Border rancher John Ladd welcomes military presence
Says illegal crossings have dropped significantly already
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - From sending troops to the border to possibly creating an enforcement role for the military, a Cochise County rancher who has spent his life watching changes in border policy welcomes the latest possibilities.
John Ladd said changes in cross-border traffic started even before President Donald Trump was sworn in. Ladd said that he believes that change happened because of the president’s reputation.
“What I wanted to see was what happened his first four years which he pretty well shut it down then and it happened quicker this time because right when he got elected they quit coming like they were and then, since then it’s almost zero on our ranch,” said John Ladd, who is a fourth-generation rancher on the border with Mexico near Palominas, Arizona.
His property stretches along 10 1/2 miles of the border, and he has watched changes in cross-border traffic and immigration policy with each administration.
“With Biden’s four years, it varied from 50 a day to 200 a day. And they were everywhere. There were groups, there were smaller groups and they were from one end of the ranch to the other. We had a lot of high-speed chases with the load vehicles,” Ladd said.
He welcomes a return of the “Stay in Mexico” policy to send migrants back instead of processing asylum claims while they stay in this country and said he is seeing a difference with the Trump Administration’s approach.
“Border Patrol told me since March 1st they’re averaging three apprehensions a day with no getaways. So, that’s a record,” Ladd said.
He’s aware that 60 feet of land in from the border can be used by the federal government, and as far as the military possibly helping with enforcement, he welcomes it even if that means the area might be treated like a military base with enforcement against trespassing.
“I’m 100 percent in favor of that, too, and I haven’t been approached about the military on the ranch, but, my opinion now is if a Border Patrol agent’s with them, you can do whatever you want,” Ladd said.
Ladd’s position on placing the military along the border changed. He said he saw no need for it before the Biden Administration but now welcomes it.
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