Border smugglers getting violent with US scientists - what should be done?

Question

See:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,319028,00.html

"Biologist Karen Krebbs used to study bats in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument on the Arizona-Mexico border. Then, she got tired of dodging drug smugglers all night. I use night-vision goggles, and you could see them very clearly" — caravans of men with guns and huge backpacks full of drugs, trudging through the desert, Krebbs said. After her 10th or 11th time hiding in bushes and behind rocks, she abandoned her research. I'm just not willing to risk my neck anymore," she said."

"Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument stopped granting most new research permits in January because of increasing smuggling activity. Scientists must sign a statement acknowledging that the National Park Service cannot guarantee their safety from "potentially dangerous persons entering the park from Mexico. It's a kind of arms race, and biologists are stuck in the middle," said Jim Malusa, who specializes in mapping desert vegetation. "There's been a chilling effect on researchers."

"Richard Felger, another botanist, said he stays away from remote mountains in Sonora since being robbed and threatened on research trips. I got kind of allergic to pistols being held to my forehead," Felger said."

David_the_Great - thanks for the well thought out answer!

lordkelvin - excellent point. Perhaps we should hire more scientists and give them badges/guns/handcuffs to do the job? :) I fear too many of the Dept of HS staff is just sitting behind a desk in DC!!

Answer 1

The first thing that should be done is pardon the two border patrol agents for doing their job who are in prison for shooting a drug smuggler.

Second thing is to place DEA Agents with the border patrol.

Third, tell Mexico that we do not care how many illegal border crossers are kill in the cross fire.

Fourth is to withdraw troops from Europe and place them on the border. This is a national security issue.

Fifth is to build the fence.

Sixth, speed up border crossers cases. Build makeshift camps in the desert to speed up their deportation.

Seventh denounce Mexican economic policy of their 100 Elite Family thinking that it is the old days of colonization by Spain.

Finally, crack down on employers hiring illegals.

Answer 2

Yeah, I saw that. What is really the issue is that 'everyone knows' about the marijuana fields the cartels are running. No one in the articles are saying THAT is new, only that the violence of the people watching the fields on the cartel side is new.

Seems to me the bat scientists should have a cozier relationship with our law enforcement and be less surprised at the animosity from the cartels.

And the cartels, marijuana fields and all, should be sent packing so our batty scientists and all of the rest of us can do our thing in our country without foreign criminals here.

Answer 3

its just another of a multitude of wrongs that inhibit the lives and well being of our citizens here in the USA.

May not be a popular truth to hear ...but the USA is at WAR with those that would come here illegally. We should conduct ourselves as any nation would when at war.
Guns to the border, tanks, possibly land mines if need be.
We need to stop this and we easily could.
BUT OUR GOVERNMENT IS UNWILLING TO DO SO.
We have actually now two problems. ONE are those that are attcking us, limiting us, draining us and trying to take over our country. TWO is a government that is not enforcing the law because primarily, it has been overtaken by Corporations and a few very wealthy people who benefit from the cheap labor, drugs etc that the illegals bring with them into our country.
So now we are at war with two concerns. If we wait much longer on addressing these two issues, we will be lost such as we are and their will become a new order to the USA.
My suspicions tell me the new order won't be anywhere as nice as our current situation.
I feel we need to stop/defeat illegal entry in the USA and we need to stop/defeat how our government is being run by filthy rich Corporations and what is best for them to make money.

Answer 4

I think that science should not suffer because for some it is okay to let these parasites that have no cure to intimidate others who are trying to benefit studies with knowledge. Who would of thought that Science and Crime would compete in such a manner.
Enforcing the border should be relevant by now; and not just platform talk.

Answer 5

One wonders how come a batty scientist can find (and, in fact, has problems avoiding) well armed drug smugglers.... DEA, local police, Homeland Security, Boarder Patrol, et al, can't seem to locate these and others illegally entering the us...
How about a "shoot on sight" order?

Answer 6

It's too hard to see if the people you are looking at with night vision, are wearing uniforms, so it should be treated like an invasion. They should be shot, shelled, and driven back across the border.

Answer 7

Well, we could start with a president with enough stones to actually TRY to stop border crossings. The smugglers? They should be gunned down with Apache helicopters. To hell with that scum....

Answer 8

Write to your representatives at the state and Federal Level and include a copy of part of the article. Give them two words....

Your responsibility!

http://www.congress.org

Answer 9

Perhaps, the scientist could use the smugglers for medical experimentation.

Answer 10

Light 'em up like a christmas tree. Then leave their corpses for the buzzards.