The presence of the soldiers helped turn back about 1,000 would-be border crossers and moved others away from the mission’s patrol area between Columbus and Hachita, N.M., Rick Moody, agent in charge of the Border Patrol’s Deming, N.M., station, said this week.
The mission began in mid-October and is ending this week. Hundreds of soldiers from the Army’s 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment from Fort Lewis helped catch 1,922 people who crossed the border illegally and seized more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana, Moody said.This isn't the first time Stryker troops have done similar duty. In 2003, cavalry scouts from the second Stryker brigade helped out in Texas, though they didn't have their Strykers with them that time. Although not mentioned in the article, 4-14 CAV troopers conducted Operation Bootheel earlier this year. 4-14 CAV is in Iraq right now with the third Stryker brigade.The soldiers, using Stryker vehicles equipped with long-range surveillance equipment, find people crossing the desert, then direct Border Patrol agents by radio to the location.
Soldiers are not involved in pursuits, apprehensions, detentions or arrests, said Lt. Col. Jeff Peterson, the squadron commander. “Our sole purpose is to observe and report,” he said.
Ranchers who had Stryker units on their leased land gave the mission mixed reviews.Ladies and gentlemen, that is how you support the troops.“The military troops are greatly appreciated, but from our observations, I did not see the (immigration) activity slow down one bit. The traffic … across our ranch has continued,” said Joe Johnson, whose family runs a 100,000-acre ranch near Columbus.
However, Murray Keeler, owner of the 25,600-acre Flying W Ranch west of Hachita, said immigrant traffic went down dramatically when the troops arrived. His wife, in appreciation, took chicken and dumplings one night and hamburgers another night to troops stationed near the ranch.
As I noted in my post on Operation Bootheel, this is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. First, soldiers are getting real-world exposure and training in a situation similar to some that they will face in Iraq. If they can stop illegal immigrants from Mexico, they will be much better prepared to stop al Qeada fighters entering Iraq from Syria or Iran. Secondly, the Border Patrol is still suffering from a manpower shortage and the men and equipment of the Stryker brigade provide a significant force multiplier.
As far as direct participation in patrolling the border, I think a strong case can be made that, during a time of war, the military is not only allowed to have a direct role, but that they're expected to. I think it's probably appropriate.
Regardless of that discussion, programs like Operation Bootheel and this most-recent one should not only be continued, they should be expanded.
1-14 CAV and the first Stryker brigade will be heading back to Iraq in the next rotation.
Back when I was younger, I used to go silver and gold and relic hunting in that area. That is some bad, hard country. There is even a little mountain range "Little Hatchet" that runs through that area.
Here are some pics:
http://home.swbell.net/lwsumner/oldhachita.htm
The area that the troops were spread out was between Hachita and columbus which by highway 9 is about 45 miles. That means they were spread as thin as a Victoria's Secrets nighty.
I am sure they were glad to get back to civilization.
I am sure they stopped about one out of ten illegals. But that's a start, except that after we book them, send them back, they will just start the trek all over again.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame,
'Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. 'Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!'"
I propose that those who oppose open immigration at least have the decency to publically call for the dismantling of the Statue of Liberty, or at least its return to the wretched French.
T.J. - By "open immigration" do you mean to imply open as in no rules at all? If so then I vote to dismantle the thing and pack it up.
If by "open" you mean to say "all may apply" then I'd say let's keep it.
My great grand parents came to this country, and learned to be part of it. They had to check into Ellis Island first. They were checked for disease, and questioned about any possible criminal activities. They answered honestly, and were admitted. America became an incrementally better place by their presence.
"Don't ever take a fence down until you know the reason it was put up."
- Gilbert Keith Chesterton
Borders exist for valid reasons. I support immigration reform, and what I think of as open immigration. But I do not support open borders, and unchecked migrations. We have a better standard of living in this country because of the conditions we have created here, if illegal aliens won't contribute to those conditions in a positive manner they should not be admitted. IMHO.
>>They were checked for disease, and questioned about any possible criminal activities.
Ah, yes. You mean to keep people like this out of the country?
If the border patrol could be limited to keeping out thieves and murderers without unduly interfering with freedom of movement of honest people, that would be great. Unfortunately, the INS and the Border Patrol are largely unaccountable government bureaucracies, and act as such. I'd much rather keep my money and attend to my own defense.
>>We have a better standard of living in this country because of the conditions we have created here, if illegal aliens won't contribute to those conditions in a positive manner they should not be admitted.
Lots of retarded and otherwise defective children attempt to "immigrate" into the country every year through birth. Each will be a huge net drain on the resources and standard of living of our society, much more so than a petty immigrant thief too stupid to successfully con or bribe the border patrol. Why not have the State evaluate newborns and "deport" those who, by its standards, won't contribute in a positive manner?
As a military member and left leaner (yes a rarity in today's conservative military), I applaud the work our troops are doing to keep the borders drug free and keep illegal immigrants out. However, there are some concerns we must account for.
First, there's the posse commitatus act which prohibits the US military from law enforcement acitivities inside the US. These troops must have a law enforcement officer with them when they perform such duties. Most likely, they have a Drug Enforcement Agency or Border Patrol Agent with them when they make contact.
This brings me to my second point. Is border patrol a valid mission for the US Military. Others in this blog have made the point that this is a great way to get our troops some additional training for their Iraq duties. My concern is mission creep--a term we use when the military starts to become all things to all people. The Army is spread very thin in Iraq, Afghanistan and other not-too-friendly places around the world. Giving them the additional mission of border patrol, along with other homeland security duties AND not giving them additional resources only hurts them; more time away from stressed families, more wear and tear on equipment, more training for new and different situations.
We need to decide what our national priorities are first, and then deploy our fully resourced and capable troops to get the job done. Not piecemeal like we do today, but with teeth and meaning.
Good point, Rosey. And by the way, I have a good friend who is firmly liberal Dem and survived two times in Iraq, along with many likeminded friends (some of whom did not survive). My impression of border guarding is that there is a large tendency for the personnel to turn the other way and avoid some duties, which the military presence goes far to keep in line. I suspect your presence is needed.
Thank you.