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'Staggering' flow cited in border checkpoint push
By Dan Shearer/Wick Communications
GREEN VALLEY - U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords headed back to Washington with an earful of advice on the Border Patrol checkpoint north of Tubac. But she supports moving forward with $1.5 million in improvements to create an interim checkpoint.
About 200 people showed up Wednesday to hear a Government Accounting Office panel discuss a new study on the effectiveness of interior checkpoints in the Southwest and to hear a Border Patrol response to the report that was critical of its accounting methods.
The GAO, called the "eyes and ears" of Congress, is given free rein to independently study issues, and was asked in 2007 by Giffords, Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain and other lawmakers to launch the study.
The 147-page report, released Monday, says the 15 checkpoints in four Southwestern border states it studied are effective in seizing drugs and illegal immigrants. But it also said the Border Patrol uses flawed methods to measure just how effective, and to gauge the impact of its efforts on surrounding communities where smugglers go to evade checkpoints.
"We have failed in several areas," Tucson Sector Border Patrol Chief Robert Gilbert told the crowd in Green Valley. But he said the agency is working with universities and other agencies to develop monitoring systems and boost effectiveness.
Gilbert called the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants through Arizona "staggering," and said the Border Patrol will continue to push for a permanent checkpoint at kilometer 41, south of the tactical checkpoint at Agua Linda Road north of Tubac.
Giffords supports the interim checkpoint but would not say yet whether she supports a permanent facility. Congress has told the Department of Homeland Security it wants to measure the effectiveness of the interim checkpoint before it OKs a permanent one.
Just one of the 30 people who signed up to address the crowd Wednesday favored a permanent checkpoint, and that person was among a handful who didn't get to speak because of time, according to Giffords' staff.
Richard Stana, who led the GAO study team, checkpoints "contribute to border security," and that agents seize a large amount of drugs and illegal immigrants. He added that those apprehended help identify routes and offer other intelligence in the drug battle.
Stana said 4 percent of Border Patrol agents in the Southwest are at tactical checkpoints such as Tubac and are responsible for one-third of drug seizures. Gilbert said he has 10 percent of his agents in Arizona at the tactical checkpoints.
Stana said the key to a successful operation is continuous operation, full-time canine capability and nonintrusive inspections (X-ray technology), all hallmarks of a permanent facility. While the report acknowledged checkpoints are important, it said performance measures by the Border Patrol "do not indicate if checkpoints are operating efficiently and effectively." It also said lack of oversight resulted in the patrol overstating results in 2007 and 2008.
Stana said permanent checkpoints in other parts of the country have "general support," and residents do not want the facilities removed. This includes checkpoints in rural and urban areas.
About 200 people showed up Wednesday to hear a Government Accounting Office panel discuss a new study on the effectiveness of interior checkpoints in the Southwest and to hear a Border Patrol response to the report that was critical of its accounting methods.
The GAO, called the "eyes and ears" of Congress, is given free rein to independently study issues, and was asked in 2007 by Giffords, Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain and other lawmakers to launch the study.
The 147-page report, released Monday, says the 15 checkpoints in four Southwestern border states it studied are effective in seizing drugs and illegal immigrants. But it also said the Border Patrol uses flawed methods to measure just how effective, and to gauge the impact of its efforts on surrounding communities where smugglers go to evade checkpoints.
"We have failed in several areas," Tucson Sector Border Patrol Chief Robert Gilbert told the crowd in Green Valley. But he said the agency is working with universities and other agencies to develop monitoring systems and boost effectiveness.
Gilbert called the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants through Arizona "staggering," and said the Border Patrol will continue to push for a permanent checkpoint at kilometer 41, south of the tactical checkpoint at Agua Linda Road north of Tubac.
Giffords supports the interim checkpoint but would not say yet whether she supports a permanent facility. Congress has told the Department of Homeland Security it wants to measure the effectiveness of the interim checkpoint before it OKs a permanent one.
Just one of the 30 people who signed up to address the crowd Wednesday favored a permanent checkpoint, and that person was among a handful who didn't get to speak because of time, according to Giffords' staff.
Richard Stana, who led the GAO study team, checkpoints "contribute to border security," and that agents seize a large amount of drugs and illegal immigrants. He added that those apprehended help identify routes and offer other intelligence in the drug battle.
Stana said 4 percent of Border Patrol agents in the Southwest are at tactical checkpoints such as Tubac and are responsible for one-third of drug seizures. Gilbert said he has 10 percent of his agents in Arizona at the tactical checkpoints.
Stana said the key to a successful operation is continuous operation, full-time canine capability and nonintrusive inspections (X-ray technology), all hallmarks of a permanent facility. While the report acknowledged checkpoints are important, it said performance measures by the Border Patrol "do not indicate if checkpoints are operating efficiently and effectively." It also said lack of oversight resulted in the patrol overstating results in 2007 and 2008.
Stana said permanent checkpoints in other parts of the country have "general support," and residents do not want the facilities removed. This includes checkpoints in rural and urban areas.
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June wrote on Sep 17, 2009 12:31 PM:
" This inanity could be stopped in short order. Eisenhower did it in the early 50s. Demand that illegal leave. Give them 30 days. If the are caught here after that, they will be jailed in tents on the border where they can help buld the fence. Then they go., No more handing out citienship to jackpot babies. Stop all benfits and make E-verify mandatory in all businesses and for individuals who hire illegals. However, this is only a dream. As long as illegal immigration is profitable, it will never stop and Washington can't wait for future voters who'll vote for the giveaway party. "
Liberty wrote on Sep 20, 2009 11:30 AM:
" The checkpoints are a result of our law enforcement getting LAZY. Of course, they will find drugs! If they set the checkpoint on ANY major road in the U.S., they will have the same results.
As to the illegal aliens, the problem is purely a result of the former REGIME. The greedy little btards would rather pay LOW WAGES than to support our OWN citizens.... Put the blame where it belongs- REPUBLICANS. "
As to the illegal aliens, the problem is purely a result of the former REGIME. The greedy little btards would rather pay LOW WAGES than to support our OWN citizens.... Put the blame where it belongs- REPUBLICANS. "
lola wrote on Sep 23, 2009 9:06 AM:
" Liberty, a checkpoint is not a result of being lazy. A checkpoint will actually deter illegals from using the main road, they will try to find a way around the checkpoint. A way that is more difficult and will slow them down a bit, where our hard working agents are ready to apprehend them. It is unreasonable to blame the former "regime" for immigration issues. Is it so bad that they find drugs? Are you ready to pay more taxes for more agents along the border to retain from using checkpoints, or does YOUR greediness refrain you from doing so? I would rather see my money in support of our border patrol agents than in the hands of those who cross illegally. Take a walk along your border area one day, check out all the trails and trash. Notice that in some areas the border is only marked by a cement pillar. Action must be taken, but the political blame game is not the answer.
June, the hope of a better life should not result in slavery; get real.
MadMommy, I'm with you, let's follow the laws! "
June, the hope of a better life should not result in slavery; get real.
MadMommy, I'm with you, let's follow the laws! "
MadMommy wrote on Sep 16, 2009 2:57 PM: