Border Control Efforts Threatened by Newly Designated National Monument

Posted by azdrugrehabctr on August 9, 2014 under AZ Drug Rehab News | Comments are off for this article

In May, President Obama designated a portion of New Mexico’s state line to be recognized as a protected national monument despite common border security concerns. Those who oppose the president’s decision argued that creating a national monument on the border would hinder efforts to police any drug activity or trafficking coming in from Mexico.

This issue also reignited debates about Arizona, a state whose border sees tons of pounds of illegal drugs smuggled into the United States. In both states, local and federal law enforcement officials are hoping to garner enough manpower and resources to effectively police the borders, and many feel that this designation will represent a step backwards in this effort.

The White House subsequently issued a statement reassuring the public that the new monument will in no way impact border control’s ability to monitor state lines, however some people are not convinced. Speaker of the House, John Boehner was one of the first people to announce their displeasure with the new monument distinction.

The primary intention of the The White House in making the land a monument is to protect and preserve it. “I have personally seen from my time in Arizona how pristine landscapes can be quickly destroyed after illegal encampment, covered in trash and waste,” explained Brandon Judd, a Border Patrol agent and president of the National Border Patrol Council.

Many feel that the president ignored the opinions of local authorities and residents when approving the designation for the sake of preservation. As a result, the U.S. Border Patrol, as well as, state and local law enforcement officers will no longer have full access to nearly 500,000 acres of land near the Mexican border. Many argue that the effort to protect the land, now known as the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, will have no impact on those using the land for drug smuggling and human trafficking. Some even predict that those hoping to elude authorities will benefit since Border Patrol will now face delays when cutting through “red tape” to be able to access the area.