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| 2005-08-15 |
| Paged linked by Drudge and takes 15 minutes to load, so posted in full. Gov. Bill Richardson declared a state of emergency along New Mexico's 180-mile border with Mexico on Friday, pledging $1.75 million to beef up law enforcement and tackle increasing crime. "Recent developments have convinced me this action is necessary— including violence directed at law enforcement, damage to property and livestock, increased evidence of drug smuggling, and an increase in the number of undocumented immigrants," Richardson said in a prepared statement. He toured the area near the busy border town of Columbus by helicopter And the Paleo terrorists criticize Israel's security measures, too.Southwestern New Mexico residents praised the moves and said even more are needed. "This is a great beginning," said Luna County Commissioner Rick Holdridge by phone. "What the governor's done is right on the money." He and others said a broader solution is needed to address the problems caused by hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who cross the border into New Mexico every year. He was one of 135 residents of the Rodeo and Animas areas in Hidalgo County who recently signed petitions asking Sens. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., and Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., along with Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., for immediate action. I didn't know 135 people lived there. I've never seen that many. Rodeo ... That's the name of the town, not his job description. ... rancher Richard A. Winkler said he and his neighbors are being burglarized regularly by border crossers who take food and other essentials. "I'm really tired of it," he said in a telephone interview Friday. "It's an epidemic." Richardson signed an executive order declaring a disaster in Doña Ana, Luna, Grant and Hidalgo counties and making $750,000 in state emergency money immediately available to local governments there. Another $1 million in discretionary federal dollars allocated to New Mexico two years ago also will be used to tackle border problems, said Richardson spokesman Billy Sparks. The $1.75 million overall will pay for: # Increased state and local law enforcement; The governor told the state Department of Agriculture and Livestock Board to assess the security and safety of livestock in the border region within 15 days. "I'm taking these serious steps because of the urgency of the situation and, unfortunately, because of the total inaction and lack of resources from the federal government and Congress," Richardson said Jarrod Agen, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, would not comment on Richardson's initiatives but said increased Border Patrol funding has made "extraordinary progress" possible in the Southwest. Mexico ordered its consul in Albuquerque to meet with New Mexico officials "to promote appropriate actions by the officials of both countries." "The Mexican government considers that some of the New Mexico government's statements are generalizations which don't jibe with the spirit of cooperation and understanding needed to address border problems," Mexico's Foreign Relations Department said in a statement. Isn't that funny. I say old Mexico's government's statements don't jibe with the spirit of cooperation and understanding needed to address border problems. Bingaman praised Richardson's moves and said he agrees with the governor. "I share his frustration," he said in a telephone interview. "We have been doing what was possible, but our efforts in Washington to get the U.S.-Mexico border made a priority have not been entirely successful." Bingaman, who will visit the Deming Border Patrol Station on Monday, said more resources for local law enforcement and federal agencies are needed. Domenici, along with Bingaman, said comprehensive immigration reform is vital. "The important thing to realize is that money and fences alone are not going to solve the illegal immigration problem," Domenici said in a prepared statement. But it's a start. What are you doing, Pete? I haven't voted for a Democrat since 1993, but you're going to change that. Columbus, with about 1,800 people, is the closest settlement to the only 24-hour border crossing in New Mexico— the Columbus Port of Entry. With one officer on his force, a $152,000 annual budget and a 24-hour-a-day role as the first line of defense against drug and human smuggling, Columbus Police Chief Clare May has called his situation desperate. Richardson said he asked the Mexican government to bulldoze the mostly abandoned town of Las Chepas, on the Mexican side of the border near Columbus. Any more members of the Corrie family available? The town has been a popular border jumping spot for years. For $5, would-be Of course, there's no chance that any OTMs would use the same hideouts, is there? Many wait in abandoned houses— graffiti-covered concrete shells— until nightfall, when they can make their trip under the cover of darkness and in cooler temperatures. Winkler, the Rodeo area rancher, said the federal government should close the border by putting patrols every quarter-mile. Pearce, who is holding 17 community meetings on immigration this month, said he has asked the Department of Homeland Security to reimburse residents for property damage. Good luck on that... "We are dedicating every resource available to us as legislators, trying to galvanize action to make our country more secure," he said in a telephone interview. |
| Posted by:Jackal |
| #18 He's a real big Demo lib, he's just better at hiding it. Here's a few Bill moments: New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (search), a former ambassador to the United Nations, said Bolton may face some "stormy" weather at the world body at first but with a little personal attention to the other ambassadors and a demonstration of interest and expertise in how the organization operates, the seas will calm. Being more congenial with U.S. lawmakers won't hurt, either, he said. Of top priority should be an effort to get rid of the bill on Capitol Hill that ties U.S. funding for the United Nations with real reform at the world body, Richardson said. "Bolton and the president have to kill that measure," he said. "It's going to be critically important if Bolton has some success at the U.N. for him to persuade the Senate and the House that that's not good for the U.S. — it ties your hands at the U.N." ------------------------------- In New Mexico, Gov. Richardson has done much the same thing. He now blasts the federal government for not showing "the commitment or the leadership to deal with border issues." He is demanding that officials on the Mexican side bulldoze an abandoned town on the border that serves "as a staging area for illegal drugs and illegal aliens." But Mr. Richardson sang a different tune in late 2003, when he showed up at a rally for the "Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride" and told them, "¡Viva la raza! . . . Thank you for coming to Santa Fe. Know that New Mexico is your home. We will protect you. You have rights here." Further evidence of the governor's zigzag policy on immigration came in April when he vetoed a "No Fear" bill, which would have prohibited state and local law enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal authorities to detect or apprehend people based solely on immigration status. But then he quietly issued an executive order that had much the same effect. Earlier this year, he also signed legislation giving some illegal aliens the right to in-state tuition rates at public universities. |
| Posted by: Steve 2005-08-15 16:23 |
| #17 Clinton guy. Big Clinton guy. Looks like he learned his lessons well sitting at the feet of the master... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-08-15 15:44 |
| #16 Before you all get worked up about Richardson's act, our governor also issued policy some months back for state offices NOT to report illegals to the INS. Bill has ideas of running in 2008. He is playing both sides. |
| Posted by: Jirt Omager7355 2005-08-15 15:33 |
| #15 I doubt the democrats are smart enough to capitalize on this as a winning campaign strategy. As overwhelmingly positive as the reaction is from across the country, their strategists will still insist on cozying up to theoretical voters (illegals) in the far future instead of real, living voters right now. If they were smart, and watched Richardson's boat rising, the democrats could make serious inroads throughout the southern two tiers (two States deep) and the far West. That would rattle the republicans in their most solid base. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-08-15 14:27 |
| #14 We'll know for sure if Napalitano is the next to jump on the bandwagon instead of Perry or the Governator. The Democarats may be stealing a march on the trunks here. They could pull a Nixon to China here. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-08-15 14:14 |
| #13 "Richardson is pandering, He is a typical Democrat when it comes to crap like this." You got that right.... |
| Posted by: crazyhorse 2005-08-15 14:07 |
| #12 I'll give the man a chance, SPoD. Perhaps you know him better or have personal experience with him? Does he have a pattern of saying one thing and doing the opposite. I know he was in Clinton's cabinet, but I'm trying not to hold that against him. Since I don't actually live in NM, I just get the news that leaks over into AZ. How many Democrats would cut the top income tax rate in half? Richardson did. Lots of ordinary decent people vote Democrat. I would hope that at least one of them might have sneaked into office. |
| Posted by: Jackal 2005-08-15 14:04 |
| #11 Richardson is pandering, He is a typical Democrat when it comes to crap like this. He sees president in front of his name when he looks in a mirror. He is right at home with the MALDF and Atzlan/MECHA types. A wolf in sheeps clothing as suits a good pal of Bill and Hillary. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom 2005-08-15 13:17 |
| #10 All the way down to Panama. The border's much smaller there, and so easier to defend. Plus, we can give Venezuela hard looks. "We did it before, we can do it again, asshole." |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-08-15 12:00 |
| #9 Good for ya' gov Richardson. |
| Posted by: Mr.Bill 2005-08-15 11:52 |
| #8 Baja California would make a nice 51st state. Tourism alone would make it economically, and the coastlines are awesome. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-08-15 11:51 |
| #7 Isn't that funny. I say old Mexico's government's statements don't jibe with the spirit of cooperation and understanding needed to address border problems. Ummm Yup, isn't that why Texas, Nevada, New Mexico and California are now disaffiliated with the former Imperial Government of Mexico? I suppose it's still possible to extend the border southward a few hundred miles more, but frankly who wants it? |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2005-08-15 11:09 |
| #6 Isn't that funny. I say old Mexico's government's statements don't jibe with the spirit of cooperation and understanding needed to address border problems. Ummm Yup, isn't that why Texas, Nevada, New Mexico and California are now disaffiliated with the former Imperial Government of Mexico? I suppose it's still possible to extend the border southward a few hundred miles more, but frankly who wants it? |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2005-08-15 11:09 |
| #5 Best damn news I've heard in a week. |
| Posted by: Dar 2005-08-15 10:58 |
| #4 Ah, look what the gubner found out just recently! Now act and do so decisively. |
| Posted by: MunkarKat 2005-08-15 10:46 |
| #3 "... an increase in the number of undocumented immigrants," What is an undocumented immigrant? |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2005-08-15 10:41 |
| #2 Hey look, my surpise meter works! |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-08-15 10:35 |
| #1 "The Mexican government considers that some of the New Mexico government's statements are generalizations which don't jibe with the spirit of cooperation and understanding needed to address border problems," Mexico's Foreign Relations Department said in a statement. The problem is, with Mexico, there's none of either. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-08-15 10:31 |