Government

‘Securing America’s Borders’: Obama Admin. Closing 9 Border Patrol Stations Across 4 States

Obama Administration Closing Nine Border Patrol Stations Across Four States

A US Border Patrol officer keeps watch over the border fence that divides the US from Mexico in the town of Nogales, Arizona (MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

The Obama administration has announced plans to close nine Border Patrol stations across four states, including Texas, California, Montana and Idaho, CNN reports.

According to a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the closures are part of a broader plan to reallocate resources to high-priority areas in a bid to increase efficiency. The move will also relocate 41 Border Patrol officers closer to the northern and southern border.

“These deactivations are consistent with the strategic goal of securing America’s borders, and our objective of increasing and sustaining the certainty of arrest of those trying to enter our country illegally,” CBP spokesman Bill Brooks said in a statement. “By redeploying and reallocating resources at or near the border, CBP will maximize the effectiveness of its enforcement mandate and align our investments with our mission.”

The stations to be shut down in roughly six months are located in the following cities:

  • Abilene, Texas
  • San Angelo, Texas
  • Riverside, Calif.
  • Dallas, Texas
  • San Antonio, Texas
  • Lubbock, Texas
  • Amarillo, Texas
  • Twin Falls, Idaho
  • Billings, Montana

But the move is already causing panic among local law enforcement agencies, Border Patrol agents and members of Congress, FoxNews.com reports:

Critics of the move warn the closures will undercut efforts to intercept drug and human traffickers in well-traveled corridors north of the U.S.-Mexico border. Though the affected stations are scattered throughout northern and central Texas, and three other states, the coverage areas still see plenty of illegal immigrant activity — one soon-to-be-shuttered station in Amarillo, Texas, is right in the middle of the I-40 corridor; another in Riverside, Calif., is outside Los Angeles.

But at least one Border Patrol supervisor in Texas has called on local officers to “voice your concerns” to elected officials, warning that the “deactivation” will remove agents from the Texas Panhandle, among other places. Several members of Congress have asked Border Patrol Chief Michael Fisher to reconsider the plan. And local officials are getting worried about what will happen once the Border Patrol leaves town, since they rely on those federal officials to assist in making immigration arrests.

“It could impact us tremendously since we’ve only got two agents up here now for 26 counties,” Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas told FoxNews.com.

Potter County, in the Texas Panhandle, would be affected by the planned closure of the Amarillo station.

Thomas said that while his area is far from the border, it’s still a major “corridor” for illegal immigrants — and he said his office depends on Border Patrol to respond to their calls.

“I can’t hold a carload of people out there on I-40 for eight hours while somebody comes from El Paso,” he said. “I mean, that’s just crazy.”

Border Patrol’s resident agent in charge in Amarillo expressed similar worries, in a recent memo to local law enforcement alerting them to the planned closure. The official, Robert Green, warned that the “entire complement” of two agents would be reassigned from Amarillo to somewhere closer to the border. He said “there is no active plan” right now for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to fill the void on assisting local officials with stops.

Further, the Federation for American Immigration Reform said the interior stations set to be shut down serve as a “second line of defense” in apprehending illegal aliens and drug smugglers who make it across the border and into heavily traveled corridors in America.

“It’s part of the systematic dismantling of both border and interior enforcement,” FAIR Communications Director Bob Dane told FoxNews.com. “It complements the non-enforcement policy of this administration.”

CNN reports the government will be able to save $1.3 million a year by closing the nine stations.

It isn‘t certain whether the decision is related to the Obama administration’s continued claims that the U.S. border is more secure than it ever has been and apprehensions of illegal aliens are at their lowest levels since the 1970s.

Obama Administration Closing Nine Border Patrol Stations Across Four States

An old cattle fence, foreground, that used to mark the border, has been replaced by a border fence made to stop vehicle traffic along a remote section at the U.S.-Mexico border in San Miguel, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Some lawmakers are also already up in arms over the decision.

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), who represents Amarillo, and two other state lawmakers who represent affected districts in a letter asked the Border Patrol chief to “reconsider the proposal,” Fox News reports.

Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) in a written statement said:

The Department of Homeland Security hasn’t demonstrated that sending additional resources to the border will be a more efficient use of resources than maintaining a presence further north… I‘d like to see numbers that reassure me that this strategy change won’t ultimately result in fewer arrests.

The move comes shortly after President Obama announced his new immigration policy that halts the deportation of young illegal immigrations who came to the U.S. as children and who are not criminals. Then, the Supreme Court dealt another blow to advocates of stricter immigration enforcement and threw out parts of Arizona’s controversial immigration law.

(Related: SCOTUS Upholds Most Controversial Part of AZ Immigration Law)

And shortly after that, the Obama administration also announced a unilateral decision to end program 287(g), which allowed local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration law without the feds. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are now ordered to be selective in responding to calls from the border and may only respond if the illegal immigration has committed a felony.

Comments (156)

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  • ValidFib
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:12pm

    WTF = “These deactivations are consistent with the strategic goal of securing America’s borders” meanwhile the TSA continues to grope our grandparents and daughters. Homeland Security has plenty of money to buy 400 million rounds of .40 caliber ammo. There’s enough money to print up a report warning us about right wing groups like Ron Paul supporters, veterans and TEA Party people. They’ve got plenty of money to buy drones – lots of drones, not to watch the boarders but journalists (WND’s Joseph Farrah) and cattle ranchers. They even have money to build a HUGE data farm in Utah to watch us on the net and monitor what we say on Facebook and blogs! But when it comes to the boarder, SORRY CAN’T HELP YOU THERE AND DON’T EVEN TRY TO ARREST ILLEGALS, WE’LL TAKE YOU AND YOUR STATE TO COURT, there’s plenty on money to do that too!

    Report Post » ValidFib  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:27pm

      “CNN reports the government will be able to save $1.3 million a year by closing the nine stations.”

      Now we know where Obama’s money for the Muslim Brotherhood is coming from….

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • db321
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:27pm

      Obama, why don’t we just send all your Muslim Terrorist buddies a First Class Airline Ticket. Crossing an open border in this heat might be two difficult and the Terrorist activities might not start on time for you to declare Marshall Law before the election.

      Can we at least set up free water stations at these empty stations. Come on what kind of a terrorist Leader are you. You have to take care of your guys a little better.

      Report Post » db321  
    • momprayn
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:30pm

      And….how many have seen this latest on PROOFS of TERRORISTS crossing over these southern borders????!!!!!

      http://www.westernjournalism.com/proof-that-terrorists-are-entering-u-s-from-mexican-border/

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:44pm

      @momprayn

      Already sent that directly to Scott Baker from the other article. : )

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • NHwinter
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:46pm

      Why not have picnic lunches and lemonade ready for them when they walk/climb over the border. Greet them with flowers and a Mexican flag. Shouldn’t Obama be impeached for NOT securing our borders??????

      Report Post » NHwinter  
    • marcus_arealius
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:48pm

      400 million or 400 gazillion rounds won‘t do them any good if they’re … well I’ll let you fill in the blanks, so to speak.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:56pm

      We have… an AntiAmerican Government!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • anniegtyrgun
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 8:03pm

      They need the money for all the new IRS agents.

      Report Post »  
    • jhaydeng
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 9:25pm

      Yikes

      Report Post »  
    • Prosecute_Constitutional_Treason_In_Washington
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:17pm

      Just one question? WHY WHY are putting up with Obummer in the White House? He is a criminal murderering thug in the Middle East. He can be impeached on multiple issues. He can be tried for Constitutional treason against his oath of office. I don’t get it except the congress is to lame, weak, and self centered to do anything moral for you and I.
      IT”S TIME FOR A REVOLUTION.

      Report Post » Prosecute_Constitutional_Treason_In_Washington  
    • jhrusky
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:30pm

      It’s about time for WE THE PEOPLE to tell Obama to F off and go get things done ourselves. This administration is going to continue to get more and more radical. It’s questionable if there will even be an election as they appear to be gearing up for massive civilan unrest which would be the cause for a call to Martial Law and this narcissist muslim POS will be the emporer he wants to be. If WE THE PEOPLE do not rise up against this crap, our country and freedoms wil be gone forever.

      WOLVERINES!

      Report Post » jhrusky  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:37pm

      Obama and the federal government are hiding from us the fact that thousands of illegals from countries that sponsor terrorism are being arrested at the US/Mexican border…people from the following countries…Iraq Iran ,Afghanistan Pakistan Somalia Sudan and Yemon….Is this what Obama is really trying to protect?..Middle east terrorist are walking across our border.. http://fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com/

      Report Post »  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:49pm

      @ mompraying just reading about the terrorists….I believe this is Obama”s real agenda for the undefended border….Texas and Arizona need to tell Obama…to stay out of their state and defend their borders..No telling how many thousands of terrorists are already here…The enemy is within our gates and Obama is letting them in….Every day more evidence of his treason towards America

      Report Post »  
    • MCDAVE
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 11:03pm

      I fear these terrorists are going to strike at us within our borders if the Israel / Iran conflict gets going…

      Report Post »  
    • togjr9
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 7:34am

      Let’s keep it simple, let the local citizens patrol the border free from prosecution. I have a feeling it will be more efficient and effective, real Americans have no problem doing things themselves, just let us do it our way! Most people in Texas don’t dial 911 for help, just to clean up the mess.

      Report Post » togjr9  
    • little big man
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 10:23am

      If we would just mine the border problem solved. buzzards will clean up the mess.

      Report Post » little big man  
    • Bluebonnet
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 6:08pm

      Well, this is Par for the course. That man will do anything to continue to destroy our safety from those drug runners, cartels, etc. Almost like he knows he can’t win in November, and like the Clinton administration, when they left the white house, they did massive destruction to equipment, stole whatever they could lay their hands on, and even took furniture, etc. that they ultimately had to return. oops!

      Report Post »  
    • dmerwin
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 11:53pm

      Thanks Barack for making our country safer. My suggestion is that Barack travel to Mexico via commercial airline and see what the Mexicans do.

      Report Post » dmerwin  
  • StepUpSpeakOut
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:07pm

    I said before the man was elected, that if he ever got into the White house, we would never get him out. Every time you see his face on television, I hope that you realize you are looking into the face of an evil dictator bent on the complete destruction of this nation. God help us all.

    Report Post »  
    • historyguy48
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:13pm

      Comrade Dear Leader is only excerising fiscal restraint! And did you know that pigs can fly?
      We might not be able to get rid of Dear Leader, but his bomb throwing buddies will!

      Report Post » historyguy48  
    • momrules
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:22pm

      STEPUP……….I said the same thing and I still believe I was right.

      Report Post »  
    • hayesstephen
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:46pm

      Its almost an even bet that El Presidente, Supreme Ruler, Future Grand Mufti, General Admiral of all Armed forces, the Dearly Beloved by HIS people, Beloved President obummer will declare marital law, suspend the election, suspend both Houses of Congress, suspend Bill of Rights.
      God bless the U.S.A and Israel and all of our peoples. We as a nation and a people have never been in so much danger!!!!! Next will be sharia law coming to a court near you.
      The only thing that can stop all this is the Military forces of our country. God please let me be wrong about all of this. I pray every day and every night that we as a country will survive obummer.

      Report Post »  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 8:13pm

      stepup you are correct. the great american dictator is here in true african style.

      Report Post »  
    • jhrusky
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:32pm

      The $64,000.00 question is … will WE THE PEOPLE have what it takes to remove him from office and have him tried by a jury of his peers?

      Report Post » jhrusky  
    • JFKOSTR
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 6:35pm

      We need to get off the couch and do this ourselves .
      This man and his backers are pure evil, from his mentors, and his Muslim Brotherhood buddies .They hate America, especially White Christians , they hate our Constitution, because it stands in the way of their take over, and they hate the Middle Class American, who have wised up to the travesties committed by individuals in Washington .
      He needs these foreigners to offset the votes of true Americans .

      Report Post »  
  • HawkEyeTx
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:06pm

    Take a look at the states affected….there goes the hood.

    Good grief, all the way to Dallas, Tx…..Moma, don’t forget to take your gun to town..to paraphrase Johnny Cash’ song.

    I don’t think our president likes the southern states.

    Report Post » HawkEyeTx  
    • countryfirst
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 7:54am

      This POS doesn’t like any of the United states, to him we are the terrorist and the aliens. Russian dictators were right America can be brought down without 1 bolt being shot by them. Just be patience and set a plan of progressivisms, knowing the naivety
      Of the American people. I believe we are at the fork in the road. Chose wisely people your life may just depend on it.

      Report Post » countryfirst  
  • Socialism_Is_The_New_Black
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:05pm

    Now the ******* can enter en masse! Can‘t wait for the horrified looks on all the BHO sheeple when the mideast lights the WW III fuse and Allah’s sleeper cells start their reign of terror over here.

    Report Post »  
    • jhrusky
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:34pm

      This appears to be the intent. By design, this will be the spark that begins the call for Marial Law and emperor Obama will reign then for life.

      Report Post » jhrusky  
  • Caniac Steve
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:02pm

    gee more undetected crossings to come now huh // seeing they kust told the universe where & when…

    Report Post » Caniac Steve  
  • mrmikejohnson
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:00pm

    I’m sure the drug and human smugglers will make use of this information.

    Report Post »  
    • shorthanded12
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:11pm

      Hell they were informed before the American public od media was…VIA the DOJ

      Report Post »  
  • Skrewedretiree
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:58pm

    I smell a rat. Plan on some kind of massive “emergency” at or prior to the elections that will give the Regime an excuse to do something massive such as Martial Law.

    It’s coming. Choose your sides, lock and load.

    Remember in November!

    Report Post » Skrewedretiree  
  • AnAmerican111
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:57pm

    OBAMA and the other criminal HOLDER’s plan……….
    Let the garbage flow into the Country in order to destroy what was once America…….

    Are you all waking up yet?

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:56pm

    More of the war against America by the federal government. Where are the people in Congress that could fight this, stop this utter insanity?

    Report Post »  
    • Skrewedretiree
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:01pm

      Well, from Washington State, we have Patty Murray……..

      Never mind…..

      Report Post » Skrewedretiree  
    • jhrusky
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:36pm

      Not a single one is worthy of their office. They‘re all in this together and it’s about them, not us.

      I pray that today’s military has not yet been totally infiltrated with these treasonous bastards and will remove the traitors and restore the Republic soon.

      Report Post » jhrusky  
  • nattybrooks
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:55pm

    jan 21 full deployment of national guard to the border seizure of all administration passports

    Report Post » nattybrooks  
  • jman-6
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:54pm

    This reminds me of that Russian KGB agent that said America would divide into 4 Regions and then finally into a America that includes Mexico and Canada with no borders. Seems like a trial balloon to gauge how much outcry if any they recieve!

    Report Post »  
    • Skrewedretiree
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:03pm

      Who would record the outrage? ABC? CBS (See: BS!)? NBC? Heck, we can’t even count on Fox News anymore!

      Report Post » Skrewedretiree  
  • cdn1979
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:52pm

    i dont understand the outrage. they are moving the patrol closer to the border. sounds like a good thing to me. they are not decreasing the number of border patrol agents, just moving them closer to the border where they will be more effective. what is the problem here?

    Report Post »  
    • nattybrooks
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:58pm

      apparently u dont understand the concept of multiple lines of defense. of course now that potus wont enforce the laws he swore to uphold guess it doesnt matter.

      Report Post » nattybrooks  
    • Skrewedretiree
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:00pm

      The problem here is we have troops all over the planet to “protect our National interest”, but we have to cut and circle the wagons on the home front?

      I guess you never took the oath or wore the uniform. I did, and this looks like cut and circle the wagons and we are losing. Why are we in Afghanistan if we cannot protect AMERICA?

      Report Post » Skrewedretiree  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:31pm

      When the first line of defense is overcome there is no retreat just full scale invasion and no backup.

      Report Post »  
  • quiltgal
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:51pm

    Wanna bet the reallocations don’t happen? Texas, you’re being punished. You will comply.

    Report Post »  
    • wzanesdad
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:33pm

      Texas will call up the national guard if need be….they can afford it, but not sure about the other states.

      Report Post » wzanesdad  
  • WisdomZurs
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:50pm

    Obama has become more dangerous than anyone who could come thru those stations.

    Report Post »  
  • Ragnars Repos
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:49pm

    Hey, sheep! Have you figured out yet that your government has turned against you?

    Report Post »  
  • Joyce61
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:49pm

    I geuss “We The People” Will again have to take charge!

    Report Post »  
    • shorthanded12
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:03pm

      And I think its coming faster than we will expect. The ones that have payed attention wont be surprised its the rest of the sheep i worry about.

      Report Post »  
  • TelepromoterNChief
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:47pm

    Outstanding.

    Report Post »  
  • DoomsdayProphet
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:45pm

    Impeach.

    Report Post »  
  • cantwaitfor2012
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:45pm

    Obumbler and his minions HATE Texas and all it stands for. They will do anything and everything they can to make Texas like failed blue states.

    Report Post » cantwaitfor2012  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:45pm

    they will save 1.3 million by closing these stations

    so obama has more BILLIONS to waste on a new solyndra programs

    Report Post » Psychosis  
  • Al J Zira
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:43pm

    Any coincidence they’re closing 6 out of 9 in Texas? Between this and Holder vowing to stop voter I.D. laws in the state the administration has just declared war on Texas.

    Report Post » Al J Zira  
    • Leopold
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:07pm

      @ AL J ZIRA

      Obama has declared war on America.

      I don’t know why people cannot or will not see that Obama is a traitor to this country.

      IF HE GETS RE-ELECTED AMERICA IS OVER!

      Many people were blind about Hitler as well. There were many warning signs, but people did not want to see.

      Obama and his minions have no problem being responsible for the killing of Mexicans.

      Hitler pretended that Poland had attacked Germany. German soldiers went into Poland and then killed German citizens.

      Hitler was very thin skinned. Dictators often are.

      But hey, lets not worry too much about any of this. If I keep my head down, I wont see what’s going on. Therefore I do not have to get involved.

      Report Post »  
    • shorthorn
      Posted on July 11, 2012 at 6:37am

      People have tried it before. We Texans can’t stop them from coming in but we can arrange for them to limp a bit going out.

      Report Post » shorthorn  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:41pm

    Securing the borders to make sure American citizens cannot flee when the dictatorship comes; I can all too easily imagine now why the admin has been having Homeland Security drones practice via tracking citizens vehicles. All too easily the next step will be for them to carry lethal armaments…

    Try to cross the border south or north to flee the dictatorship and BLOOEY!

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • randy
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:40pm

    Well now the terrorists know which areas to use to cross into the UNited States

    Report Post » randy  
    • chazmo
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 7:00pm

      um… to clarify.. Riverside Calif is over 2 hours from the border. Move those guys to the border is a great idea. Now if they would just close all those illegal check points.

      Report Post » chazmo  
  • HappyHaloHousewife
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:40pm

    Seriously?

    Report Post » HappyHaloHousewife  
  • BenFrank1791
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:38pm

    Obama has to get his “voters” in some way now doesn’t he ?

    Report Post » BenFrank1791  
    • RLTW
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:51pm

      Bingo, interesting all red states except California.

      Report Post »  
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