Border Patrol base should be closer to border

The Bootheel region of southwestern New Mexico and the adjoining desert of southeastern Arizona has been a weak link in the effort to secure our nation's southern border for some time. Border Patrol officials say that more than a quarter of the El Paso Sector's area classified as "uncontrolled" is in the Bootheel region. The tragic murder of rancher Rob Krentz in March, most likely by a drug trafficker who fled back across the border, has finally drawn attention to a problem that Krentz and his neighbors had been trying to alert the government about for years. And now there is finally action being taken. A forward operating base will be constructed in the Bootheel, allowing officers to patrol the region without having to make the 90-minute drive each way from the Lordsburg headquarters - consuming three hours or an eight- to 12-hour workday. The base will include living quarters for 16 agents, horse corrals, a fueling facility and a helipad. Agents stationed at the base for short intervals will provide a permanent presence in the region and be able to respond much more quickly when needed. That's terrific news. At the same time, we agree with those in the area who argue that the forward operating base is not as forward as it ought to be...more

Congrats to the Sun-News for their editorial.

The area of the New Mexico/Mexico border which is "uncontrolled" will get a huge expansion if Senator Bingaman's bill to create Wilderness along the border becomes law.