Updates

CBP Expands Arizona Enforcement Effort

Gaining greater operational control of Southwest Border (Thursday, September 22, 2005) contacts for this press release WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner and Border Patrol National Chief David Aguilar announced the accomplishments and continued law enforcement efforts of Arizona Border Control Initiative (ABCI) Phase II. It has demonstrated positive results in the initial targeted area – Arizona’s West Desert corridor. As predicted, intelligence indicates a change in illegal migration patterns into the Yuma, Arizona and Deming, New Mexico corridors. CBP anticipated the change and addressed the movement of illegal activity by tactically deploying 130 Border Patrol agents and additional aircraft along the New Mexico border and in Yuma, Arizona. CBP’s comprehensive strategy to gain greater operational control of the border provides for a centralized command that calls for such critical rapid response capabilities. “Security of our borders is a national security issue. It is a homeland security issue, and, as I said in March, nowhere is this more evident than the Arizona border,” stated U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner. “Our strategy to gain operational control of our borders is working. And, CBP will continue law enforcement operations until we have and maintain control of the entire Southwest border.” Phase II of the Arizona Border Control Initiative exemplifies an unprecedented effort by the United States Government to protect America through the security of our nation’s borders. In March 2005, CBP declared it would permanently assign 534 CBP Border Patrol agents to Arizona. 653 “boots on the ground” will be permanently reassigned to Arizona by year’s end. As indicated in March, CBP doubled the amount of aircraft patrolling the Arizona border. (CBP has the largest civilian law enforcement air force in the world.) In August, CBP awarded a contract to purchase the “Predator B” Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system that will assist front line agents on the ground. The addition of the UAV system into CBP’s technological arsenal provides increased protection of our nation’s borders. Another effort in obtaining operational control of the border was to strengthen Expedited Removal (ER) authority. In July, ER was expanded to McAllen, Texas. Last week, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff strengthened ER authority even further and announced its expansion across the Southwest Border. The ER administrative process is aimed at reducing the number of illegal aliens from countries other than Mexico who have spent less than 14 days in the United States and who are apprehended within 100 miles of the border. Additionally, CBP will continue to work closely with local, state and tribal officials in this effort. Strong, concentrated and sustained law enforcement efforts in Arizona will continue. And, CBP will extend enforcement operations further along the Southwest Border to gain greater operational control of the entire border. This comprehensive strategy directly supports the Department of Homeland Security’s priority anti-terrorism mission--preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the U.S.-- by reducing the flow of illegal aliens and disrupting smuggling operations. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws. Contacts For This Press Release CBP Headquarters Office of Public Affairs 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Room 3.4A Washington, D.C. 20229 Phone: (202) 344-1780 or (800) 826-1471 Fax: (202) 344-1393