ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE

 

JOINT BORDER SECURITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Minutes of the Meeting

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

9:00 a.m., Senate Hearing Room 109

 

 

Members Present:

Senator Al Melvin, CoChair

Representative Russ Jones, CoChair

Senator Gail Griffin

Representative David Stevens

Senator Steve Smith

Dennis Young representing Robert Halliday

Bas Aja

Sheriff Ralph Ogden

Sheriff Joseph M. Arpaio

Gilbert Orrantia

Sheriff Paul Babeu

Charles Ryan

Sheriff Larry Dever

 

Kevin Biesty representing John Halikowski

 

 

Members Absent:

Representative Javan Mesnard

 

Major General Hugo Salazar

 

 

 

Staff:

Joe DeMenna, House Assistant Research Analyst

Bill Ritz, Senate Research Analyst

 

Chairman Melvin called the meeting to order at 9:07 a.m.

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

Maricopa County Sheriff's Posse

 

Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County Sheriff, gave an overview of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Posse.  He stated the value of the program and how it works. Sheriff Arpaio answered questions posed by the committee.

 

Brian Sands, Deputy Chief, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, answered questions posed by the committee.

 

Joint Border Security Advisory Committee Website Update

 

Senator Melvin explained the updates that have been made to the committee website and asked for input to improve the website.

 

Arizona Border Fence Donation Website Update

 

Senator Smith gave an update on the status of the Arizona Border Fence Donation website and answered question posed by the committee.  Senator Smith discussed his negotiations with fence companies.

 

Concerning Immigration and Naturalization Service and Customs and Border Protection

 

Mike Ligon, former Marine and former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, discussed his experiences working on the U.S./Mexico border and answered questions posed by the committee.

 

Concerning Operation Fast and Furious  

 

Dr. Bob Branch discussed Operation Fast and Furious and answered questions posed by the committee.

 

Inmate Cleanup of Desert

 

Charles Ryan, Director, Arizona Department of Corrections, gave an update on the program that uses inmate labor to clean up trash from the Arizona desert.

 

Review of Various Fence Options

 

Senator Melvin gave a powerpoint presentation "Secura Fence System" (Attachment A) and discussed the different fence options shown in the presentation.

 

Discussion

 

Lieutenant Colonel Luther "Luke" Taylor, US Army Retired, discussed SB 1495 (Laws 2011, Ch.311) regarding the Arizona State Guard and the funding source.

 

Mike Fry, member, Arizona Oath Keepers, addressed the committee regarding his concerns with terrorists crossing the US/Mexico border.

 

The committee discussed the importance of keeping the subject of the border in the spotlight with possible involvement of the Coast Guard Reserve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:40 a.m.

 

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                                    Shelley Ponce

                                                                                    Committee Secretary

 

(Audio recordings and attachments are on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115. Audio archives are available at http://www.azleg.gov)

 

 

 

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JOINT BORDER SECURITY

 ADVISORY COMMITTEE

September 28, 2011

Page 1

 

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