Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement in response to the arrival of members of the Minutemen organization at the Northern Border.

“The recent drug smuggling tunnel bust at the Northern Border highlighted the successes of our Whatcom County and federal law enforcement working in tandem with our Canadian partners.  This successful shutdown shows that our border security is working.

“I believe we must continue to support our border security personnel and the job they’re doing. Yet recent efforts by Whatcom County Minutemen could distract from those efforts.

“Fair or not, the actions and statements of some of the Minutemen at the Southern Border have sullied the image and work of the Minutemen organization. While the Minutemen here may be different, the more complicated and dangerous issues facing us at the Northern Border could lead to them creating more problems than they solve. 

“Over the past five years, we have made great strides in bringing attention to the needs at our Northern Border.

“As a member of the Northern Border Caucus, I helped to secure 225 new border agents. We made federal investments in new technology and resources at the border in order to improve our security capabilities. The Canada U.S. Integrated Border Enforcement Team concept that began in Whatcom County are being replicated across the Northern Border.  In 2004 alone, law enforcement efforts resulted in over 2,600 drug seizures netting over 45,000 pounds of illegal narcotics.

“The 9/11 Recommendations Implementations Act authorized at least 2,000 new agents for the Northern Border, at least 260 of which should come to our Whatcom County sector over the next five years. Now the Administration needs to step up to the plate and prioritize funding for those new agents.

“Even with the many improvements at our border, work remains.  I commit to continuing that work in Congress and to partnering with local and federal border officials to do so.

“While I recognize the Minutemen’s desire to help with that work, their efforts are simply not the solution. Their presence will only distract from border officials’ work to monitor and secure our border.

“The threats and challenges at our Northern Border are very different from those at our nation’s Southern Border.

“Where our Southern Border battles a great deal of illegal immigration, the Northern Border’s threats are more often drug, gun, and money smuggling by criminal organizations.

“These unique threats call for trained law enforcement professionals who are skilled in dealing with organized crime and our border’s unique geography.

“The Minutemen simply are not trained to deal with the dangers and challenges at our border. If they really want to help secure our borders, I encourage them to join the ranks of the brave women and men who defend our border professionally.”

Larsen represents Washington state’s 2nd Congressional District that includes Whatcom County and its border crossings that fall under the Blaine Sector.