National Cattlemen's Beef Association   |   Updated: April 15, 2011

WASHINGTON – Jim Chilton, Arizona rancher and member of the Public Lands Council (PLC) and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), told members of Congress during an oversight hearing held jointly by the Government and Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations and the Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands that inadequate security along the border between the United States and Mexico, especially on public lands, has put ranchers and their families living near the border in constant danger.

“We have been burglarized twice. Many of our neighbors have suffered similar loss of security and property. Our losses have been great and our sense of security in our own country has been severely damaged,” Chilton said. “The Border Patrol must control the border at the border so that citizens’ civil rights, property rights and human rights are protected. Ranchers along the border cannot have peace of mind until the border is secured.”

Chilton said environmental laws, including the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), have “unduly hampered” the ability of U.S. Border Patrol agents to control the border. He said he and many other ranchers have had challenges with federal land managers causing serious delays for the border patrol. According to Chilton, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) two mile wide and 50 mile long San Pedro National Conservation Area excludes any mechanical entry or exit resulting in a drug trafficker’s “dream path to enter Arizona and walk unhindered and hide in heavy vegetation for 50 miles. The only way the Border Patrol can patrol that contraband highway is on foot or horseback." 

U.S. Representative Rob Bishop (R-Utah) recently introduced H.R. 1505, the National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act, to help improve border security on public lands. The legislation would prevent the secretaries of the Department of Interior (DOI) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from impeding, prohibiting, or restricting the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) efforts to obtain operational control of the border. It gives DHS immediate access to federal lands, and allows the agency to waive certain policies preventing it from obtaining full operational control of the border.

PLC and NCBA support H.R. 1505.

“There are millions of acres of remote federal lands along our southern border where border patrol agents are unable to do their job because of misguided environmental policies,” said NCBA President Bill Donald. “Now, dangerous and aggressive drug and human traffickers are perusing the same lands our ranchers live and work on day to day. This bill would allow for the access and surveillance equipment border patrol agents need to protect these lands — and our members.”

John Falen, president of PLC, said while lands under management by the DOI and USDA are crucial to public lands ranchers’ livelihoods, ranchers are suffering huge losses on those lands along the southern border. Livestock stress and weight loss, destruction of fences, broken pipelines, water pollution, hazardous chemical use and dumping and destroyed forage, he said, are not the only damages caused by these drug operations.

“Drug traffickers are well armed. They use traps and aren’t afraid to harm ranchers who are only trying to go about their daily business,” he said. “This isn’t just costing our industry millions; it’s costing lives. We hope Congress recognizes the true lawlessness on our borders by passing this long overdue legislation.”

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Muenster, Texas  |  April, 18, 2011 at 08:17 AM

This "INCONVENIENT TRUTH regarding our national border will be ignored by the current administration for one reason: they want to encourage illegal entry to shore up their voter base. Today the news leaked out that the White House believes it has a chance at picking up Texas in 2012 election due to the large number of "unregistered" Hispanic voters....that tells the entire story. Fortunately Texas is in the process of passing a voter ID law.

mn  |  April, 18, 2011 at 08:56 AM

As I read yet another story of how our own citizens are endangered and are not safe anymore on their own land, my heart goes out to these people. As we, the United States engage in how many wars? For freedom of other hurting people, but are very weak in protecting our own. It is very frightening to witness borders of our own country weakened, and allowed to get worse and worse. I question where the Washington leaderships concern, skill, and ability to lead, control of violence in these areas. I guess, it comes from living as city people, growing up very disconnected with other citizens in our own land. Leadership whose world is just made up of reporting to their Washington desks, and just collecting paychecks with no regard who pays them or what they represent.

Michigan  |  April, 18, 2011 at 10:16 AM

Well, if one can connect the dots....AND if anyone cares to notice that the "Environmental" segment of society is the catalyst for MOST of this problem, does not that "AGENCY" need to be held to task?! There is a "force" who DESIRES the destruction of America and using "environmental issues" as one way they can accomplish their "mission". We need to disrupt this agency and PROTECT OUR BORDERS!! Washington DC KNOWS this, but the Obama Administration NEEDS more illegals to cross so they can garner more votes while "gearing up" for 2012. We MUST elect a person who will protect our borders and STOP all this craziness!!..someone who LOVES America, more than POLITICS!!

NYC  |  April, 18, 2011 at 10:38 AM

get guns and shoot the criminals yourself......

Missouri City  |  April, 18, 2011 at 11:26 AM

That's been tried . . . the 'Justice' Department will drag you into court in a second. Everything is upside down.

CA  |  April, 18, 2011 at 01:29 PM

Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6

Washington state  |  April, 18, 2011 at 05:53 PM

The biggest gorilla in the room about border security is that the US does billions of dollars worth of cross border trade with Mexico. It has to pay attention to Mexico's complaints. The reason there is no regular military full time on the border is because there are treaties with both Canada and Mexico concerning use of Military troops.

Mexico complains about the fact that the state department sends out warnings about travel to Mexico because they say it will hurt tourism and investment in Mexico. I doubt anything could hurt a failed country that can't protect it's own people. Mexico has a corrupt government and it always has been. It's a government that runs on bribes.

Kentucky  |  April, 18, 2011 at 06:51 PM

It is a sad ,disgraceful, shame , our current administration,refuses to uphold our border laws and will not stop but welcomed illegal entry,at the cost of many lives and safty to our country. He is a disgrace ,Not to mention the total drain economically o our already overstrained system.When will America wake up,?? Personally ,I don't think we have til 2012, The sitter in House will see that he does not end his term as the worst pess in history, I feel something bad is coming much sooner for all of us and USA

Minnesota  |  April, 18, 2011 at 09:32 PM

It's about time that we put on "senators"on the border to see what in the heck is going on and make certain that Janet N is doing the night shift.

Las Cruces, NM 88005  |  April, 19, 2011 at 09:31 AM

I am glad to receive these reports that are not available from other sources. Keep up the good work.

texas  |  April, 19, 2011 at 02:53 PM

Obumma is out to destroy our Nation..

new mexico  |  April, 19, 2011 at 04:34 PM

This does no good if the Feds are instructed not to arest illegals. What is it going to take before the Feds get serious about the border. Will a bomb have to be brought in? Will someone importants child have to be killed by a smuggler. What will it take????

USA  |  April, 19, 2011 at 06:39 PM

Yeah, good luck with that!

Houston, TX  |  April, 24, 2011 at 11:55 PM

The Illegals love the Environmentalists, because they help the Illegals to do whatever they want to. The Border Patrols hands are TIED. We can't blame them!! We the People blame our Socialist/Communists in Washington, and their LACK OF ACTION to protect our borders.