Border security to include livestock inspectors
By Kevin Buey, The Las Cruces Sun-News, May 27, 2010 [here]
Deming, New Mexico - Livestock scale inspection begins July 26, in New Mexico, by New Mexico Department of Agriculture inspectors certifying scales.
Given concern about border safety, inspectors in the Luna, Hidalgo and Grant County areas will be escorted by sheriff’s deputies.
Area members of the New Mexico Cattlegrowers Association met Wednesday night at La Fonda Restaurant to discuss concerns.
“They are no less safe this year than last year, but the murder of Robert Krentz has brought it more into focus,” said Caren Cowan, association executive director, said of the inspectors.
Krentz was shot to death on his Arizona ranch, near the New Mexico border, in March. Footprints from the scene led to the Mexican border.
There are 30 or more scales in the corridor — south of Interstate 10 from Las Cruces to the Arizona border.
“There have been no instances (of problems),” said Joe Gomez, division director of NMDA Standards and Consumer Services. “We’re just taking a proactive attack.”
The NMDA wanted to do this last year, he said, but the U.S. Border Patrol was unable to accommodate inspectors due to its workload.
This year, law enforcement will be there. … [more]
Note: Thanks for the tip to Julie Kay Smithson, Property Rights Research [here, here]