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Apr
06
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Robert Krentz was murdered while tending to his Arizona ranch last weekend and local police suspect an illegal alien is responsible. (Fox News, March 30, 2010). The 58 year-old rancher was gunned down on his own property shortly after radioing his brother Phil that he had encountered an illegal alien.
When Krentz didn’t show up to meet his brother about an hour later as planned, Phil called the police and a search party was formed. Late that night, Krentz was found slumped over his ATV, shot to death along with his dog. Law enforcement officials with tracker dogs followed the footprints from the crime scene on Krentz’s ranch 15 miles to the border where they crossed into Mexico.
The prominent rancher, who often brought water to illegal aliens and helped those who were injured, was apparently caught by surprise, as his ATV’s engine and lights were still on and he did not use either of the two guns he was carrying with him. (Fox News, March 30, 2010). Police believe that he could have been attacked by a drug cartel scout or a member of a band of thieves that has been terrorizing ranches in the area. It is also possible that Krentz’s murder was a retaliatory killing because just one day before, his brother stopped a caravan of illegal aliens who were carrying 280 pounds of marijuana. Id. Border patrol arrested all eight illegal aliens and impounded the drugs.
Whatever the motive behind the slaying of this innocent man, neighboring ranchers are both scared and frustrated with the lack of government action to secure the border. Friends and neighbors of the slain rancher denounced politicians for their empty promises to secure the border that failed to protect Krentz on his own land. (The Arizona Republic, April 1, 2010). The Krentz family issued a statement urging President Obama to deploy U.S. military personnel to the U.S.-Mexican border, but this is not the first time they have sought help from their elected officials. The family repeatedly expressed concern to authorities over the $6.2 million damage to their property and livestock caused by “illegal foot traffic,” and Robert’s wife, Susan, wrote to Congress in 2007 that “We are in fear for our lives and safety and health of ourselves and that of our families and friends.” (Fox News, March 30, 2010).
Lawmakers from Arizona and New Mexico are joining their constituents’ demands that the Obama administration deploy hundreds of National Guard and Border Patrol agents to the southern border. (Fox News, March 30, 2010). In the wake of the murder, state and federal politicians are calling upon the government to beef up border security and protect American citizens. Former Congressman J.D. Hayworth, who is currently challenging Senator John McCain’s bid for reelection, said that the killing debunks claims that the border is secure, “To put it diplomatically, that’s incorrect. To put it realistically, that’s a lie.” (The Arizona Republic, April 1, 2010).
Senator McCain also called upon the federal government to immediately deploy the National Guard to the border in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, who made a similar request to President George W. Bush in 2006 when she was the governor of Arizona. McCain urged, “I hope that you will take a personal interest in ensuring that Arizonans can feel safe and protected on their own property and not live in fear of the increasing violence along the border.” (CBS News, March 30, 2010). Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, whose request for National Guard troops last year was denied by the Obama administration, joined the demand for deployments, calling the killing a “horrible and unnecessary tragedy.” (Fox News, March 30, 2010). (Politico, April 2, 2010). President Obama has not responded to the renewed requests for increased border security, but just last month he spoke to reporters about the issue of National Guard deployments. (Id.) Obama has made it clear that he does not want to “militarize” the border, but he called it “unacceptable if you’ve got drug gangs crossing our borders and killing our citizens.” .