The Associated Press

SIERRA VISTA - Apprehensions of illegal immigrants on the southeastern Arizona Army post of Fort Huachuca more than doubled last fiscal year compared to the previous year, officials said.
More than 3,000 illegal immigrants were taken into custody at Fort Huachuca in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. It's a significant increase from the 1,230 illegal immigrants that were apprehended on post property in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2003, said Fort Huachuca spokeswoman Joan Vasey.

Apprehensions at the post peaked in July, when 512 people were detained, Vasey said.

Illegal immigrants taken into custody at Fort Huachuca are turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol, she said.

Apprehensions at the post are factored into the Border Patrol's annual count, said Rob Daniels, a spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson sector, which oversees most of Arizona's border with Mexico.

In some cases, illegal immigrants pass through the Huachuca Mountains, a route that includes national park, Forest Service and military property, Daniels said.