Who might be in the best position to understand how dire the problems of illegal aliens, drugs and crime have become along the United States’ border with Mexico? Border Patrol agents? Ranchers with families, land and cattle in the region?
Maybe.
But one of the groups of people with the greatest understanding of how bad things are on our border with Mexico would be the sheriffs who handle law enforcement in or near those areas. And the tale that one of those sheriffs tells is harrowing.
In a recent press conference, Sheriff Paul Babeu of Pinal County, in southern Arizona, candidly acknowledged that his department is badly under-equipped to fight the massive influx of violent drug smugglers coming up from Mexico. A vast swath of Arizona from the Mexican border almost as far north as Phoenix is simply under the rule of Mexican drug cartels, he said.
“We do not have control of this area,” Sheriff Babeu said, according to Human Events magazine.
He lacks the manpower and his deputies lack the firepower to contend with the drug runners, he said. The criminals use military weapons and tactics, and they have even started using bulldozers to smooth border-area dirt roads for drug runs.
Human Events pointed out that the federal government now posts warning signs along an interstate in southern Arizona urging people not to camp or hike in the region.
“Active Drug and Human Smuggling Area,” the signs say. “Visitors May Encounter Armed Criminals and Smuggling Vehicles Traveling at High Rates of Speed. … If You See Suspicious Activity, Do Not Confront!”
The magazine adds, “Think about it. A part of America is off limits to U.S. citizens because it is now controlled by an army of foreigners.” That “part of America” even includes an official U.S. wildlife refuge.
Is it any wonder, under such circumstances, that the state of Arizona has enacted a law to fight illegal immigration? Is it not disgusting that the U.S. government has sued Arizona to prevent Arizona from defending itself?