Whatcom residents on Canadian border chain gates to deter federal agents

ISABELLE DILLS AND ZOE FRALEY - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

A few residents increasingly frustrated by federal agents driving through their property near the U.S.-Canada border chained, and in some cases, locked their gates Thursday, June 16, to stop the vehicles from coming on their land.


Real estate agent Dennis Hill, who is an advocate for the residents, said that in addition to locking gates, landowners would be displaying signs that read, "No government vehicles beyond this point." It is up to the landowners how long they want to leave their gates locked, he said.


Friction between residents and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents has increased since Lynden resident Wayne P. Groen was found guilty in April of incapacitating a Customs' pilot by shining a spotlight on a helicopter. His sentencing is set for August.


Hill said he knew of at least three landowners who were locking their gates Thursday; they live on Jackman, West Badger and Halverstick roads.


"A lot of people along the border are tired of them going in and out of their property," Hill said.


Berry farmer Darryl Ehlers, 74, lives on Halverstick and is one of the people chaining up his fence. He said he won't lock it, so that if border agents have to get onto his property they can, but he hopes the extra work makes them think twice about being respectful to private property.


"They have the pretty strong idea that 'I can go where I want, when I want,'" Ehlers said. "This changes the tune to make them take heed. You've got other people with other feelings."


More residents are expected to participate after Tuesday, June 21, when more signs will be made available during a 6:30 p.m. meeting at the Mt. Baker Rotary Building in Lynden.


Hill said locking up the gates was not a "protest," but "an effort to create better communication" between residents and border agents.


"Most (residents) would like it if they knew (the border agents) on a first-name basis," Hill said.


If border agents are in pursuit of someone, they should be able to enter a property, Hill said. By locking or chaining the gates, Hill said residents are hoping to deter agents from "snooping around."


"The general sentiment is the northern border is being treated the same as the southern border," Hill said. "It's not the same situation."


In response to the chained and locked gates, border agents likely will access the border by foot or by other means if the situation isn't urgent, Blaine sector Border Patrol spokesman Richard Sinks said in an email. If there is an emergency or urgent need to get onto a property, agents likely will make an attempt to contact the landowner or cut the lock, depending on the situation.

 

LOCKED GATES


http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/06/17/2063166/whatcom-county-r...


Views: 219

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by Marklar on June 18, 2011 at 9:32pm
It seems to me that the claim of a hundred mile zone next to the border in which the border patrol claims it can enter private property at will constitutes a defacto case of emminent domain taking in which case property owners should file a class action lawsuit forcing the feds to compensate all land owners within 100 miles of the boarder buying their properties outright. In other words, make them pay for the private property they claim to have rights to or forfeit the claim.
Comment by Burbia on June 18, 2011 at 5:41pm

I'm surprised some of these people are standing up to the Feds with this kind of activity.  They have me impressed.

"No government vehicles beyond this point."


"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted a blog post

Trump's Big Beautiful Bill Passes Amidst Democrat Lies About a Tax on the Rich Being Averted

AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.It’s over, folks. President Trump and congressional Republicans aimed to…See More
8 hours ago
Doc Vega posted blog posts
yesterday
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post Government Issued Wearables? What’s Wrong With this Picture?
"I wonder what wearables must have been like before the last reset. "
Wednesday
Burbia commented on Burbia's video
Tuesday
Doc Vega commented on tjdavis's blog post National Blueprint For Biodefense
"Another scare tactic to push people into anew regime of vaccinations! Either that, or this is a…"
Tuesday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Tuesday
Sandy posted a video

Dr. Mike Yeadon Speaks Out Against Digital ID, CBDCs, and Agenda 2030

Dr. Mike Yeadon, ex-Pfizer VP, urges public rejection of digital ID, CBDCs, and Agenda 2030, warning of future restrictions on freedom and privacy.
Tuesday
Burbia posted a video

"EVERYONE'S BEEN SHOT UP HERE": Arsonists Set Wildfire In Idaho, Open Fire On Firefighters, Police

- Shocking news just broke that multiple firefighters and officers were shot in an ambush at the Canfield Mountain Natural Area in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.Acco...
Monday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Well Known Wilderness Photographer Disappears in the Cascades-Guess Why?

 In August of 2023 another aficionado of the great outdoors went missing. The chilling revelations…See More
Sunday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

The Draconian Show

Sometimes I talk to my invisible friend, IkeHe comes from another dimension when magnetic fields…See More
Jun 27
tjdavis posted a blog post
Jun 26
Doc Vega posted a blog post
Jun 25
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Jun 24
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Jun 23
Doc Vega favorited tjdavis's photo
Jun 22
Doc Vega commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Game Night

"Ha! Good one!"
Jun 22
Doc Vega commented on FREEDOMROX's blog post MRNA VACCINES: Question
"Listen man I know where you're at but back in October of 2023 thru December of 2023 for months…"
Jun 22
tjdavis posted a video

Architecton | Official Trailer HD | A24

SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/A24subscribeWritten and directed by Victor Kossakovsky and starring Michele De Lucchi. ARCHITECTON – Coming Soon RELEASE DATE: Comin...
Jun 22
tjdavis posted photos
Jun 22
tjdavis posted a blog post
Jun 21

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted