Crackdown will add more border obstacles

LUKE TURF

SASABE, Son. - Rodolfo Lopez vows that no number of planes, helicopters, trucks, sensors or Border Patrol agents will stop him from sneaking into the United States.

Neither will fear of death.

Despite the U.S. Border Patrol's preparations for its boldest attempt yet to seal the Arizona-Mexico border, Lopez was looking for a smuggler last week. Come June 1, more obstacles will stand in his way.

"I heard it's hard (to cross) on television," said the 21-year-old from Sinaloa. "They've got all they can to (expletive) stop us from crossing."

Arizona Border Control, the U.S. government's name for the crackdown, will be 100 percent in place by June 1. But already border agents have captured more than twice as many illegal immigrants as they had by this time last year.

Lopez and others like him are undeterred, and smugglers may be taking note.

"There is a sense of urgency (among smugglers), if you will," said David Aguilar, chief of the Border Patrol's Tucson sector, "because of the tempo of this operation, the increased resources and the increased density of enforcement focus on that border."

Michael J. Garcia, assistant secretary for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, echoed that.

ICE investigators are seeing desperate attempts by smugglers to get illegal immigrants into the country before the crackdown begins, he said.

"The criminal organizations aren't going to be idle," Garcia said. "Our challenge is to anticipate how they're going to react."

Border Patrol agents working in the Tucson sector are apprehending about 2,038 people a day halfway into this fiscal year, said Border Patrol spokesman Andy Adame. That's almost double the average of a year ago.

When the initiative came to light, the agency saw an upsurge in apprehensions "literally overnight," Aguilar said. The pressure has shifted traffic to other areas along the U.S.-Mexico border, including Yuma and New Mexico, he said.

Yuma agents have apprehended more than 43,000 migrants halfway through this fiscal year, said Yuma sector Border Patrol spokesman Joe Brigman. Yuma agents apprehended fewer than 57,000 in all of the previous year.

In New Mexico and west Texas, apprehensions are up 13 percent, sector spokesman Doug Mosier said.

Since the fiscal year began Oct. 1, agents in the El Paso sector, which oversees all of New Mexico, have apprehended almost 54,000 people, up from fewer than 47,500 in the same period a year ago, Mosier said.

Deadly West Desert

Part of the initiative is an increased presence in the deadly West Desert, a 121-mile stretch from the Yuma County line to Sasabe, where Lopez planned to cross. The message the Border Patrol is trying to get across is that it's too tough to cross the remote area without getting caught. The goals are to cut border crossings and save lives, Aguilar said.

The upswing in apprehensions is not caused by any single factor, Aguilar said.

"There's a lot of things coming together that are causing this upsurge," he said.

Among the factors contributing to the increased apprehensions, Aguilar said, are the typical seasonal increase, a continued drought devastating Mexican crops and the efficiency and effectiveness of resources under Arizona Border Control, including greater collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.

Aguilar said as resources are applied, apprehension rates go up.

"Once the resources start overwhelming the smugglers' efforts, that's when we see a decline (in apprehensions)" Aguilar said. "It's the displacement of the smugglers' effort that shows the efficiency."

Curious about U.S.

Lopez gets dusty walking the unpaved streets of Sasabe. He said he's more curious about the United States than he is in need of money, but the money he hopes to make is also an incentive.

Before he goes, he'll likely get a lecture from Grupo Beta, the Mexican police given the task of protecting migrants.

Carlos Zozaya Moreno, an attorney for the agency, said he counted 56,057 people crossing through Sasabe in March. He's aware of the increased vigilance on the north side of the line.

But it won't stop the immigrants, he said.

"It doesn't matter; they keep trying," Zozaya said. "The migrants are affected by more vigilance, but it doesn't matter to them. They keep trying until they're hurt."

Some will try five times, Zozaya said, some 10.

One of the most hyped aspects of the latest border crackdown - unmanned aerial vehicles - won't be operational until close to June 1. Tests are planned in the meantime.

In addition to the helicopters, UAVs and other gadgetry, the agency anticipates a new facility in the desert to detain illegal immigrants in shaded areas and provide humanitarian assistance, Aguilar said.

Like the existing facility, it will hold up to 100 people. But the new one will feature potential for expansion, he said.

"We have enough to get us to what we're shooting for," Aguilar said.

ARIZONA BORDER CONTROL:

In place:
 

About 50 new Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue and tactical agents

Four helicopters, new mechanics and pilots

20 Humvees

Increased collaboration with Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Outreach to other law enforcement agencies including at airports

Increased special operations at ports of entry

Increased Antiterrorism Contraband Enforcement Team efforts

Coming by summer:

More BORSTAR agents, until a temporary staff of 60 is added to a permanent staff of about 50

200 agents in addition to the 1,800 already in the Tucson sector

Two unmanned aerial vehicles

Detention space increase

More sensor technology