PHOENIX - The recent murder of a Cochise County rancher may provide the best chance in years to get additional the federal government to provide border security, the county sheriff said Monday.
Larry Dever said the death of Robert Krentz "has put an exclamation point on the problems that we face and have faced down there for some time.'' More to the point, he said, it has "launched a lot of interest that we've been trying to garner in other ways.''
Dever and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeau were in Washington for a telephonic press conference with Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl who were pushing a 10-point plan for border security.
Some of the elements are old, such as renewing the call the two senators made a year ago to put 3,000 National Guard troops along the border. But there are some other elements including funding for and expansion of existing federal programs.
"It's just sad and unfortunate it took this event to do that,'' Dever.
"While we have the nation's attention it's important that we strike now and that we get these suggestions implemented now,'' he continued. "I really feel that the window of opportunity will close very quickly.
McCain echoed the sentiment.
"The murder of Rob Krentz is all over not only Arizona but all over America,'' he said. Krentz was killed last month, with the presumption being his assailants were illegal immigrants.
McCain said that comes on top of the murder of three U.S. citizens in Juarez.
"The list goes on and on of the influence of the drug cartels,'' he said. And McCain said "most objective observers'' would argue that while the Mexican government isn't losing the battle, it also is not winning it.
He said that requires federal action.
Border
Larry Dever said the death of Robert Krentz "has put an exclamation point on the problems that we face and have faced down there for some time.'' More to the point, he said, it has "launched a lot of interest that we've been trying to garner in other ways.''
Dever and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeau were in Washington for a telephonic press conference with Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl who were pushing a 10-point plan for border security.
Some of the elements are old, such as renewing the call the two senators made a year ago to put 3,000 National Guard troops along the border. But there are some other elements including funding for and expansion of existing federal programs.
"It's just sad and unfortunate it took this event to do that,'' Dever.
"While we have the nation's attention it's important that we strike now and that we get these suggestions implemented now,'' he continued. "I really feel that the window of opportunity will close very quickly.
McCain echoed the sentiment.
"The murder of Rob Krentz is all over not only Arizona but all over America,'' he said. Krentz was killed last month, with the presumption being his assailants were illegal immigrants.
McCain said that comes on top of the murder of three U.S. citizens in Juarez.
"The list goes on and on of the influence of the drug cartels,'' he said. And McCain said "most objective observers'' would argue that while the Mexican government isn't losing the battle, it also is not winning it.
He said that requires federal action.
Border
