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“TRIBUTE TO TROOPER JAMES SAUNDERS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2141 on Oct. 19, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO TROOPER JAMES SAUNDERS
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HON. GEORGE R. NETHERCUTT, JR.
of washington
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, October 19, 1999
Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Washington State Patrol Trooper James Saunders, who was killed in the line of duty on October 7th while making a routine traffic stop in Pasco, Washington. The suspect in this case is a violent illegal alien who has a long criminal record.
Trooper Saunders leaves behind a small child and a wife expecting a second child. No words can express the sorrow they feel right now. I pray that God will become their strength as they begin the healing process.
As facts emerge in this case, the question we must ask ourselves is how can we stop tragedies like this. The suspect in the case had been deported three times by the U.S. Border Patrol in the past three years and this summer he was held in jail in Pasco awaiting a November trial on a cocaine charge. Instead of remaining in jail until trial, he was released on bond. There has been a lot of finger pointing over who is to blame for not placing the suspect on immigration detention, which is the standard procedure for violent criminal aliens, and while this should be investigated, it will not bring back Trooper Saunders. It is clear that this case shows how bureaucratic mistakes aren't just bureaucratic when crimes are committed and lives are lost. Our region is sensitive to this problem. An Omak police officer was killed in the line of duty just two years ago by a suspect who was an illegal alien.
Mr. Speaker, we must learn from this tragedy to prevent future acts of violence. I believe this case highlights three problems that need to be addressed.
First, legal immigration and border enforcement are two very separate functions of the Federal Government. Under our current system, the Border Patrol reports to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Cooperation between INS and Border Patrol needs improvement. I support the approach offered by Chairman Harold Rogers to reorganize the INS into two different agencies within the Department of Justice: immigration services and immigration enforcement (or border patrol). This reorganization will empower both divisions to successfully fulfill their respective missions. Bureaucratic overlap and miscommunication should not be the cause of illegal aliens having easy access to our country.
Second, the Border Patrol needs more agents. Unfortunately, the Clinton Administration has not advocated for more resources and personnel for this department. There was bipartisan criticism earlier this year when President Clinton did not request funding for an increase of 1,000 Border Patrol agents for fiscal year 2000. Border communities are significantly impacted by this short-sighted decision. My home state of Washington recently had 6 agents detailed to the Arizona border because they need more agents to interdict illegal aliens and illegal drugs there. Overall, 204 Western region agents have been detailed to the Arizona border at a cost of $1.8 million per month. Arizona may need more agents, but that should not come at the expense of other regions. If we had an increase in the total number of agents, there would be no need to detail agents elsewhere. Northern Border Patrol sectors should be given an increase in Border Patrol personnel. This fact is important because the Spokane sector, which is located in my District needs, 15 agents and 2 support personnel just to get to ``critical operation level.'' The Spokane sector has 350 miles to cover and under the current staffing level they are only able to monitor 6 percent of the border on a regular basis. The loss of 6 agents will have an impact not just in border monitoring, but in criminal detention. Overstretched staff will be less able to visit local jails to ensure criminal aliens are not released back into the streets to commit more crimes, which apparently is part of the problem involving the situation that led to the shooting death of Trooper Saunders.
Our American border with Canada and our northern airports need additional agents as well. Eastern Washington streets are facing a significant increase in methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana use. Reports indicate that as America's southern border is reinforced, foreign drug producers are increasingly using Canada as a smuggling gateway between foreign drug producers and the United States. The Border Patrol recently interdicted the largest seizure of methamphetamine precursors in the history of our region. I am concerned that detailing of agents to the southern border will result in more drugs coming across our northern border.
Finally, the shooting of Trooper Saunders is another example of how illegal immigration and the drug trade are becoming more violent and police officers are being threatened. 104 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty this year, 4 in the last two weeks, and many of these deaths can be attributed to the drug trade and illegal immigration. Law enforcement officials in my district tell me that street officers are finding that drug dealers and illegal aliens are more heavily armed and willing to use violence to evade detection and apprehension. Many veteran officers are choosing to retire because the streets have become too violent. This Congress has made great strides to provide more resources for law enforcement departments, but we should do more. The Bulletproof Protection Act signed into law last year has helped provide small and rural departments with lifesaving vests for their officers. Vests should be standard equipment for every police officer, but unfortunately many departments do not have the resources to provide them. The Local Law Enforcement Block Grant has also given departments the ability to better tailor their programs according to the needs of their community rather than to an arbitrary Department of Justice grant requirement.
Mr. Speaker, we can and should do more to prevent violence against police officers. I hope the death of Trooper Saunders will be met with action and efforts to secure our borders and protect our law enforcement services.
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