primary concern for those in green along the border is indeed terrorism.

“We are the guardians of our Nation’s borders, we are America’s frontline. We safeguard the American homeland at and beyond our borders. We protect the American public against terrorist and the instruments of terror. We steadfastly enforce the laws of the United States while fostering our Nation’s economic security through lawful international trade and travel. We serve the American public with vigilance, integrity and professionalism,” the Border Patrol website statement reads.

Nowhere has this point been taken to heart more than those directing policy inside Border Patrol’s hierarchy.
While the vast majority of American’s believe that fences make good neighbors, Border Patrol management has subscribed to a very different stance. After 9/11 and under the umbrella of Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol began its process to purge the agency of old school agents and filling those slots with new agents who didn’t ask too many questions.

Border Patrol’s new mission led to statements from sector chiefs along the southwest border that drew ire from residents and congressional members alike.

For example, former Laredo-sector chief Carlos Carrillo was scrutinized for making blanket statements to area residents like, “agents don’t have the responsibility of apprehending illegal immigrants” and “illegal narcotics are not on agent’s priority list.”

Carrillo emphasized that Border Patrol’s responsibility was to keep the country safe from terrorism. He even went as far to say if terrorists came into the country his agents would be ready.

However the House Judiciary Committee sees things a little differently. "Ranking Member Smith is concerned about the apparent lack of focus on illegal immigration, and he plans to write to the Department of Homeland Security demanding answers."

Late last week another insidious incident happened along the Texas/Mexico border- a U.S. Citizen was murdered while jet skiing at Falcon Lake, a waterway shared by both the U.S. as well as Mexico. After the story gained legs, Texas Governor Rick Perry stepped in and added his opinion.

First the governor considers the shooting of a U.S. citizen on Falcon Lake spillover violence from cartels.

Word from the Texas governor's office in Austin, says they are calling on Washington D.C. leaders to send more support along some of the country’s most dangerous borders.

A statement released by Governor Perry’s office shows the urgency Texans are facing everyday the borders remain unsecure.

"Every day drug and human traffickers exploit the southwest border...they are increasingly confrontational... which is illustrated by incidents of spillover violence...the governor has continued to urge this administration to...immediately deploy additional resources to the Texas-Mexico border, including 1,000 title 32 national guardsmen and predator drones."

While the border may have more resources dedicated to securing the southwestern region than ever, the fact remains drugs and illegal aliens continue to head north. In fact the Arizona border has witnessed more than its fair share of trafficked narcotics by heavily armed cartel members who seem to have the first 80 miles inside Arizona under their control.

This is evidenced by the placement of numerous sign by the Federal Bureau of Land Management informing residents to not enter the region due to armed smugglers and the fact law enforcement may not be able to protect U.S. residents from dangerous criminals.

Arizona Sheriff Larry Dever from Cochise County, where rancher Rob Krentz was murdered by an alleged illegal alien, said many portions of the Grand Canyon state are out of control and has repeatedly asked from more support from Phoenix to Washington D.C. Like Texas Governor Perry, Sheriff Dever’s requests have gone unnoticed.

In an effort to warn other American’s about the dangerous border regions, Sheriff Dever traveled to Washington last week to sit on a panel for the Heritage Foundation. The hour and a half seminar focused on border issues and how best to allocate resources to the region.

Dever contends the U.S. Border Patrol has pulled back from parts of Arizona because manning those areas has become too dangerous. “You frankly have Border Patrolmen, and I know this from talking to Border Patrol agents, who will not allow their agents to work on the border because it is too dangerous,” Dever said during a CNSNews.com interview.

The Arizona lawman also says agents in the field are only doing what they are told and infers the agents in his county and beyond are capable to patrolling the border minefield, but management stifles their efforts.

“Then you have middle management and upper management that says, ‘No, it’s too dangerous right there and we’re going to cause an international incident if there’s shooting across the line, back and forth,’” Dever claims.

Dever said one only needs to look at the Bureau of Land Management signs placed in Pinal County, 70 miles north of the border, warning citizens the area was a known drug-smuggling route and they may not be safe, as a sign Americans are not protected inside U.S. boundaries.

Many Border Patrol agents have witnessed the changing of the guard

The U.S. Border Patrol was founded in 1924. Their job was to protect the southwest border and for 80 years Border Patrol’s primary mission was to apprehend illegal aliens and confront smugglers even though they were greatly outmanned.

After Border Patrol’s reorganization under DHS, David Aguilar, who was disliked by the Tucson media as Sector Chief, but was somehow elevated to Chief of the Border Patrol in mid-2004.

“For years, David was seen as a tail-kisser by numerous retirees. In fact his benefactor is his former Chief Silvestre ‘Silver’ Reyes (D-TX) who was elected to Congress from El Paso after retiring in 1996. It should be noted that I’ve long considered El Paso and Tucson Sectors to be the most corrupt in the nation,” says Andy Ramirez, president of Law Enforcement Officers Advocates Council.

Evidence of this can be seen by the FBI indictments last week of Nogales, Arizona’s Mayor, Octavio Garcia Von Borstel, 29, for bribery, theft, fraud, and money laundering charges. “These charges are serious violations of the law. Because some charges involve the official actions of an elected official, they violate the public trust,” said Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard about the Democrat Mayor. “Both the mayor and his father will be held accountable and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

Over the years Chief Aguilar not only built his power but began to implement the destruction of the patrol in numerous ways. As early as 2004 a number of key policies were changed without any objection by Aguilar who insulated himself by appointing compadres who protected him and watched his back.

Laredo’s former BP Chief Carrillo was on record for supporting “comprehensive immigration reform” aka amnesty for illegal aliens. “Those who would not ‘go along to get along’ were essentially forced into early retirement in 2006-07. Very few of the legacy chiefs remain in management positions today,” Ramirez says.

“Evidence of the policy change is first noted by the elimination of the sector that had the most apprehensions in the nation, that being Livermore BP Sector in Northern California. Their area of responsibility was California’s Central Valley, which was long a thorn of illegal alien supporters including the Mexican Government. That AOR was given to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who became the new premier agency for interior immigration enforcement under DHS, which is something they’ve hardly made a dent in since their inception,” according to Ramirez.

Just as memos have surfaced from ICE and DHS strategizing ways to circumvent Congress and grant amnesty under the Obama Administration, the open border agenda is nothing new.

“On November 16. 2004 a Memo of Understanding (MOU) between Customs and Border Protection (really meaning the Border Patrol) and ICE resulted in the ICE Office of Investigations being given control of key investigative responsibilities (including narcotics) while neutering the Border Patrol by limiting enforcement to cross border traffic in ‘routine areas of patrol’ meaning agents remained on X’s in deterrence duty,” Ramirez said.

This MOU came on the heels of the 2004 sweeps by agents known as the “dirty dozen” who as a result of protests by the Mexican Government and Hispanic Congressmen were transferred to the border from other stations. Ramirez, who has testified numerous times under oath to Congress, says this policy began to change in a previous MOU released earlier in the year.

“Policy after policy was implemented that could only have been drafted and ordered by Mexico considering how every time Mexico screamed about any and everything, a policy change happened as requested. This would include the memo by DHS Secretary Tom Ridge who also banned ‘racial profiling’ by agents during summer 2004,” Ramirez pointed out.

As such, border enforcement and internal moral is non-existent. The fact is that the retired Chief Patrol Agents and retirees don’t even recognize the agency they built should be of concern to Americans. (NAFBPO has released their immigration reform plan to the American public yesterday).

“Their (Border Patrol) motto of ‘Honor First’ was eliminated by David Aguilar and his cabal who have destroyed 80 years of a proud legacy. What Aguilar did to the patrol without so much as a hint of protest is a disgrace and he should have been fired. His team has no operational control and that directly impacts our national security,” Ramirez contends.

This type of action has led to the Border Patrol Union’s vote of “no confidence” for management the past four years. This is the first time that Border Patrol’s union has voted a “no confidence” in management in 80 years.

Ultimately, today’s Border Patrol management should not be considered law enforcement for they are politicians and the bottom line is that BP management supports amnesty at any cost contrary to their long-held mission for 80 years.

Another longtime Washington D.C. think tank the Center for Immigration Studies has closely monitored all the debates regarding immigration policy. A recent posting by Stanley Renshon, in September of this year reveals details that should be included in any immigration reform plan.

“Establish operational control of the border: We must take action to secure our borders, and that action starts with enforcing our laws. We will ensure that the Border Patrol has the tools and authorities to establish operational control at the border and prohibit the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from interfering with Border Patrol enforcement activities on federal lands,” Renshon says.

“Work with State and Local Officials to Enforce Our Immigration Laws: The problem of illegal immigration and Mexican drug cartels engaged in an increasingly violent conflict means we need all hands on deck to address this challenge. We will reaffirm the authority of state and local law enforcement to assist in the enforcement of all federal immigrations laws,” he says is necessary to satisfy the American public.

Just as with the National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers plan to reform the nation’s broken immigration laws, CIS believes the common denominator is; enforcement. “This is an understandable emphasis given the public's concern with illegal immigration and the method by which the Pledge (to America) was actually developed,” Renshon explains. “The GOP relied heavily on an interactive forum called ‘America Speaking Out’ which received comments from over 100,000 registered users. Clearly ‘control our borders’ and ‘enforce our immigration laws’ captured in a phrase what most of those who responded to the online forum wished to see done, as well as what many other Americans want and what they feel the government has been unable and unwilling to do.”

When the question of border control and immigration tactics was presented to Texas voters and published in five major Texas newspapers including, NBC Texas- “more than half of the registered voters surveyed support legislation similar to a new Arizona law that cracks down on illegal immigrants.”

According to the poll, 53 percent of 1,072 registered Texas voters said they would support the passage of tougher legislation in Texas.

However, pollster Mickey Blum said when he added the question of possible "racial profiling" as a consequence for new legislation he felt was the possible decrease in support from the 60s. "Even having said those words 'racial profiling' in the question, you've got majority support for that type of law," Blum said. Thirty-eight percent of Texans were opposed to the new legislation, and eight percent were undecided.

This recent news must come as some concern for policy makers in Washington D.C. as their elitism ideas are clearly not resonating with the majority of everyday Americans. But the question remains if the balance of power changes in November, will the new policies be put forth and will they echo with ordinary American ideals?


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