Crackdown on border ‘spotters’ proposed

Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake are pushing to increase penalties for “spotters” at the border who help move drugs and people into the United States.

{mosads}The legislation from the two Arizona Republicans would impose fines and up to 10 years in prison for people who provide information about law enforcement to help carry out a crime or for people who destroy equipment, such as a camera or fence.

That jail time could climb up to 20 years if a “spotter” is carrying a gun when they destroy U.S. equipment, according to the legislation. 

“All across southern Arizona, so-called ‘spotters’ can be seen sitting on mountains directing drug cartels and human traffickers as they attempt to skirt our laws and illegally cross over the U.S.-Mexico border,” McCain said in a statement. “Our legislation would help to dismantle a central part of these cartels’ communications and logistics networks.”

The five Republicans in Arizona’s House delegation, Reps. Martha McSally, Trent Franks, Paul Gosar, Matt Salmon and David Schweikert, as well as Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), are backing a companion bill in the House.