Robert Krentz
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Robert N. Krentz Jr. (1951 – March 27, 2010) was a prominent rancher in the U.S. state of
Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
. Active in a family
cattle ranching A ranch (from es, rancho/Mexican Spanish) is an area of land, including various structures, given primarily to ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle and sheep. It is a subtype of a farm. These terms are most often ...
business stretching back nearly 100 years, he and his family ranch were inducted into the Arizona Farming and Ranching Hall of Fame in 2008. Krentz was featured several times during the 1990s and 2000s (decade) in media reports regarding the problems surrounding
illegal immigration Illegal immigration is the migration of people into a country in violation of the immigration laws of that country or the continued residence without the legal right to live in that country. Illegal immigration tends to be financially upwar ...
across the Arizona stretch of the United States – Mexico border, particularly regarding its impact on ranching. On March 27, 2010, Krentz was found shot dead on his
Cochise County Cochise County () is a county in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Arizona. It is named after the Native American chief Cochise. The population was 125,447 at the 2020 census. The county seat is Bisbee and the most populous city is ...
ranch property after reporting seeing an immigrant in need of help. In the immediate aftermath, local authorities said evidence indicated that the assailant was most likely an illegal immigrant, though subsequent investigation suggested the killing was not random and that drug smugglers may have been responsible. Krentz's killing attracted national attention and became a rallying cry for border security and immigration reform.


Background

The Krentz ranch, located northeast of
Douglas, Arizona Douglas is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States that lies in the north-west to south-east running Sulpher Springs Valley. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico at Agua Prieta and a history of mining. The population was 16,531 in ...
, was founded by Julius and Emma Krentz (Rob Krentz's great-grandparents) in the 19th century when Arizona was still only a
U.S. territory In the United States, a territory is any extent of region under the sovereign jurisdiction of the federal government of the United States, including all waters (around islands or continental tracts). The United States asserts sovereign rights for ...
. Rob and his wife Susan, together with his brother Phil and sister-in-law Carrie, were the fourth generation of the family to live and work on the ranch. Rob had previously served as president of the Cochise-Graham Cattlegrowers Association, and was described as "a pillar of the Cochise County ranching community." In 2008, the Krentz ranch and family were honored with induction into the Arizona Farming and Ranching Hall of Fame. Rob and Susan Krentz accepted the award on behalf of the family. "By all accounts, Mr. Krentz never got caught up in border politics. A bear of a man with a reserved nature, he could seem imposing at first glance but almost always rendered help to those who needed it, friends and family said. He inherited the 35,000-acre ranch from his father — it has been in the family since 1907," said The New York Times.


Illegal immigration

By the end of the 20th century,
illegal immigration Illegal immigration is the migration of people into a country in violation of the immigration laws of that country or the continued residence without the legal right to live in that country. Illegal immigration tends to be financially upwar ...
from Mexico into the U.S. across the Arizona-Sonora border had become a significant problem at the Krentz ranch. In a 2005 interview with local news affiliate KOLD, Rob Krentz stated that illegal immigration across his property had caused over $8 million in damages during a five-year period. In its "Tucson Sector", which includes the Krentz ranch, the border patrol reported making 241,673 arrests during 2009. Krentz himself was described as non-confrontational toward the immigrants, but rather was often sympathetic, providing them with food and water, and calling the border patrol for those who needed medical assistance. In a 1999 interview with PBS, Krentz had stated, "If they come and ask for water, I'll still give them water. You know, that's just my nature."


Murder

At approximately 10:30 on the morning of Saturday, March 27, 2010, Krentz sent a radio transmission to his brother, Phil, in which he reportedly stated, "I see an immigrant out here, and he appears to need help. Call the Border Patrol." This was his last known transmission; after hours of radio silence aroused suspicions, he was found in a remote section of the ranch. Both he and his dog had been shot and had died from their wounds. Krentz had not been robbed, and in fact his gun was still in his holster. After being shot, he had lived long enough to return to his ATV and attempt to escape, but had lost consciousness and died before reaching safety. Footprints at the crime scene led to the Mexican border, leading police to theorize an illegal immigrant was responsible. Subsequent investigations by the Cochise County Sheriff's Department continued to focus on a Mexican suspect, but suggested that the killing was non-random, that the perpetrator may have been a scout for a smuggling organization (rather than an immigrant), and noted that the day before the murder, federal agents had arrested 8 smugglers and seized 250 pounds of marijuana on the Krentz ranch.


Reaction

The prospect that Krentz has been murdered by an illegal immigrant or Mexican drug smugglers sparked a national outcry. Gun sales surged by as much as 20% in the region where the murder occurred. Democratic and
Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
lawmakers from Arizona and neighboring
New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...
, as well as former presidential candidate
Tom Tancredo Thomas Gerard Tancredo (; born December 20, 1945) is an American politician from Colorado, who represented the state's sixth congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009 as a Republican. He ran for Presi ...
, called upon the federal government to send U.S. National Guard troops to secure the border in the aftermath of Krentz's murder. U.S. Representative
Gabby Giffords Gabrielle Dee Giffords (born June 8, 1970) is an American retired politician and gun control advocate who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing from January 2007 until January 2012, when she resigned ...
stated, "The federal government must respond appropriately. All options should be on the table." The Department of Homeland Security increased their presence in the region and offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Krentz's killer. Reaction to the death led to increased public support for a broad and aggressive bill in the state legislature aimed at combating illegal immigration,
Arizona SB1070 Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Four Co ...
, which was passed and signed into law by Governor
Jan Brewer Janice Kay Brewer (''née'' Drinkwine, formerly Warren; born September 26, 1944) is an American politician and author who was the 22nd governor of Arizona from 2009 to 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Brewer is the fourth woman (and was ...
within a month of the killing.


See also

*
Illegal immigration to the United States Illegal immigration to the United States is the process of migrating into the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. This can include foreign nationals (aliens) who have entered the United States unlawfully, as well as thos ...
*
History of laws concerning immigration and naturalization in the United States During the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, the United States had limited regulation of immigration and naturalization at a national level. Under a mostly prevailing "open border" policy, immigration was generally welcomed, although citizenshi ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Krentz, Robert 1952 births 2010 deaths Ranchers from Arizona People from Douglas, Arizona People murdered in Arizona Deaths by firearm in Arizona American murder victims