Border ranchers react to White House meeting
Posted:Friday, June 4, 2010
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - All eyes and ears were on Governor Brewer and President Obama on Thursday as the two met at the White House to discuss securing the border, including sending National Guard troops.
Arguably, few have more at stake than the ranching community of southern Arizona who spend their days and nights keeping watch over their property. In late March of this year, one of their own, Robert Krentz was shot to death on his ranch near Douglas. The killer's identity is unknown, as is the killer's immigration status. But investigators have said they suspect the murder was the work of an illegal border crosser.
Even after the senseless murder, border crimes against Kentz' family and the close-knit ranching community haven't stopped.
KGUN9 talked to Gary Thrasher, a friend of the Krentz family and also a rancher. Thrasher explained what has been happening in the areas closest to the border.
"People are breaking into homes, intimidating women to lock themselves into bedrooms. There have been 2 or 3 threats since Rob's been killed," Thrasher said.
Thrasher said that a Border Patrol union leader recently told him the patrol itself doesn't feel safe. "If they don't think it's safe, how can anyone else think it's safe?" Read More
If the Border Patrol doesn’t want to protect the border because it’s too dangerous, don’t you think it’s time to do something about this problem. Why is our country sacrificing miles of our own soil and endangering the lives of our own citizens? With the government wanting to be so involved in our personal lives these days, why can’t it uphold one of the few specific responsibilities it’s supposed to, such as protecting and defending our borders?
3 comments:
Maybe it is the ARs after all, they are out to put animal exploiters out of business; http://animalnews2.blogspot.com/2010/06/gulf-coast-fishermen-shit-out-of-luck.html
This is the biggest reason my godson is with me. He is a responsible kid and would do fine for a few hours on his own, but his mom passed away, dad works and they live near the border. Illegals HAVE crossed their property. Horses nicker in the middle of the night (horses that typically nicker only at horses or people). There will be more killing. The stage is set - and government isn't willing to stop it.
I've just heard from a friend in Southwest Texas that the Border Patrol has been put on fuel rations and not allowed to leave the highway. Where previously they were able to patrol the ranch. Now if an illegal is sighted then they have to call it in - it's 25 miles to the border from the highway and it takes about 2 hours to travel by pick-up. By the time the patrol arrives the illegals will be long gone. I guess the rancher will have to dog'em and tie them down till help arrives?!? So much for government help on the border.
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