Border Patrol Puts Out ‘Help Wanted’ Message

Border Patrol Puts Out ‘Help Wanted’ Message

By Daniel Stefanski |

Law enforcement at the front lines of the border crisis is looking for new recruits.

Last week, the Chief Patrol Agent for the Detroit Sector of the United States Border Patrol, Robert Danley, posted a notice to “X” that his agency is hiring. Chief Danley shared information about hiring incentives and the link for interested men and women to apply.

For years, the Border Patrol has been under duress from the deluge of illegal immigration across America’s southern border. The border has been ‘open,’ more or less, for decades, but the situation on the ground has reached unprecedented levels in the past ten years. Over the past three years, during the Biden Administration, the border crisis has arguably been at its peak, forcing the already thin ranks of Border Patrol agents to process hundreds of thousands of incoming illegal aliens.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there were 19,357 Border Patrol agents in Fiscal Year 2022.

Border Patrol agents have faced new threats in 2023, in addition to their wearisome workload at their stations, leading many to wonder how many individuals would want to sign up for what this job has become. In October, the Vice President of the National Border Patrol Council, Art Del Cueto, posted a picture of online messages that contained threats and concerning solicitations about personal information for agents and members of their families.

The messages shared by Del Cueto included the following:

  • “We will pay for any addresses of border patrol agents!!”
  • “$200 your way if you get me a border patrol agent’s address”
  • “$1k if you get me they mommas address”
  • “We offer $$$ for information on BP agents”
  • “Top dollar on good info”
  • “I’ll post us torturing any bp agent u send”

Ali Bradley, a National Correspondent for NewsNation, shared additional insight from conversations with Border Patrol agents, stating that “the agency says the messages also show the intent to post the torture of BPAs on social media.”

Earlier this month, two wives of Border Patrol agents joined Fox News to talk about the crisis and their perceptions of the lawlessness through the eyes of their husbands. One of the women, Alison Anderson, said, “We have literally watched our border be handed over… he often talks about, why did our brothers die? Why did people die defending this country for this administration to sit there, lie about what they’re doing and hand over our border and our national security?”

In Fiscal Year 2023, there were 2,475,669 encounters of illegal immigrants at the southern border – in addition to the ‘gotaways’ who slipped by agents. Through the first two months of the newest fiscal year (October and November), there were 483,404 apprehensions at the southern border. Both months have outpaced FY 23s figures so far.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.

District Fails To Prove It Prepared Students For Technical Careers Despite Spending $1.4 Million

District Fails To Prove It Prepared Students For Technical Careers Despite Spending $1.4 Million

By Corinne Murdock |

Another one of Arizona’s 14 career and technical education (CTE) districts can’t prove it effectively prepared students for high-need technical occupations despite spending over $1.4 million.

report issued last week by the Arizona auditor general revealed that the Cobre Valley Institute of Technology (CVIT) didn’t collect, validate, and use complete data to assess whether students were successfully prepared to enter high-need occupations or earned industry certifications through its programs. 

“Without collecting, validating, and using complete and reliable key outcome data about jobs obtained and certifications earned by its students, the District could not demonstrate to students, parents, the public, and State policymakers that its programs were effective in achieving the statutory purpose of preparing students for entry into high-need occupations,” reported the audit. 

CVIT reported that it didn’t factor student employment and industry certification data because it didn’t have a reason to distrust self-reported data from its students and member districts. The auditor general rejected the permissiveness as prone to corrupting the data quality with errors and misreporting.

High-need occupations are those defined by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity and the Arizona Department of Education as high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations. These careers normally don’t require a higher education or advanced degree, and may require certification or licensure.

CVIT paid over $176,000 to partner with Eastern Arizona College: $130,000 in tuition and other fees for its students to attend the program and $46,000 for classroom supplies and equipment purchases. It also paid over $575,000 in satellite funding to its member districts and about $120,000 on grants passed to member districts and equipment purchases.

Administrative costs were the second-biggest portion of the $1.4 million collectively, totaling about $529,000. CVIT spent about $356,000 on salaries and benefits for its superintendent and business manager, administrative supplies and equipment, audit services, and advertising, as well as nearly $173,000 on support services for the salaries and benefits of staff performing program director duties, attendance software and services, insurance costs, school safety supplies and equipment, and cell phone services. 

According to the auditor general, CVIT didn’t have consistent processes in place to collect student job placement data, though it surveyed students who completed a CTE program to determine if they were employed, enrolled in postsecondary education, or enlisted in the military, and were using skills and knowledge acquired in their CTE programs.

Additionally, CVIT only validated certification data for students who attended central campus programs, not member districts. 

The auditor general recommended CVIT develop and implement consistent data collection protocols for all CTE programs: collecting and validating complete data such as student certifications earned and post-graduate jobs obtained. CVIT issued a response agreeing with the auditor general’s finding and recommendations. 

CVIT wasn’t the only CTE district to fail to prove its funding adequately prepared students for high-need occupations. The auditor general reported in September that the Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology also didn’t.

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.

Arizona Lawmaker Proposes To Take Biden Off Ballot

Arizona Lawmaker Proposes To Take Biden Off Ballot

By Daniel Stefanski |

An Arizona legislator is turning the tables on the Democrat incumbent President of the United States.

Earlier this month, freshman State Representative Cory McGarr announced that he would be sponsoring a bill in the upcoming legislative session to “remove Joe Biden from the ballot.”

The news was released alongside two other legislators from other states – Pennsylvania State Representative Aaron Bernstine and Georgia State Representative Charlice Byrd. Bernstine and Byrd also plan on introducing similar bills in their respective chambers, according to their release.

In a post on “X,” McGarr said, “Biden is leading an insurrection on the border. Time to remove him from the ballot.”

The catalyst for the bills stemmed from the recent decision from the Colorado State Supreme Court to remove former President Donald J. Trump from the ballot in the state for 2024. The trio of legislators admitted as much in a joint statement, saying, “The absurdity of radical Democrat judges removing Donald Trump from the ballot in Colorado will be a stain on the American political system for decades. By their very own interpretation of the law, Joe Biden is 100% not eligible to run for political office.” The lawmakers added, “Democrats’ insane justification to remove Trump can just as easily be applied to Joe Biden for his ‘insurrection’ at the southern border and his alleged corrupt family business dealings with China. Colorado radicals just changed the game and we are not going to sit quietly while they destroy our Republic.”

A few of McGarr’s colleagues noted their approval of his efforts. Representative Travis Grantham gave a one-word nod to the joint statement posted to the social media platform.

Representative Rachel Jones cheered on the announcement, stating, “My seatmate!!!”

Representative Alexander Kolodin weighed in, writing, “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.”

Guy Benson, a national political pundit and writer on Fox News and Townhall.com picked up on the news from the three legislators. He posted the following to his “X” account: “Here we go…GOP state lawmakers file legislation to remove Biden from the ballot in 3 states, claiming he’s guilty of aiding an ‘insurrection’ at the border & citing his family’s foreign business dealings. They explicitly say their goal is to ‘showcase the absurdity’ of Colorado.”

McGarr and his out-of-state colleagues ended their joint statement with their rationale for the future introduction of these bills. They said, “To be clear our objective is to showcase the absurdity of Colorado’s decision and allow ALL candidates to be on the ballot in all states. To do that, we must fight back as Republicans against the communists currently running our great country.”

The motivations for these bills may become moot, however, thanks to a surprising revelation from the Colorado Secretary of State on Thursday. Secretary of State Jena Griswold issued a statement to share that, with the appeal from the state’s Republican Party, “Donald Trump will be included as a candidate on January 5, 2024, unless the U.S. Supreme Court declines to take the case or otherwise affirms the Colorado Supreme Court ruling.” Griswold highlighted her belief that “Donald Trump engaged in insurrection and was disqualified under the Constitution from the Colorado Ballot.”

As the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office noted, January 5 is the “deadline for (the office) to certify the names and party affiliations of candidates on the 2024 Presidential Primary Ballot,” and it is also a conference day for the nation’s high court.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.

Green Party To Return To Arizona Ballot

Green Party To Return To Arizona Ballot

By Daniel Stefanski |

A familiar political party is coming back to Arizona ballots in 2024.

Last week, the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office announced that the Green Party “has exceeded the minimum signature requirement of 34,127 and has qualified as a new party for federal, statewide, and legislative races in the 2024 Primary and General Elections under Arizona law.”

The Party recognized its feat on “X,” writing, “The Arizona Green Party is incredibly proud to announce that we have once again achieved official political party recognition in the State of Arizona and WILL be on the ballot for the 2024 & 2026 Primary Elections.” The state’s Green Party leadership expressed gratitude to their volunteers, saying, “Thank you to the many dedicated activists, supporters, and volunteers who made this happen. Let’s turn AZ GREEN in 2024!”

Dr. Jill Stein, a candidate for the Green Party nomination, acknowledged the news from the Grand Canyon State and noted the significance of this achievement for her political faction. Stein said, “BREAKING: We’re on the ballot in Arizona! Congrats to the Arizona Green Party for this huge win – bringing Green Party ballot access to 20 states and counting! We’re well on the way to getting our urgently-needed pro-worker, anti-war, climate action campaign on the ballot across the US!”

According to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, the Green Party “did not file in time to appear on the March Presidential Preference Election ballot.”

Stein appeared on the 2016 November General Election ballot as the Green Party’s nominee in Arizona, where she obtained 34,345 votes. The Green Party was not afforded a spot on the ballot in 2020, when Joe Biden beat then-President Donald Trump by 10,457 votes in the state. If Arizona replicates the 2020 presidential election finish, Stein’s inclusion on the 2024 ballot could possibly be the difference between a Democrat or Republican carrying the state’s eleven electoral votes.

On its website, the Arizona Green Party asserts that it “supports livable wages, universal health care, free higher education, student debt forgiveness, full reproductive rights for women, human rights for all immigrants, LGBTQ+, with commitment to racial justice, non-violence, and environmental sustainability.”

Last month, Fontes announced that the Patriot Party of Arizona did not submit enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in Arizona elections throughout 2024.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.

Arizona Leaders React To Trump’s Removal From Colorado Ballot

Arizona Leaders React To Trump’s Removal From Colorado Ballot

By Corinne Murdock |

Although former President Donald Trump will be on Arizona ballots come March, he may not be eligible to run.

In a historic and narrow ruling, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that former President Donald Trump isn’t eligible for office under Section Three of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits insurrectionists, rebels, or sympathizers from running for office. 

The court issued a stay on its decision until either Jan. 4 or the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the case, whichever comes sooner. 

Arizona’s Republican leaders decried the court ruling online, while Democratic leaders largely remained silent.

Arizona House Speaker and congressional candidate Ben Toma (R-LD08) called the ruling an “abomination to the rule of law,” noting that Trump was convicted of no crime.

“This is a gross politicization of the Justice System and the Supreme Court should intervene to reinstate him on the Colorado ballot,” said Toma.

In a series of tweets, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) called the ruling “election interference” and speculated that the ruling had suspicious timing, given the historic low approval rating awarded to President Joe Biden recently. Crane accused the Democratic Party of fearing a Trump-Biden faceoff. 

“At the end of the day, the left fears a return of President Trump because it would be a return to peace through strength,” said Crane. “He threatens to end their forever wars abroad, their open borders at home, and their government control over YOU.”

Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-08) called the decision “insane” and “the ultimate attack on democracy.”

“Democrat-appointed Colorado judges rule in favor of group saying they want to protect democracy by throwing @realDonaldTrump off ballot when the act of throwing Trump off ballot is the ultimate attack on democracy!” said Lesko.

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09) saud the court decision was based on political, not legal reasoning.

“The [Democrats] know they can’t beat Trump, so they remove him and disenfranchise the voters of CO,” said Gosar. “A new low for our country. SCOTUS must end this election interference madness.

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.