Congressman Raul Grijalva and state Sen. Sylvia Allen are battling over the creation of a volunteer militia to guard the border.
Grijalva calls the idea “not just silly and irresponsible, it’s a public safety threat. To arm individuals, provide paper-thin weapons training and deliberately place them in danger disrespects the taxpayers of our great state and cheapens the professionalism of our border security agents.”
Allen responds: “‘Open borders’ Grijalva can spin his opposition any way he likes, but Arizonans know that we have a huge problem here with drug cartels, allied with terrorists, smuggling drugs and terrorizing the inhabitants of this state.”
You can almost see the finger wagging in the face, can’t you?
Here’s Grijalva’s full press release:
Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today condemned the Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee passage of Senate Bill 1083, which would create and fund an armed militia along the Arizona-Mexico border. Under the control of the governor, the armed militia would supplement law enforcement and be able to pursue, arrest and detain individuals.
In approving the language yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee budgeted $1.4 million for a 300-person militia.
“This legislation is not just silly and irresponsible, it’s a public safety threat,” Grijalva said. “To arm individuals, provide paper-thin weapons training and deliberately place them in danger disrespects the taxpayers of our great state and cheapens the professionalism of our border security agents.”
Rep. Grijalva was an original co-sponsor in the 111th Congress of H.R. 6080, which became law and increased salary and law enforcement funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement staff and Customs and Border Protection officials.
At a Feb. 10 field hearing Grijalva hosted in Nogales alongside Reps. Luis Gutierrez, Michael Honda and Silvestre Reyes, Santa Cruz Sheriff Tony Estrada testified that his county “enjoy[s] a lifestyle that is almost free from violent crime,” partly because it has “the highest ratio of law enforcement personnel to residents in the country [and] there are about 1,000 Border Patrol agents serving in Santa Cruz County — more than ten times the number from just three decades ago.”
At the same hearing, Estrada — who has more than four decades of law enforcement experience — said, “Regardless of the rhetoric that we hear, it is not raining bullets here in Nogales and Santa Cruz County.”
In questioning the need for a taxpayer-funded armed militia, Grijalva called on the legislature to “focus on real problems and solutions instead of using a fictitious version of border politics to win elections.”
In fiscal year 2011, U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions — a key indicator of illegal immigration — decreased to 340,252, down 53 percent since FY 2008 and one fifth of their peak in FY 2000. Since 2004, the size of the Border Patrol has doubled to 21,444. There are currently more than 5,000 Border Patrol agents in Arizona.
Analysis of the FBI Uniform Crime Reports found that rates of violent crime along the U.S.-Mexico border have been falling for years — even before the U.S. security buildup that has included thousands of law enforcement officers and expansion of a massive fence along the border.
Arizona and Mexico share 361 miles of border. Currently, more than 3,800 Border Patrol Agents are working in the Tucson and Yuma Sector.
For Sheriff Estrada’s border hearing testimony, visit http://1.usa.gov/wWnjSm. For testimony from border economic consultant Terry Shannon, visit http://1.usa.gov/ytEsWJ. For testimony from safe border activist Gary Brasher, visit http://1.usa.gov/xrS5XE.
Here’s Allen’s response:
Since when has Mr. Grijalva EVER been concerned about protecting our borders? He has fought every effort ever made by this Legislature to stem the flow. In fact, he is proposing to add more wilderness areas along the border to make it even easier for the cartels, since local law enforcement officials cannot enforce the law on federal land. Calling the training of the members of the Special Missions Unit “paper-thin” is an insult to every member of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Special Missions Unit will consist mostly of highly trained former law enforcement and military personnel. They will come into the Special Missions Unit highly trained, and the Unit will add further training on top of that. Congressman Grijalva and the Federal Government would prefer to send out Border Patrol officers without guns and call that ‘protection’. I don’t call that border security — I call it insanity. “Open borders” Grijalva can spin his opposition any way he likes, but Arizonans know that we have a huge problem here with drug cartels, allied with terrorists, smuggling drugs and terrorizing the inhabitants of this state.
This article appears in Feb 16-22, 2012.
It’s always lovely to see the level of reality disconnect suffered by members of the State Legislature, and Sylvia Allen’s one of the most disconnected.
I’m with Raul on this. It sounds all heroic ‘n’ cinematic ‘n’ stuff to try to create a ragtag team of misfits to save America from destruction, but we’ve seen time and time again that most of the loudest voices that want to participate in such a thing only want a chance to go out and play with their guns. Raul’s right about the paper-thin training, and there’s no way they’d be properly organized. Those good ol’ boys know their firearms, but to think that they’re going to make the desert safer by driving around out there is nuts.
Mr. Grijalva, is part of the problem. Ralph refuses to believe that illegal aliens are a problem, and constantly votes against any measure to secure the borders of this soverign nation. Who does Ralph actually serve, The United States and her constitution, or the country of Mexico and the corruption that goes along with it? The sad truth is that this nation’s borders are not secure, and the current administration refuses to admit that fact by constantly lying to the public about how secure the borders are.
I can agree with mrkus-jim on the fact that more should be done to prevent illegal border crossing, and that Raul isn’t very active in that issue. However, those points don’t support the idea that there needs to be a citizen militia patrolling the desert. There is no reason for anything but deep distrust of militia groups, and there’s simply no evidence that one would do more good than harm.
By the People, For the People, Of the People. Pacifists are always the last ones to admit there is a problem. They talk peace even while their nose is being bloodied by bullies. They are Pacifist because they are weak and scared. Not willing to stand and fight for anything. Liberals want to give the Country away. As an American with Hispanic origins, I’m ashamed of the lack of leadership by Grijalva and his lackies. He’s after the Hispanic votes. It’s Politicking in its most hideous form. Socialists are trying to reinforce their foothold on this great country. If you choose to sleep through this crisis, that’s your choice. If you believe Law Enforcement can protect you, OK. If you refuse to see the budget cutbacks on Police and Firefighters, the increase in taxes for everyone but the rich, cool. BUT, don’t tell me I don’t have the right, or the intelligence, or the ability to protect myself, my family and my Country. Just go back to sleep, it’s all a dream. If you’ve never known anyone murdered, or victimized by the ruthless scum that hide among the other Illegal Immigrants and, you think it’s OK. Then you’ve already made your position clear. Peace Out.
The post by George is definately correct….remember,police show up after the damage has been done…as far as experience they are ex-law enforcement what more do you need…Grijalva is pulling a political rabbit out of his hat for the purpose of more hispanic votes….he doesn’t want anything done…wilderness area’s???…..thats doing nothing….
It is interesting to see the real disconnect; Grijalva has been consistent with his belief that the border should be open. All one has to do is listen to his campaign speeches over the years as well as his voting record. I heard him say on more than one occassion that the Gadsen Purchase was illegal and the real border is at Casa Grande. Sen. Allen is correct in that the federal government is not doing their job and the states have the right to step in to protect their citizens. If the “militia” is properly trained and deployed, they will be an additional layer of protection, rather than a group of loons as we have seen in the past.
I find it odd that Raul Grijalva supports whatever makes it easier for the cartels and opposes whatever makes it more difficult for the cartels. He and his La Raza buddies are always on the side of the cartels. When Congress proposed increasing BP agents on the border, he fought it. When ICE/DEA/BP wanted a UAV program, he opposed it. When a border wall was suggested, he opposed it. When proof of citizenship FOR ALL ARIZONANS was suggested, he opposed it. We have a congressman who sees illegal aliens and cartels as his constituency. If you are Hispanic, can you see past the name and skin color and see this guy wants all of us unsafe and vulnerable to the criminal element flooding in from Mexico? This isn’t about race, it is about protecting ALL Arizona citizens and he doesn’t care.
It amazes me how the Great State of Maricopa can find $1.2million when our schools are falling apart (not to mention some of the lowest ranked in the nation), and people are being dropped from mental health care like flies….Jared Laughner ring a bell?
It’s just plain “SILLY” is right.
You know the members of this “Militia” will be the bottom of the barrel Redneck pigs akin to Sheriff Joe. DO NOT LET THIS PASS
so a plurality of parks arround the state are closed but they found a million plus to form a militia? wow it’s hard to say but I’m with the walrus on this one Goo goo g’ joob
I am the walrus.
I’m with Grijalva on this one. This bill is all about letting Russell Pearce’s neo-nazi buddies get money from the state budget to buy more guns and bullets. These guys are already out patrolling for the brown menace in Pinal Co, but haven’t made any difference in the big picture.
Xenophobia is strong and thriving in Arizona. Over a million dollars? Please put this money where it will support the most needy. Arizona has one of the highest poverty stricken people in The U. S.. this is a fear based bill….all we need are a bunch of yahoos armed at the border ” keeping out desperate women, children and men” seeking a better life.
America is a big country..to support this stupid bill is ignorant. Go Raul Grijalva speak out against stupidity and ignorance. Si Se Puede! From a senior citizen voter whose Mamacita was Hispanic