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Leo W. Banks
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August 1, 2024
The Dogs of SonoraIt’s a blazing hot Monday afternoon, the temperature topping 110 degrees in the deserts of southern Arizona, and Maria Rodriguez is on a mission of mercy. She’s delivering a huge load of dog food to the Mexican border town of Sasabe, Sono...
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September 9, 2023
An Eyewitness on the BorderI’ve reported on the Arizona-Mexico border for a long time, and recently published a novel about a ranching family battling a drug cartel trying to take over their ranch. But for on-the-ground grit and realism, it’s hard to match th...
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April 25, 2016
Life Behind the Tortilla CurtainThose who live close to the Mexican border in Arizona and New Mexico consistently express two sentiments. First, the number of illegals crossing the line has plunged from a flood to a trickle in most places. The feds and the ...
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June 18, 2014
DREAMers in CamouflageOn Monday, June 9, in the remote borderlands of Arizona, a rancher encountered seven illegal immigrant DREAMers on his property. They were all dressed in camouflage, carrying blackened water bottles to reflect the moonlight and w...
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October 17, 2012
Drug Smugglers Are Driving Across the Arizona Border in Broad DaylightThe October 2 shooting death of Border Patrol agent Nicholas Ivie brought national media to Arizona's Cochise County. After a few days, when investigators determined that the killing was a tragic a case of friendly fire, the media packed up and...
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May 7, 2012
The Drug Cartels Keep Arizona's Border Wide OpenOur illegal immigration problem is over. President Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano have delivered on their promises. The border is finally secure. This narrative, building steam nationally, pays no mind to the eleph...
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April 29, 2011
Why Isn't Obama Talking About the Human Skulls?I'm betting that when President Obama met with his open borders supporters at the White House last week, he didn't mention the human skulls.Why would he? Loose heads only confuse matters when you're making a pre-2012 play for comprehe...
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February 11, 2011
Napolitano Goes on OffenseHomeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has gone on offense and it's not pretty. In a speech in El Paso last week, she blasted those who dare suggest the Obama Administration's efforts to stop illegal crossings at our souther...
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May 27, 2010
Americans Fleeing Border InvasionThey spent ten winters hunting quail in the sun. But those halcyon days ended last week for Terrie and Glen Stoller. Smugglers -- armed, numerous, and brazen -- have frightened them off their southeast Arizona property. The couple is selling their ho...
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April 27, 2010
The Arizona UproarListening to the national uproar, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Arizona has marched into the civil rights apocalypse with its new state law cracking down on illegal immigrants.Last Friday, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed SB1070, ma...