‘You’re Either a Cowboy or a Wimp’—Rancher, 85, Reveals Grim Realities on US–Mexico Border

The Epoch Times Header

ARIVACA, Ariz.—Jim Chilton and his wife Susan were college sweethearts who married young and worked hard to build a life together on their 50,000-acre cattle ranch in Arivaca, Arizona, about 11 miles north of the international border with Mexico.

Mr. Chilton’s ancestors first drove cattle from Texas to Arizona in 1885, settling along the Blue River that runs through the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in eastern Arizona.

Raising cattle is in the family blood, the Chiltons say.

However, things have been changing at the Chilton Ranch & Cattle Co. And not in a good way.

“It’s not fun out here,” said Mr. Chilton, a fifth-generation rancher who is still going strong at 85.

In fact, venturing out on his property can be downright dangerous due to the rising tide of illegal border crossings from Mexico to southern Arizona.

At first, illegal immigrant families began arriving on his property, looking to escape poverty and strife in the promised land north of the border.

That was years ago.

Mr. Chilton said he would often stumble upon these frightened, desperate people who needed food, water, and hope to carry on.

To that end, he was a humanitarian. He even installed spigots on his water troughs so they had fresh water to drink.

His charity ended there, however, being a firm believer in legal immigration and the rule of law.

Over the years, and especially during the Biden administration, Mr. Chilton said he began to notice the illegal border-crossers looked quite different from the ones he’d earlier met and for whom he felt pity.

There were fewer families crossing onto his property. In their place were mostly young men in military-style clothing, masks, and carrying heavy backpacks.

Some of them had walkie-talkies, as he’s noticed from his hidden trail cameras set up at five locations on his property about a decade ago.

“This area used to have a customs office. So travel from Mexico north has been historic,” Mr. Chilton told The Epoch Times. “It was significantly heavy. It was mainly people just trying to get into America and work.

“Then, with the recession of 2008 and 2009, that traffic just stopped because the word got out there weren’t any jobs in the U.S.”

Around that time, the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico was busy taking command of all the border trails into Arizona and creating a monopoly over illegal narcotics and human smuggling, Mr. Chilton said.

The cartel began mobilizing groups of drug packers, many of them previously deported illegal immigrants—criminal types from Latin America, including the violent El Salvadoran gang MS-13.

“That traffic became significant,” Mr. Chilton said. “I would see them from time to time with cartel scouts on our mountains and coyotes [cartel guides].”

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

The US President is Right – It’s Time to Bring Russia in From the Cold

It's time to let go of our Cold War mentality – a foreign policy built on it is contrary to what is in the best interest of the U.S. as well as Europe.

This is Not Democrats vs Republicans, This is Evil vs Good

Myself and so many other Christian conservative journalists and...

Elon Musk Exposes Democrat Dark Money Tied to New Protests

Trump and Musk fear Democrat’s graft and corruption of Federal dollars may exceed $1T with money having gone to foreign countries where it can't be traced.

Propaganda Wars: Corporate Media’s Pro-Seed Oil Blitz

Arguing against seed oil apologists is among the most tiresome exercises in futility. No matter what evidence you present to them, it won’t move the needle.

Why The Silence About The Slaughter In Syria?

In Syria, the Islamist regime conducted revenge killings targeting supporters of Assad. Militants killed innocent Muslims, Christians and religious minoritie.

News

Dow Plunges Nearly 900 Points, Nasdaq in Correction Territory as Recession Fears Build

Wall Street navigated a fresh round of turbulence to kick off the trading week after President Donald Trump did not rule out a tariff-driven recession.

CBP launches enhanced CBP Home mobile app with new Report Departure feature

WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announces the...

California Bill Would Limit Residents’ Ability to Use Deadly Force to Defend Their Property

A California bill that would restrict the use of lethal force to defend people’s property from criminals could be heard by a legislative committee March 24.

Air Force Fighter Jets Intercept Aircraft Flying in Restricted Zone Near Mar-a-Lago

Air Force fighter jets intercepted a civilian aircraft that flew in restricted airspace near President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, NORAD said.

ICE Arrests Palestinian Green Card Holder Who Led Columbia University Protest

U.S. immigration agents arrested a Palestinian student and permanent resident who led the pro-Palestinian encampment protest at Columbia University last year.

The Legal Loophole That Costs Medicaid Billions

Few seem to know how the Medicaid system works, what it costs, or the level of unnecessary spending hidden within its $880 billion annual budget.

Los Angeles Lost Track of Billions in Homelessness Funding, Audit Finds

An audit commissioned by a federal judge found that...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central