Border Security Experts Expose Venezuelan Gang Activity and Sanctuary Law Failures

On October 10, 2024, Yvonne Paez, Ben Aste, John Fabbricatore, Karen Levine, and Chris Harris joined the show. Veteran broadcaster and former law enforcement officer fills in for Kim, bringing her own experience to discussions of border security and community safety Aste details how regulatory burdens have driven businesses from Larimer County, with permit timelines stretching to five years, and discusses the mounting economic pressures on residents and.

Business Climate and Local Government Challenges

Start listening at 14:56 – Hour 1

Ben Aste, candidate for Larimer County Commissioner, describes how excessive regulation has driven businesses out of the county. Permit approval timelines have stretched from six months to four or five years for some commercial projects, creating an unsustainable business environment. Aste explains how these costs ultimately pass through to consumers, affecting everything from lawn care to professional services.

The conversation turns to property taxes and insurance costs crushing retirees who thought they had saved enough. One couple shared that professionals now calculate needing 10 to 15 additional years of work, triple the previous estimates, just to afford retirement. Aste emphasizes the need for common sense governance and limited government to address these mounting burdens on families and businesses.

“I want to try to get that back and keep the businesses, the mom-and-pops, the brick-and-mortars, and of course the corporates here. We need a nice balance of that.”

Ben Aste, Larimer County Commissioner Candidate

Immigration Enforcement and Border Security Realities

Start listening at 31:58 – Hour 1

John Fabbricatore, former ICE Director for Colorado and Wyoming, breaks down how the Biden-Harris administration’s policies opened the southern border from day one. The 100-day deportation moratorium, cancelled only by federal court intervention, set the tone for what followed: millions released into the interior on fraudulent asylum claims without proper vetting.

Fabbricatore explains Colorado’s sanctuary state status through laws like HB 19-1124 and 23-1100, which prohibit local law enforcement from notifying ICE about foreign-born criminals in custody. These policies, he argues, only protect criminals while leaving immigrant communities vulnerable to predators who prey on their own. The conversation covers fentanyl trafficking, human smuggling, and the need for energy independence as a national security priority.

“We have a lot of X-ray technology, officers, canine dogs, all these different measures to capture and find drug smuggling loads. That’s why most of the fentanyl is caught at ports of entry. We don’t know how much fentanyl goes around the ports of entry.”

John Fabbricatore, Former ICE Director

Real Estate Market Shifts Ahead of Election

Start listening at 61:24 – Hour 2

Karen Levine of RE/MAX Alliance reports that buyers currently have more choices along the Front Range than they have had in a decade. Homes are staying on the market longer, allowing inventory to grow and giving buyers negotiating power on both price and terms.

Levine predicts a market surge after November 5th, as many buyers have delayed major decisions until knowing who the next president will be. Sellers have become more flexible with contingencies, accepting home sale contingencies that would have been rejected during the seller’s market of recent years.

“Between now and November 5th, once that occurs, I think there’s going to be a surge in the marketplace and buyers may find themselves back in a more competitive environment.”

Karen Levine, RE/MAX Alliance

Venezuelan Gangs and the Border Crisis

Start listening at 69:45 – Hour 2

Chris Harris, retired Border Patrol agent with 36 years of law enforcement experience, delivers a detailed account of border security failures. Harris, who served as a union official and testified before Congress, confirms that Tren de Aragua, the violent Venezuelan gang, has established a presence in Colorado, despite denials from state officials.

Harris explains how asylum laws have been stretched beyond recognition to include economic reasons, when the original intent was genocide protection. He describes encountering migrants with scripted answers, including a Chinese man claiming Christian persecution who thought Jesus Christ was “a friend of Buddha’s.” The cartel control over all illegal border crossings, the CHNV parole program flying in 30,000 people monthly, and the suspension of DNA testing for family verification all compound the crisis.

Military personnel stationed in Colorado have received warnings to avoid certain areas due to gang threats, a sobering indicator of how far the situation has deteriorated. Harris estimates at least one million bad actors have entered among the over 10 million apprehensions and encounters, with the true number of gotaways adding millions more.

“So say you are coming from China, and you are saying you’re being persecuted because you’re a Christian. Well, you’re in Mexico. You’re safe now. You’re away from the Chinese government. You’re going to wait there, and you’re going to wait your turn in line, which is a very American thing.”

Chris Harris, Retired Border Patrol Agent