U.S. agency poised for big border security operationArizona-Mexico stretch focus of effort By Brock N. Meeks
TUCSON, Ariz. - The U.S. government is poised to launch a multi-million dollar security initiative along a 260-mile stretch of the Arizona-Mexico border this week in an effort to shut down the main artery for illegal immigration into the United States, MSNBC.com has learned.
The operation, run by the Customs and Border Protection unit of the Department of Homeland Security, will increase the number of agents in the region by 40 percent, and is designed to thwart both illegal immigration as well as the potential for terrorist infiltration along the border area referred to as the Tucson sector.
The goal is to establish and maintain operational control of the border, according to planning documents for "Operation Full Court Press," the initiative's code name. The operation will redeploy Black Hawk helicopters and significant numbers of air and ground resources from around the country, the documents say.
On the ground, the Border Patrol will see an increase in agents to just shy of 2,300, said Kristi Clemens, a Customs and Border Patrol spokeswoman.
Clemens said the operation is intended to strengthen and improve the border protection procedures put in place last year, when the government launched the Arizona Border Control Initiative (ABCI), a $23 million operation.
The 2004 operation was viewed as a great success, helping to yield nearly a half-million apprehensions -- about 50 percent more than the previous year.
The 260-mile Tucson sector has become the leading corridor for illegal entry," according to Wayne Cornelius, a political science professor and border expert at the University of California at San Diego. In a paper, Controlling Unwanted Immigration: Lessons from the United States, 1993-2004," Cornelius wrote that the Tuscon sector accounted for 490,827 apprehensions, or about 43 percent of all those along the Southwest border of the United States during fiscal year 2004.
Weve learned some things, Clemens said. We know where some things have been successes so were going to emphasize those areas and even add to that.
'Like we squeezed a hose'
The Arizona-Mexico border is now the main entry point for illegal immigrants, owing in large part to significant enforcement build-ups along the border at San Diego, El Paso and the southern Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
Its almost like we squeezed a hose [at both ends] and now Arizona is where its bulging, because weve closed off so many areas, Clemens said.
Planning documents for "Operation Full Court Press" note that U.S.-Mexico border crossings are vulnarable to a variety of "human and contraband smuggling" operations into the United States. The documents list terrorists and weapons of terrorism as a main criminal element along with human and contraband smuggling organizations that operate exclusively in the Tucson area that could be encountered over the course of the operation.
Officials from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security recently testified to Congress about the vulnarability of the Mexican border to potential terrorist infiltration, although each said there is no conclusive evidence that such a plot is underway.
We are concerned, Homeland Security is concerned about special interest aliens entering the United States, FBI Director Robert Mueller told Congress, using the Bureaus phrase for people from countries known to harbor al-Qaida operatives.
Deterrence, risk questioned
Despite the success of last years effort, the flow of illegal migration seems to have had little effect on the numbers of those attempting illegal migration.
These guys really want to get in, said Clemens. They have an economic incentive to get in, you see some trying over and over and over again, she said. Why hasnt it been a deterrent? I think it has, Clemens said, you also have to look at our numbers in San Diego and some in Texas, they are way down, leaving Arizona has the main problem area, she said.
But those who study the issue maintain that such efforts have little or no real deterrent effect. The ABC Initiative is tantamount to tossing another boulder in the stream, said Cornelius. In January he interviewed more than 600 Mexican immigrants who recently returned to their home communities. Overwhelmingly Cornelius said he found that tougher border enforcement has had no deterrent effect on the likelihood that someone would cross the border illegally.
Knowledge of increased border enforcement and even first hand knowledge of someone that has died attempting entry into the U.S. doesnt have a deterrent effect, he said. Migrants and people-smugglers are avoiding, end-running, the most heavily fortified areas, he said. They know perfectly well where these are. Their probability of being apprehended is still low enough to justify the physical risks.
The vulnarability factor
A federal law enforcement agent familiar with "Operation Full Court Press" voiced concern that critical areas of the country, already deemed to be high interest targets for terrorists, were being left vulnerable because so many resources were being shifted to Operation Full Court Press.
Anyone determined to enter this country in a clandestine fashion will know shortly
or already knows about this operation, the federal agent told MSNBC.com on the condition of anonymity. They will also know that we have finite resources
the vulnerability is huge for it will make it easier to cross the border in other places, the agent said.
In addition, shifting assets to the Arizona border for an extended time significantly decreases the investigative support those resources provide for other anti-terrorism operations, such as the Joint Terrorism Task Forces, the agent said. Foolish placement of all of ones assets in one place will allow the enemy to sneak in behind you and hit you where you are vulnerable, he said.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7317822/*FW Note: Has the government decided to actually
DO something? Is this a token response to political criticism or actual official concern for a situation out of control?
I hope it's the opening move in a new defensive strategy.
Only time will tell.
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