http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=31516
Ranchers decry U.S. 'occupying force'
Forming group to press for Border Patrol reforms, protect property
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 14, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Calling the U.S. Border Patrol an "occupying force," owners of ranches along the frontier with Mexico have formed a new association to resolve grievances and help officials bolster national security.
The Border Land Association in an attempt to strengthen cooperation with U.S. agents, said Laredo, Texas, rancher Gene Walker, who serves as the group's president.
"Historically, border landowners have been citizen volunteers, working with the USBP and others to ensure that our nation is safe and secure," he said.
Walker charges, however, that "over the past four years – long before September 11 – the USBP has begun to act like an 'occupation force,' ignoring, not only private property rights, but repudiating the assistance that landowners can provide – and have previously provided – to help control illegal entry into Texas."
Consequently, Walker said, "landowners have begun to fear the USBP's practices more than they fear the illegal aliens crossing their land."
In a statement, Walker listed examples of alleged Border Patrol practices:
Agents have constructed roads and "drag lines" and installed wireless monitors without landowner permission;
Agents and pilots have used helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and vehicles, to chase and harass wildlife, livestock, property owners, ranch employees and commercial hunting clients;
Agents have destroyed private roads, fences and gates, and replaced private locks on gates with government locks, barring owners, employees and guests from entering – and sometimes exiting – their own property;
Agents leave gates open and cut fences, allowing livestock to wander onto roadways or other pastures where they could mix with livestock of different ownership or genetics, causing enormous potential expense to ranchers;
Agents on horse patrol ignore the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Fever Tick Quarantine Zone and regulations, endangering herds of livestock and placing significant ranch investment at precarious risk.
Walker said that many landowners have tried to negotiate conduct agreements with the Border Patrol but have been rejected by agents and supervisors.
He said that after these individual efforts failed, the Border Land Association was formed to bring change through political action.
"The Border Land Association was not created to dwell on past incidents, but to lay the groundwork for better cooperation and stronger national security," Walker said. "With the recent formation of the Homeland Security Department, we have an unprecedented opportunity to help restructure and reform the fundamental policies of the USBP, enlisting – instead of alienating – the citizens it is trying to protect."
Walker said there are many issues to address, but changing the patrol's measure of performance, which he calls a disincentive, is a top priority.
"Rewarding border patrol sectors for apprehending more aliens is backward," he said.
"If a sector successfully deters crossings, its apprehension numbers go down, and the successful efforts of those agents aren't recognized," Walker explained. "On the other hand, a high level of apprehensions indicates a high number of crossings, and the system rewards sectors that allow illegal aliens to enter the country initially."
Walker said he wants to prevent border properties from being turned into a vast "chasing ground."
"Regardless of motivation, all illegal aliens have one thing in common – they cross an international border," he said. "Deterring them from entering the U.S. certainly seems more effective than having to catch them once they get here."
Ranchers decry U.S. 'occupying force'
Forming group to press for Border Patrol reforms, protect property
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 14, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Calling the U.S. Border Patrol an "occupying force," owners of ranches along the frontier with Mexico have formed a new association to resolve grievances and help officials bolster national security.
The Border Land Association in an attempt to strengthen cooperation with U.S. agents, said Laredo, Texas, rancher Gene Walker, who serves as the group's president.
"Historically, border landowners have been citizen volunteers, working with the USBP and others to ensure that our nation is safe and secure," he said.
Walker charges, however, that "over the past four years – long before September 11 – the USBP has begun to act like an 'occupation force,' ignoring, not only private property rights, but repudiating the assistance that landowners can provide – and have previously provided – to help control illegal entry into Texas."
Consequently, Walker said, "landowners have begun to fear the USBP's practices more than they fear the illegal aliens crossing their land."
In a statement, Walker listed examples of alleged Border Patrol practices:
Agents have constructed roads and "drag lines" and installed wireless monitors without landowner permission;
Agents and pilots have used helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and vehicles, to chase and harass wildlife, livestock, property owners, ranch employees and commercial hunting clients;
Agents have destroyed private roads, fences and gates, and replaced private locks on gates with government locks, barring owners, employees and guests from entering – and sometimes exiting – their own property;
Agents leave gates open and cut fences, allowing livestock to wander onto roadways or other pastures where they could mix with livestock of different ownership or genetics, causing enormous potential expense to ranchers;
Agents on horse patrol ignore the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Fever Tick Quarantine Zone and regulations, endangering herds of livestock and placing significant ranch investment at precarious risk.
Walker said that many landowners have tried to negotiate conduct agreements with the Border Patrol but have been rejected by agents and supervisors.
He said that after these individual efforts failed, the Border Land Association was formed to bring change through political action.
"The Border Land Association was not created to dwell on past incidents, but to lay the groundwork for better cooperation and stronger national security," Walker said. "With the recent formation of the Homeland Security Department, we have an unprecedented opportunity to help restructure and reform the fundamental policies of the USBP, enlisting – instead of alienating – the citizens it is trying to protect."
Walker said there are many issues to address, but changing the patrol's measure of performance, which he calls a disincentive, is a top priority.
"Rewarding border patrol sectors for apprehending more aliens is backward," he said.
"If a sector successfully deters crossings, its apprehension numbers go down, and the successful efforts of those agents aren't recognized," Walker explained. "On the other hand, a high level of apprehensions indicates a high number of crossings, and the system rewards sectors that allow illegal aliens to enter the country initially."
Walker said he wants to prevent border properties from being turned into a vast "chasing ground."
"Regardless of motivation, all illegal aliens have one thing in common – they cross an international border," he said. "Deterring them from entering the U.S. certainly seems more effective than having to catch them once they get here."
