Meanwhile, down on the physical border (not the imaginary one of MSM’s collective imagination), illegals [...]]]> According to the elite liberal media like the New York Times, the illegal immigration invasion is over, so we can all forget about it and concern ourselves with the Superbowl, the Oscars and getting around to an amnesty for mucho millions.

Meanwhile, down on the physical border (not the imaginary one of MSM’s collective imagination), illegals keep coming, as shown by the mountains of trash which accumulate. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality estimates border crossers dump 2,000 tons of trash each year. Local volunteers showed up recently to load up piles of trash for the dump.

The government has its own website for the problem, Azbordertrash.gov, as if picking up the garbage of millions of foreign invaders were the most natural thing in the world. Another indication of Washington’s acceptance of border anarchy is the EPA awarding $103K last summer to the Tohono O’odham tribe to help remove aliens’ rubbish.

Migrant trash piles up at remote U.S.-Mexico border areas, Reuters, January 29, 2012

Picking her way into the desert brush, Raquel Martinez gathered scores of plastic water bottles tossed in an Arizona desert valley near the Mexico border, often by migrants making a risky trek into the United States across increasingly remote terrain.

“We need more bags … there’s so much trash,” said Martinez, one of scores of volunteers helping clean up the dry bed of the Santa Cruz River about 10 miles north of the Mexico border on Saturday.

Trash tossed by thousands of illegal immigrants as they chase the American Dream has been a persistent problem for years in the rugged Arizona borderlands that lie on a main migration and smuggling route from Mexico.

The problem was compounded as immigrants and drug traffickers responded to ramped up vigilance on the U.S.-Mexico border by taking increasingly remote routes, leaving more waste behind in out-of-the way and hard-to-clean areas, authorities say.

“Migants used to follow the washes or follow the roads or utility poles,” said Robin Hoover, founder of the Tucson-based non-profit Humane Borders.

“Now they’re having to move farther and farther from the middle of the valleys,” he added. “They end making more camp sites and cutting more trails when they do that, and, unfortunately … leave more trash.”

Those making the punishing march carry food, water and often a change of clothes on the trek through remote desert areas that can take several days.

Most is tossed before they pile into vehicles at pickup sites like the one getting attention on the outskirts of Rio Rico, from where they head on to the U.S. interior. [. . .]

Interestingly, a Mexico-friendly publication sniffed out this article and included a sympathetic add-on from the invaders’ perspective. Those backpacks are so heavy, they complain, or bandits make them leave a mess. According to the aliens, the mountain of trash is not their fault.

Volunteers pick up after locals, migrants, Nogales International, Jan 31, 2012

[. . .] As for the migrants, deportees at a shelter in Nogales, Sonora acknowledged that some illegal border-crossers willingly discard their trash in the Arizona desert, but insisted that in many cases, others are to blame.

For example, Ubence Flores, a migrant from Comayagua, Honduras, said that “polleros,” or migrant guides, make the crossers get rid of their belongings when they arrive at a scheduled pickup point. The pollero puts everything in black plastic bags, like those found by the river on Saturday, and then throws them in a truck to be taken to a dumping site, such as in the trees along the Santa Cruz River.

Bandits also force migrants to leave their belongings in the desert, said Henry Alberto Osorio, another Honduran migrant. In this common tactic, he said, bandits threaten migrants, who flee as fast as they can. Then the bandits pick through the abandoned backpacks for valuables.

But other times, the difficulty of crossing desert terrain for days on end proves too much for migrants.

“It gets so heavy, sometimes you say ‘I can’t carry this anymore,’ and leave it,” Flores said.

Police in particular have a job experience that informs them about [...]]]> Our governance would certainly be improved if more police officers would run for public office — along with teachers, carpenters, doctors, scientists and soldiers. Around 45 percent of the members of Congress are lawyers, and a greater variety of backgrounds would serve the nation well.

Police in particular have a job experience that informs them about public safety issues as nothing else can. Congress needs more of that sensibility at a time when normal law enforcement is under attack as never before by the anti-sovereignty forces like La Raza.

Anyway, Sheriff Paul Babeu of Pinal County Arizona is running for Congress and he visited with Neil Cavuto on Monday to discuss Obama’s terrible treatment of the border state. The Sheriff also emphasized that an amnesty for illegal aliens is not the way to go; as an officer, he swore to uphold the law, not excuse law breaking.

I’ll admit to becoming more kindly disposed to Romney after hearing him questioned on the John and Ken radio show [...]]]> The Republican primary season has been a downer, with way too many awful amnesty hacks like Newt “Americano!” Gingrich and Gov. Rick Perry (shown below with Presidente Vicente Fox), Mexico’s best friend since George W. Bush.

I’ll admit to becoming more kindly disposed to Romney after hearing him questioned on the John and Ken radio show in 2008, about which I blogged at the time (Romney Quizzed on John and Ken Show). Listen to the interview here. He had the right answers on policy and sovereignty, plus grasping the psychology of self-interested invaders.

Romney has actually campaigned on immigration enforcement. We know that political promises don’t mean a lot when the office is won, but he is saying the right things now, which is more than you can say for most of the others.

Ann Coulter has endorsed Gov. Romney largely on the basis of his immigration enforcement position. So has Bay Buchanan.

And today we heard that enforcement architect Kris Kobach has endorsed Romney.

Romney’s push against amnesty makes immigration a defining issue, Washington Times, January 11, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Mitt Romney collected the endorsements Wednesday of the architect of Arizona’s immigration-crackdown law, marking the final step on a journey that has taken him from lukewarm support of legalization to the Republican presidential field’s most ardent opponent of amnesty.

And with Mr. Romney inching closer to wrapping up the GOP’s nomination, it sets up what would be the strongest contrast ever between the two major parties’ candidates on immigration.

“Romney stands head and shoulders above the crowd,” Kris W. Kobach, Kansas’ secretary of state and the architect of the Arizona law, told The Washington Times, praising Mr. Romney for treading where other Republican candidates have refused to go. “Immigration is one of those issues that will appear to be a hot button — some elected officials who are afraid of offending anyone will avoid taking tough stands on immigration, and he took a tough stand.”

Mr. Kobach’s endorsement follows those of other leaders in the immigration crackdown movement, including Bay Buchanan, who ran Tom Tancredo’s presidential campaign in 2008 and who is the sister of former presidential candidate Patrick J. Buchanan.

It’s no surprise that the issue is popping up with 10 days to go before Republicans vote in South Carolina’s primary. South Carolina has passed its own Arizona-style law seeking to make illegal immigration a crime, giving state and local authorities police powers, and Republican primary voters in the state are overwhelmingly in favor of it.

The Obama administration has sued to halt the South Carolina and Arizona laws, as well as similar laws in Utah and Alabama, and those cases are winding their way through federal courts.

Mr. Romney and others in the Republican presidential field have said they support the states’ efforts, and Newt Gingrich on Wednesday told South Carolina voters that one of his first actions as president would be to drop the lawsuits.

Still, those who favor a crackdown on illegal immigration say Mr. Romney has emerged as their clear favorite over the past few years. He has embraced the use of E-Verify, the government’s voluntary system for checking work status; has talked about attrition of the numbers of illegal immigrants in the country through enforcement of laws; has called for building more border fencing; and has embraced state efforts to pick up enforcement where the federal government has failed.

Most of all, he adamantly vowed to block legalization bills. He recently said he would veto the Dream Act, which would grant legal status to illegal-immigrant students and young adults, who are usually considered the toughest cases because many of them were brought to the U.S. by parents and have never known any other country.

“He has held the line 100 percent on this amnesty stuff,” said Roy Beck, executive director of NumbersUSA, which grades the candidates on the issue.

Immigrant rights advocates said all of that makes for a stark contrast with Mr. Obama, and will make it tough for Mr. Romney to win Hispanic votes in November.

“Honestly, the Obama campaign must be doing high-fives. This guy is handing them the Hispanic vote when Obama is vulnerable with Hispanic voters,” said Frank Sharry, founder of immigrant rights advocacy group America’s Voice. “To me, it’s political malfeasance. He should be charged and found guilty by a jury of his peers.”

Mr. Sharry said Mr. Romney has changed on this issue. Before his first presidential campaign, he complimented President George W. Bush’s legalization plans and praised Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who led the Senate fight for legalization.

But by the end of his time as governor of Massachusetts, Mr. Romney had vetoed a bill offering in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants and signed an agreement with federal authorities that would have allowed state and local police to assist in immigration enforcement. In the 2008 campaign, he ran ads in Iowa attacking Mr. McCain on immigration.

In between that campaign and this one, Mr. Sharry said, Mr. Romney’s strategists reconsidered and decided to de-emphasize stances on abortion, gay marriage and immigration.

What’s remarkable is they followed the playbook on abortion and gay marriage, but not immigration. I am, just from a political point of view, flabbergasted that he has run so far to the right on this issue, and what that will do to his electability in the general election,” he said. “And so what? So he can be more conservative than Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich? As if it’s the defining issue of the conservative base? It’s not.”

All of that makes Mr. Romney the most vociferous opponent of illegal immigration in the field.

The contrast between the former governor and Mr. Obama was underscored this week when Mr. Romney trumpeted the endorsement of Mr. Kobach, while at the White House Mr. Obama gave a promotion to Cecilia Munoz, a chief backer of the legalization bill Mr. Bush and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat, tried to push through the Senate in 2007. Ms. Munoz was at the National Council of La Raza at the time, left that group to join the White House in 2009, and on Monday was promoted to run the White House’s Domestic Policy Council.

“It just goes to show that Obama is trying to close down his vulnerability with Hispanic voters, and Romney is opening up his,” Mr. Sharry said.

After Mr. Romney’s promise to veto the Dream Act, students have begun to follow him and challenge his position.

In an interview with The Times this weekend, Mr. Romney didn’t back down, saying he doesn’t see much room for exceptions to his policy that illegal immigrants should go home.

“I will put out a series of immigration proposals before November of 2012, and I will look at adjustments to the law that I think maybe necessary, but my principle is straightforward and that is that those who’ve come here illegally really should not be given a preferential path to permanent residency or citizenship,” he said.

Hispanic voters are considered a critical swing group in the upcoming election, and Mr. Romney has said he needs to do well in attracting them.

The Republican National Committee also is committed to the effort, and on Wednesday it announced its Hispanic voter-outreach program, calling Hispanics “essential” to the GOP’s 2012 election.

One early test for the GOP and Hispanic voters will come Jan. 31 when Florida holds its primary. Mr. Romney on Wednesday announced a Spanish-language ad he is running in that state, featuring his son Craig and three Cuban-American Republicans, two of whom are in Congress and the other of whom is a former member.

In December, the local ABC affiliate showed up to agree that’s it’s unfair to send the aliens packing right before Christmas: “Kicking these workers to [...]]]> The ICE removal of 200 illegal alien workers from Pacific Steel in Berkeley has been an opportunity for the liberal media to show its heartfelt empathy with illegal alien job stealers.

In December, the local ABC affiliate showed up to agree that’s it’s unfair to send the aliens packing right before Christmas: “Kicking these workers to the curb just before Christmas is really an act of hostility,” said Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin (Pacific Steel forced to lay off 200 workers, Dec. 18, 2011).

Say, I’ll bet the new legal workers had a nice Christmas, what with California’s unemployment rate at 11.3 percent, as of November.

More recently, the Contra Costa Times showed up for the last day on the job for 200 illegals (out of 600 workers) to note the tears of sadness as they packed up their hard hats at Pacific Steel.

Again, the solicitude of the press for illegal foreign workers is over the top. You would think there is no jobs crisis of years’ duration in which formerly middle-class Americans are living in tents and once booming Silyicon Valley is filled with unemployed people running out of benefits and options.

But then, there’s little danger that reporters will be replaced by illegal workers, so there’s not much genuine caring in the newsroom for job loss.

Below, workers at Berkeley’s Pacific Steel.

Aside from the press’ distracting show of overwrought sympathy, it should be noted how easy it was for the feds to clear out the illegal pests merely by requiring the business to run an I-9 audit to check the employees’ Social Security numbers. The legal tools to fix this problem have existed for years; what’s missing is the political will to eject cheap exploitable foreign workers. Too bad the DHS won’t go the extra mile and repatriate them all but Obama doesn’t do deport.

The Republican Presidential candidates all agree that they will enforce the border, which is not a solution given modern transportation. The real frontline of immigration enforcement remains the workplace.

Steel workers spend emotional last day at plant, Contra Costa Times, January 4, 2012

Tuesday began like any other workday for David Herrera.

Only his mother’s grave, distant expression as she cleaned their already immaculate Bay Point home suggested this would be his last day at Pacific Steel, where he worked for more than a decade.

A recent federal immigration audit found that approximately 200 employees, a third of the foundry’s workforce, couldn’t prove they are legal residents.

The company has been firing those workers in groups each week since October; the most senior employees worked their last day this week.

“Since I crossed the border, I always knew this could happen,” said Herrera, 37, who has mapped out an escape route at every factory he has worked at since he came to this country in 1991. “You get used to living with it.”

Around noon, Herrera put on his yellow hard-hat and got into his truck. On the porch lay an identical hat — his wife’s, who was fired from the same plant a few months ago.

Pacific Steel is one of the largest foundries in the nation. The company started making steel parts for trucks and buses in the shadow of Interstate 80 in West Berkeley 75 years ago, when the now-posh neighborhood was predominantly heavy industry.

The quality inspection warehouse where Herrera has worked for 12 years is dimly lit and filled with the roar of machines and the clanking of metal. Herrera took his place sorting metal pieces that connect trailers to trucks.

The men working on either side of him were new hires.

One of them, Braxton Flores, took this job last month because the pay was better than at Home Depot. Still, the 20-year-old El Sobrante resident sometimes feels uneasy.

“It’s sad because some of these guys have families — two or three kids and a wife,” he said. “I’m young, and the only person I take care of is my mom.”

Herrera believes his family will lose its Bay Point home. He was in the process of getting a loan modification but will now be disqualified because he will have no paystubs to show the lenders.

He is planning to move his wife, mother and three children into a trailer and drive to Washington state, where illegal immigrants can get driver’s licenses.

“It’s going to change a lot of things,” he said. “I’m not materialistic, but my family is accustomed to having stuff like computers and a television.”

Herrera and the other departing workers said stoic goodbyes, shaking hands and assuring each other they would be fine.

But the workers staying on were more emotional. Jose Tamayo, whose children are friends with Herrera’s, cried a few times during the day.

“There have been layoffs before, but it never felt like this,” he said. “We know these guys aren’t coming back.”

Tamayo said he was shocked that so many of his longtime colleagues and friends were in the country illegally.

In an “I-9 audit” — a reference to the I-9 employment-eligibility form and sometimes known as a “silent raid” — investigators check the legal status of workers through the Social Security numbers and other records they supplied to the business when hired. In the cases of many illegal immigrants, that documentation is forged.

Pacific Steel is now checking on new hires with the federal E-Verify program, as announced by two large posters in the main office.

Herrera says he will not return to his hometown in Michoacan, not wanting to subject his children to drug-war violence. He also fears they would not be able to afford higher education there.

Honor student stickers and student of the month plaques adorn the walls of their home.

During an evening break, Herrera explained that when his daughter turns 18, she will be able to petition for her parents’ citizenship.

“It’s a long time — I feel like I am entering a prison where I have to wait to be free,” he said, watching the cars speed down Gilman Street. “But I remind myself, there are people dying right now crossing the desert to get what I already have.”

Then he returned to the nearly empty foundry to finish his shift.

But when Central Americans move to Mexico, one of the richest Latin nations, Mexicans suddenly remember the importance of national sovereignty. Mexico also doesn’t like other nation’s citizens passing through [...]]]> Mexico’s idea of utopia would be an open border to the United States, with Mexican moochers having unlimited access to the wealth American citizens have generated.

But when Central Americans move to Mexico, one of the richest Latin nations, Mexicans suddenly remember the importance of national sovereignty. Mexico also doesn’t like other nation’s citizens passing through on their way to the United States because it wants Mexicans to get those jobs.

One measure of Mexico’s attitude of sovereignty for me but not for thee (America) is the number of Central Americans it deports. Note that the number given is for 11 months, not a full year. Perhaps topping 50,000 was thought to appear too high…

Mexico Deports Nearly 50,000 Central Americans, Fox News Latino, January 3, 2012

A total of 46,716 Central Americans were deported from Mexico between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, 2011, said the National Migration Institute (INM).

The majority of the migrants – 41,215 – were men and nearly half, some 23,560, were from Guatemala, the INM said in a statement.

All of the migrants were deported in an “easy, orderly, dignified and safe” manner, the INM said.

The Central Americans who were returned to their countries accounted for 74 percent of the foreigners processed at Mexican immigration facilities.

The remaining foreigners were either given asylum, granted humanitarian visas or sent home using different repatriation systems, the INM said.

An estimated 300,000 Central Americans undertake the hazardous journey across Mexico each year on their way to the United States.

The trek is a dangerous one, with criminals and corrupt Mexican officials preying on the migrants.

Gangs kidnap, exploit and murder migrants, who are often targeted in extortion schemes, Mexican officials said.

Central American migrants follow a long route that first takes them into Chiapas state, which is on the border with Guatemala, walking part of the way or riding aboard freight trains, buses and cargo trucks.

The flow of migrants has increased markedly in the northern and northeastern parts of Mexico since U.S. officials increased security along the border in the northwestern part of the country.

Now the General Accounting Office (GAO) has issued a report which vindicates McCain’s remarks. The study is available online: Federal Agencies Could Better [...]]]> Last June, Senator McCain was surprised at criticism he received from his pals in La Raza for observing the cause of some Arizona wildfires. See Senator McCain Notes Illegal Alien Arsonists for more.

Now the General Accounting Office (GAO) has issued a report which vindicates McCain’s remarks. The study is available online: Federal Agencies Could Better Utilize Law Enforcement Resources in Support of Wildland Fire Management Activities.

The Summary begins: “Wildland fires can result from both natural and human causes. Human-caused wildland fires are of particular concern in Arizona–especially within 100 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border because this is a primary area of entry for illegal border crossers and GAO has previously reported that illegal border crossers have been suspected of igniting wildland fires.”

Of course, anyone who follows border crime knows that illegals and drug smugglers often set fires intentionally for various reasons, from distracting police to setting signal fires when the invaders get lost and want to be rescued.

Disastrous wildland fires, which destroy homes and can kill, are yet another reason why the border needs serious attention such as a military presence, which would be easy given the recent withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan. Wouldn’t it be great for American soldiers to be protecting America for a change!?

Report Links Wildfires to Illegal Immigrants: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

Report Links Wildfires to Illegal Immigrants, Associated Press, November 22, 2011

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) – A study by Congress’ investigative arm shows investigators have linked 30 fires that erupted in a five-year period in Arizona’s border region to people who crossed into the United States illegally — a finding Sen. John McCain says backs up earlier statements he made about illegal immigrants and wildfires.

McCain said this year that fires are sometimes caused by illegal border crossers, but did not specify to which fires he was referring as blazes scorched the southern and eastern parts of the state. The statements quickly drew criticism from activists who jumped on him for “scapegoating.”

McCain and fellow Republicans framed the debate over his statements as a distraction.

“I hope this report is a lesson to the activists and public officials that would prefer to engage in partisan character attacks rather than focus the discussion on the vital need to secure our southern border,” McCain said Tuesday.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office report was released by McCain’s office Tuesday, and came at the request of the senator and fellow Republican Sens. John Barrasso of Wyoming, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Jon Kyl of Arizona, in July 2010.

It makes no mention of whether anyone was prosecuted for starting the fires and offers no hard evidence that immigrants were responsible.

The GAO gathered information for the study, which included fires within 100 miles of Arizona’s border with Mexico, from the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, and interviewed federal, state and tribal officials along the state’s 370-mile border.

Nearly 2,500 wildfires occurred in the Arizona border region from 2006 to 2010, but the GAO studied only those that were human-caused, burned more than an acre and those for which investigative reports were available. Of the 422 wildfires that topped one acre, federal fire investigators probed 77, or 18 percent.

The GAO report doesn’t cover wildfires in 2011 because investigative reports were not yet complete when the GAO was conducting its study.

The GAO found that 30 of the probed wildfires were linked to illegal border crossers primarily in southeastern Arizona based on what was written in investigative reports. Fifteen were thought to be a signal for help, provide warmth or cook food. An investigative report on the 2009 Bear fire backed up that suspicion by noting the discovery of discarded bottles and food wrappers with Spanish language labels near a campfire. It also noted that the area is frequented by illegal border crossers and is adjacent to a heavily used smuggling trail, the GAO report said.

Reports on the other 15 wildfires don’t give a reason for the start of the fire, but the GAO said a couple of them mention that the areas of ignition are known for drug smuggling.

The GAO also looked at fire incident reports for 1,123 wildfires in the area over a five-year period and found that 57 of them include firefighters’ suspicions that illegal border crossers were to blame for ignition. Those reports are not formal investigations into the fire’s origin.

The GAO said federal officials should come up with a strategy on which fires to investigate and use that to guide fire prevention activities and resources. Without a plan that includes selecting and prioritizing wildfire investigations, the frequency in which the blazes are caused by illegal border crossers remains unknown, the report said.

Federal officials cited a lack of available trained investigators to look into human-caused wildfires, according to the GAO report. Both the Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management said providing security for firefighters or their equipment often ranks higher on the priority list.

U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell agreed with the report’s observations and recommendations. He said an interagency group is working on standardized policy for wildfire investigations.

Arizona recorded its largest wildfire in state history this year with the 835-square-mile Wallow Fire that destroyed 32 homes, four rental cabins and forced nearly 10,000 people to evacuate. Two cousins have been charged with starting the blaze.

The smaller Horseshoe Two fire atop the Chiricahua mountains burned 348 square miles and destroyed nine homes. That fire investigation report indicates that drug smugglers continued to use the area while the blaze was under suppression, according to the GAO. Another wildfire burning at the time, the 47-square-mile Monument fire destroyed 57 homes.

The GAO also looked at how fire suppression has been impacted by the presence of illegal border crossers. The Forest Service issued a report in 2006 saying the border region could be dangerous for firefighters because of potential encounters with drug smugglers, high-speed pursuits, biological hazards, and illegal border crossers seeking food, water or rescue. The GAO said federal officials it interviewed did not identify any specific threats or assaults.

But the federal officials said firefighting efforts sometimes are hampered over concerns about border crossers in the area.

In June of 2010, Rasmussen found that 58 percent rejected anchor baby citizenship, and the recent survey revealed 65 percent against the policy, so the voters have not forgotten [...]]]> The pollsters report that this is the highest percentage ever of opposition to jackpot babies getting citizenship, a practice stemming from a misunderstanding of the 14th Amendment.

In June of 2010, Rasmussen found that 58 percent rejected anchor baby citizenship, and the recent survey revealed 65 percent against the policy, so the voters have not forgotten about this issue.

Below, a May Day amnesty march in Los Angeles brought out a troop of strollers.

New High: 65% Oppose Automatic Citizenship for Children Born Here to Illegal Immigrants, Rasmussen Reports, November 18, 2011

Voters oppose more strongly than ever granting automatic U.S. citizenship to a child born to an illegal immigrant in this country.

Now, nearly two-out-of-three Likely U.S. Voters (65%) say if a woman enters the United States as an illegal alien and gives birth to a child here, that child should not automatically become a U.S. citizen.

The bill is the Send Equipment for National Defense (SEND) Act, H.R. 3422.

Rep. Poe: Use Iraq military equipment to police Mexican border, The Hill, November [...]]]> Texas Representative Poe has introduced legislation that a portion of the military equipment coming home from Iraq be transferred to the Mexican border to help with national security closer to home.

The bill is the Send Equipment for National Defense (SEND) Act, H.R. 3422.

Rep. Poe: Use Iraq military equipment to police Mexican border, The Hill, November 15, 2011

Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) on Tuesday introduced a bill that would ship 10 percent of the returning military equipment from Iraq to the border of Mexico for border security.

“The American people have invested billions of dollars in equipment used to secure Iraq; now it’s time to use that equipment to secure the United States,” said Poe. “State and local officials are doing the job of the federal government—defending the international border with Mexico.”

In comments earlier today, Poe said the equipment is needed because U.S. border sheriffs say they are “outmanned, outgunned and out-financed by the drug cartels.”

Poe said equipment that could be shipped to the southern border includes humvees, night vision equipment and surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). He said 1.5 million pieces of equipment have already left Iraq, and 900,000 remain in that country.

Poe added that the Send Equipment for National Defense (SEND) Act, H.R. 3422, would give the Defense Department the discretion to keep its equipment if DOD certifies that there is an urgent need to do so.