Sheriff Babeu: Obama has ‘handcuffed’ Border Patrol

FLORENCE, AZ - Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu denounced the Obama administration Tuesday, accusing the White House of preventing border agents from enforcing immigration laws.

Babeu, flanked by Border Patrol agents and union leaders, said high-traffic smuggling routes are not appropriately staffed and laid into the administration for failed leadership.

The sheriff denounced the politicization of immigration enforcement at a news conference at PCSO's Florence headquarters.

National Border Patrol Labor Council President Brandon Judd picked up on that theme, saying the agency is at a crossroads.

“We are either going to be a specialized law enforcement agency dedicated to enforcing our nation’s immigration laws or a political arm of the administration,” Judd said.

He said because the Obama administration failed to convince the American public to pass immigration reform, “the president is bypassing Congress by legislating through policy. These policies in essence are granting amnesty to thousands, if not millions, of persons who enter the country illegally.”

Judd alleged the administration has engaged in a campaign to mislead the American people to believe our borders are secure.

“He (Pres. Obama) has manipulated the data, had agents assigned to low traffic areas and attempted to quiet dissent by calling those who question his approach as misinformed without offering an evidence to support these allegations.”

According to figures Babeu released Tuesday, traffic of illegal immigrants in the first four months of this fiscal year is up by 25 percent. He said there’s been a 102 percent increase in unaccompanied juveniles. Babeu said.

“What we see from this administration is an actual reduction at a time we should be providing more support to secure our border,” Babeu said.

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