Aug 13, 2013 - Questions sent to Sen. McCain and Rubio (Rubio's "non-answer" on blog and McCain's response letter posted previously

Questions for Senator Marco Rubio - June 18, 2013

Provided to Zach Zampella, Regional Director U.S. Senator Marco Rubio

Naples, Florida at the Florida Cattleman’s Convention in Marco Island, Florida

For Senator Rubio’s Response

 

BORDER CATTLE RANCHER QUESTIONS REGARDING SAFEGUARDING CATTLE RANCHING ALONG THE UNITED STATES/MEXICAN BORDER

FROM:

Nancy Dale, Ph.D.

Author

www.nancydalephd.com

E-mail:  nancydalephd.com

1.       Define the problem.

There is 1,629 miles of Mexican/US border; 650 miles are fenced; Border Patrol Personnel has doubled since 2005 to 21,000; $4.5 billion is proposed to bolster border security over the next five years for technology to Homeland Security.

 

There are 11.5 million illegals living in U.S. which grew by 27% in 201l.  There were more than 327,000 illegals in fiscal year 2007-2011 attempting to cross into U.S. down from 858,638; Border Patrol apprehensions vary with each of the 4 states.  

 

What programs does NCBA support as successful and what programs specifically should be continued?   Is more sophisticated sensing technology, increased hiring of border patrol personnel responsible for the drop in number of illegals crossing the border?

 

2.       Do you support the Guest Program as Pete Bonds, President of Texas/SWCattle Raisers Association, who suggests that it provides a work force for agriculture and gives participants 3 to 5 year visas to work in U.S. then return to home country and apply for another guest visa?

 

3.      Does promise of amnesty to illegals already in the U.S. increase the surge of illegals crossing the border into U.S. for promise of money/jobs?

 

4.      Who should determine definition of when border is “safe?”  What criteria do you recommend?

 

5.      Will Center for Disease and Control be responsible for monitoring influx of diseases from illegals i.e. Chagas? Hepatitis, if not what is the solution you offer.  It is indicated that border ranchers who have to clean up “camps” on their property, expose themselves and their cattle to these diseases.  What is your solution?

 

6.      Should National Guard be patrolling the border along with Border Patrol?  If not, should they play a role in protecting homeland security?

 

7.      The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) supports:  “Opportunities for current employees found be in the U.S. illegally to apply for legal status.”  What opportunities specifically do you propose? Please clarify.

 

 

8.      Cargill a multi-international corporation says:  “Cargill Meat was one of the first companies to participate in an employment eligibility program (Basic Pilot) managed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  While that program is fairly effect it is not well equipped to screen for people using false ids known a ‘true identify imposters.’  We favor program enhancement to address this concern.”  Your view?

 

9.      Cargill supports “helping immigrants enter workforce and to work legally through guest worker programs and more timely permanent resident and new citizenship processes as well as support proposals that allow undocumented workers to gain legal status in a reasonable, transparent system, especially for those who have been in the U.S. for longer periods of time.”  Your point of view when there are more than 11 million illegals in U.S.?

 

 

10.   Border Patrol does not have 24 hour surveillance in some rural sections of the border i.e. Texas/federal land and National Parks where no motorized vehicles including Border Patrol are allowed? Should law enforcement agents have concurrent jurisdiction with the federal agencies? What is your solution?  Do you support more fencing along the border and border patrol surveillance on the full length of border? What amount of funding do you support for more technology sensoring along the US/American border? 

 

11.  Do you support money going to secure border from crime to County Sheriff’s office or just the Fed?   911 calls go to Sheriff’s office and Police Dept not Customs and border protection as they have limited authority.  What is your view?

 

 

 

12.   It has been proposed the USDA should be responsible for monitoring and administering the immigration programs passed in Congress what is your view?

 

 

13.  More than 7,000 illegals from 4 terrorist identified states crossed the inadequately secure Mexican border into the U.S.  What is your specific solution and time frame?

 

14.  What is your plan to deal with the Mexican cartels that support illegals hiring “coyotes” for human and drug trafficking across the U.S./Mexican border, cutting border rancher fences, camping and leaving disease infected garbage piles, and dumping human cargo dead or alive on border rancher property?  Cartels federations are cooperating with Transnational Criminal Organizations across the U.S., according to the Texas Sheriff’s Coalition.  What is your specific solution to these concerns and what actions do support to address your proposed solutions?