RISON - Fourth District Congressman Bruce Westerman (RHot Springs) gave some revealing insight into the situation along the U.S.-Mexico border during a lunch meeting with local officials Monday in Rison.
Westerman stopped by the Main Street Cafe for lunch after touring the Woodlawn School campus earlier in the day with Superintendent Dr. Kevin Hancock. Those attending included County Judge Jimmy Cummings, County Clerk Brandy Herring, Rison Mayor Charles Roberts and District 1 State Sen. Ben Gilmore of Crossett. Hancock was also at the meeting as well as Cleveland County School District board president Harrell Wilson.
Before lunch, Westerman told the gathering about some recent trips he had made to the Mexican border to visit with U.S. Border Patrol officers as well as local and state law enforcement.
While much of the recent national spotlight has been on the standoff between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden's administration over the make-shift border wall at Eagle Pass, Texas, Westerman said the real story is what is going on along the Mexican border in Arizona.
Westerman said the Mexican drug cartels control both sides of the border in Arizona, including a range that goes about 40 miles into the U.S. While the influx of migrants along the Texas border are primarily for those seeking entry into the country, Westerman said the traffic along the border in Arizona is often used for drug smuggling and human trafficking.
"When migrants crossing (into Texas) see a Border agent, it's like they hit the lottery," Westerman said, referring to the fact that the migrant will be processed as an asylum seeker and sent to a location somewhere in the U.S.
In Arizona, he said those crossing the border illegally are not as excited to see an agent. Westerman said those coming across often do so by wearing camoflage and carpeted shoes as to not be detected. He said the reason for that is they are often transp...
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