A Message from Executive Director, Susan J. Kibbe

Dear Members,

I’d like to open my report to pay respects to the memories of Gene “Primo” Walker, his brother Rick; and to offer the deepest condolences to their families. Primo was a long time STPRA Advisor and a STPRA Lifetime Member. I had the privilege to get to know him over the past years, and you couldn’t have come away from those experiences without having the utmost respect for his calm and steady demeanor and his deep love for his Savior, Jesus Christ. He will be sorely missed.

I just came back from the National Sheriffs’ Association Winter Conference in Washington, D.C. I have had the privilege of serving on their Border Security Committee for the past three years. This one, however, was the most profound and the most well attended.

Border Patrol leadership is always invited to give an update to the attending committee members, and what they have had to say has always been front and center. This year was totally different, and I felt so bad for the Operations Chief that was sent to give the update. There was not much he could say, but “don’t blame the messenger”.

Sheriff Mark Dannels from Cochise County, Arizona is the committee chairman, and our own Brooks County Sheriff, Benny Martinez serves as vice-chair. The two-hour meeting was filled with stats from the attending States: whether you were on the border with daily pursuits, drive throughs and property damage, or in major cities with cartel shoot outs, marked increases in fentanyl deaths and growing crime throughout the United States. It was a somber experience.

The Israeli Embassy screened the October 7 Hamas videos of their mass slaughter of Israelis, for the sworn law enforcement officers there. It only added to the deep concern that the Sheriffs’ Association members had.

The Senate defense bill that included border security measures came out on the last day of the event; and it wasn’t well received:

The 370-page bill raises serious questions about the changes to existing asylum and parole rules that are vital to every American. It will not deter but embolden unlawful immigration. We support actions that secure the borders, not actions that encourage illegal entry.

The President refuses to acknowledge and exercise his full authority to secure our borders. For example, current law (INA section 212(f)) grants the President and his Administration the authority to control border crossings.

“It is long past time for the President and Congress to take responsibility for the safety and security of the American people,” said President Sheriff Champagne.

See the National Sheriffs’ Association’s letter in its entirety.

Members, we will keep informing and educating all who will listen.

Until next month,

---

Susan J. Kibbe
Office (361) 522-5194
Susan@STPRA.org

---