Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., is visiting Texas for a firsthand observation of border security.
Sasse is tweeting about what he’s seeing:
Previewing my Tex-Mex "Learning Tour" (Note 1of9?): Like most Nebr'ns, I'm not obsessed w/ politics. So I dont use this twitt acct 4politics
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
#2. (u can follow my office @SenSasse, w/ more than enuf politics.) Being in the Senate is my daily work, but not whole of my life. Thus Mel
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
#3: Melissa & I intentionally have big politics-free zones, like healthy people
This pers'l acct is mainly about sports, our goofy kids, fr— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
#4: freakonomics, humor, & esp'ly the interesting diversity of Amer. work and workers. This weekend, @SenRonJohnson (Chair of HomSec Committ
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
#5: @SenatorCarper (lead Dem), and I are exploring SW border w/ BordPatrol & other DHS workers. I'll tweet a bit but my purpose won't be par
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
#6: won't be partisan politics. Instead my 2 main reasons for coming here r to understand biggest threats to natl. security along this long
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
#7: long border (my biggest fear is jihadi-minded migrants); & workers who do the dusty,complicated work of protecting us. I'm obv'ly also
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
#8: also interested in the stories of children who came here last summer, even if they no longer dominate newscycles. Not from any political
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
#9: standpt, but as a Dad of 3. I want to know what it's been like for those kids and what's happening here. So…Let's get to know some of
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Recommended
#10: those who work in B.Patrol for us; what keeps them up at night; & what it's really like here that most of us never get to
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
#11 (of11): to see beyond 24-hr newscycle. It's a complex place, so am gonna learn on ground. Hopefully it'll be interesting to some.
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Met w/ 2 dozen ranchers. 1 gave me folder of pics of dead bodies found on his&his neighbors ranch in last 2yrs. Mostly teens&20-somethngs
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Benny Martinez, dep. sheriff of Brooks Cty, said 435 dead bodies found in his County in last 5 yrs. This is a county of 8,000 people
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Rancher in Brooks Cty said folks have driven thru his fences 13x in past yr. Ave repair is $1k. But worse: cattle escape; some get to hiway
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Best start to a story: "CBP and Navy work really well together at this base. Started last summer when we burned 80k lbs of marij. together"
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
From 20k ft altitude, this drone finds folks on foot, if have backpacks, &then passes coordinates to ground BP agents pic.twitter.com/y7AS6e95Qx
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Giant, angry peacock overhead at the ranch: pic.twitter.com/oNrHJhXJaF
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
BP Agent Zaddouk loves Border Community Liaison duty, telling poor TX H.S kids:"Your probs aren't bad! Everyone on Earth wants to come here"
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
P-3 pilot from THE Ohio St. U. taunting @SenRonJohnson by asking Big10 ftball championship score. (Hint: Badgers don't like the number "59")
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
CBP has12 P-3s. Typically 2 r in Cent.Amer. providing host nations w/ GPS on coke smugglers leaving N-bond.
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Flt crews typically deploy to CentAmer 1 wk per3. Usually flt crew r Navy alums. $ doesn't compare to going to UnitedAir. Mission draws them
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Sen. Sasse took a helicopter flight along the border:
Coming in from Gulf over Padre Isle Natl Seashore. Can't see the turtles from this altitude: pic.twitter.com/KuNNHzsfuL
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Assumed drug smugg interdiction rate from Cent. America of 28%. (Landing in McAllen now) pic.twitter.com/kJzbqqP25K
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Was just told which buttons on this helo panel are "mine." Seems like prudence says I shld keep my hands to myself: pic.twitter.com/JKXatDuBwq
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Mexico on your left; Texas on the right. Quote here: "It's really the Rio Pequeno River — nothing 'Grande'" pic.twitter.com/uvk5ANZ6Gg
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Nothing deeper than knee deep right here right now. Understatement of our pilot: "Tough for BPATROL to stop this" pic.twitter.com/yIWFs2E9ez
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Pieces of a very incomplete wall.Raises lots of Qs. Hard to get coherent answers on why partial wall, vs. All or None pic.twitter.com/g3rX43TWa0
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
People turned back as Sasse’s helicopter flew overhead:
In the trees (Mexican side) are 5 guys+1 raft. They pulled back when saw our helicopter. Our pilot assumes no drugs pic.twitter.com/XS4GDYjb2x
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Busted. Another five(?) guys turn back from crossing at the site of our CBP helicopter: pic.twitter.com/IghRcexsn6
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
Communicating sightings to white&green BPatrol SUVs below: pic.twitter.com/nwh1PiNUvC
— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) February 7, 2015
According to Sen. Harry Reid, “the border is secure.”
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