Sheriffs say feds being unrealistic

SIERRA VISTA —  A pair of outspoken Arizona sheriffs said if the state does not lead the way, the federal government will eventually kow-tow to those who want immigration reform without securing the border.

Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever said the state is under attack by the ACLU and the U.S. Department of Justice for attempting to address what is a federal responsibility when it comes to the border.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said the federal government is trying to brainwash the American public, saying the border is safe and secure.

The two spoke to more than 150 people at Saturday’s Lincoln Day Dinner, an annual event hosted by the Cochise County Republican Committee.

Dever, who resigned Friday from a federal, state and local law enforcement group because of the U.S. government’s ineffective handling of border security, said his decision to quit was reached when U.S. Border Patrol and Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin said, in Spanish, that ‘no more’ will those who cross the international boundary with Mexico to do illegal activities be tolerated, and they would be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

The sheriff said when Arizona’s SB1070 was approved and signed into law, one of the Justice Department’s contentions was the bill would only focus on Hispanics.

But with Bersin speaking Spanish, and with billboards at different U.S. Border Patrol road checkpoints with the names of wanted individuals, who all have Hispanic names, the federal government is doing what they claim would happen with SB1070.

“That is racial profiling,” Dever said.

However, he noted Bersin called him Saturday and wants to meet to have “a public discussion” about border security, which the sheriff said he is willing to do.

Dever also spent three hours on the phone Saturday, speaking with a public information officer who works for Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, with Dever telling the individual that Napolitano has commented that immigration laws need to change.

But no one has “defined which immigration laws” need changing, Dever said, adding the actions of Homeland Security and others is propaganda.

“I think they (federal officials) are disingenuous and duplicitous,” he said.

Babeu said the federal government is trying “to put us in some kind of a trance or brainwash us.”

While there has been much criticism of SB 1070, Babeu said the main point, which is being ignored, is Arizona has taken on a federal responsibility due to the failure of the U.S. government to fully engage in securing the border. “It’s simple, it’s a let’s secure the border (law),” Babeu said.

Noting in Pinal County he has been told by federal agencies that there are up to 100 posts manned by cartels to ensure their products, illegal immigrants and drugs, make it through, Babeu said he was surprised by the number, saying he thought there was a maximum of 50 such sites.

Pinal County deputies are being better armed with automatic rifles due to the danger, and they will be going out in teams to confront the cartel sites, he said.

And, when the deputies come upon such sites, those who are there are going to be told in Spanish to drop their weapons and surrender, he said.,

“We are going out there to enforce the law,” Babeu said.

While Arizona is on the front line of the issue, other states are looking to Arizona as a leader in the fight, Babeu said.

“This is our entire nation’s fight,” he said.

Without determination, the federal government will continue “to lull us into a false sense of security,” Babeu said.

http://www.svherald.com/content/news/2011/02/13/sheriffs-say-feds-being-unrealistic