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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2010 > June > 15

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

On immigration - The Border Patrol responds

By Josh Sweigart | Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 11:00 AM

Since we’re back on the topic of immigration today (see post below), this seems like a good time to post some info that I didn’t receive in time for an exhaustive piece on the issue I did after my trip to Arizona with the county sheriff and local lawmaker.

Border Patrol, which required me to send them questions in writing, sent me these responses after my deadline (I wrote the questions. The answers came from Omar Candelaria, Border Patrol spokesman):

Mr. Sweigart,

Here are the answers to your questions. I hope that this helps.

How many people were arrested attempting to enter the country illegally so far this year? I have the number 556,041 were arrested last year. How many of those were from the Tucson sector? What is the geographic boundary of the Tucson sector?

Last fiscal year, the Tucson Sector apprehended 241,673 people crossing the border illegally. The Tucson Sector is responsible for the area between the New Mexico State line and the Yuma County line. To our east, we have the El Paso Sector and to our West, we have the Yuma Sector. This is approximately 262 miles of border.

Is there an estimate as to how many people actually make it through, or a percentage? What is that estimate?

We only have statistics on the apprehensions. We have seen a steady decrease in apprehensions since our peak year (2000). That year, the Tucson Sector apprehended 616 thousand people. Last fiscal year, we apprehended 241 thousand.

How many Border Patrol agents do you have in Cochise County?

Operational security limits us from providing exact numbers for specific areas within the Sector. We have approximately 3,200 Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Tucson Sector.

Ranchers and local law enforcement officials I spoke to in Cochise County expressed frustration with the Border Patrol, saying they are not doing as much as they can to stem the tide of crossings. Do you feel your agency could do more to address the problem?

As mentioned above, the Border Patrol has seen a steady decline in the number of apprehensions within the Tucson Sector. We now have better technology, more infrastructure, and more personnel than ever before. The proper mix of these elements, along with our defense in depth strategy, combines to give the Border Patrol more situational awareness now than at any point in our history.

Is there an estimate of what type of resources would be needed to close the border?

See above.

What impact will the 1,200 troops promised by President Obama have on the issue? Do you know how they will be utilized?

All questions regarding the National Guard deployment are currently being referred to the White House. They can be reached at (202) 456-1414.

How many of the people you arrest are non-Hispanic?

Of the 148,283 illegal aliens apprehended so far this fiscal year in the Tucson Sector, 7,749 were from countries other than Mexico.

How many miles of the border are fenced?

Of the 262 miles of border within the Tucson Sector, approximately 210 miles have some sort of fencing.

Why are the number of illegal crossings so high in the Tucson sector?

See question four.

When your officers stop someone at a border checkpoint, such as the one on Highway 80 south of Benson, what criteria do they use to determine whether to ask for identification or search the vehicle? What do your officers consider reasonable suspicion in stopping someone to enforce immigration laws?

8 U.S.C. Section 1357(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides that “Any officer or employee of the Service authorized under regulations prescribed by the Attorney General shall have power to arrest without warrant within a reasonable distance from any external boundary of the United States, to board and search for aliens any vessel within the territorial waters of the United States and any railway car, aircraft, conveyance, or vehicle, and within a distance of twenty-five miles from any such external boundary to have access to private lands, but not dwellings for the purpose of patrolling the border to prevent the illegal entry of aliens into the United States.” “Within a reasonable distance” is defined in 8 C.F.R. 287.1(a)(2) as within 100 air miles of any external boundary of the United States or any shorter distance that may be fixed by the District Director (refer to appendix 1-1). Upon recommendation of the District Director (appendix 1-1), the Commissioner may declare a distance of more than 100 air miles to be reasonable.