Border Patrol's Wellton station officially opened

March 22, 2012 5:53 PM
BY JAMES GILBERT - SUN STAFF WRITER

The Yuma Sector Border Patrol celebrated the official opening of its new $22 million Wellton station with a ribbon-cutting Thursday morning.

“This is an impressive, functional and absolutely necessary facility for the agency in Wellton, a facility we can point to with pride,” said Chief Patrol Agent Stephen Martin, who is in command of the Border Patrol's Yuma Sector. “It offers the space and tools Wellton station personnel need to support the Border Patrol's mission.”

Built in 21 months, the state-of-the-art facility encompasses over 23 acres and has 5,000 square feet of workspace, housing, administrative offices, training rooms and detention area, for the 300 agents and support staff who work at the station.

There is also a separate 16,000-square-foot vehicle maintenance facility, a helicopter landing pad and a 2,000-square-foot kennel for K-9 operations. Although the ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Thursday, agents began operating out of the building last month.

According to the Border Patrol, the current Wellton Border Patrol station — a few modular buildings and a gravel parking lot — opened in so-called temporary quarters in 1990. Acting Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Justin Bristow, who is in command of the Wellton station, said Thursday's official opening brings an end to 22 years of using those “temporary” quarters.

“It truly is the nicest station in the Border Patrol right now,” Bristow said. “I believe it is symbolic, considering where we started with the temporary facilities, before moving into this one, showing the effort, the work and dedication to achieve what the American people expect regarding operations along the border.”

Agents from the Wellton station are responsible for patrolling 64 miles of desert and border with Mexico, manning a busy checkpoint and operating a remote operating base known as Camp Grip, which is located in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. They also oversee Border Patrol operations in the Barry M. Goldwater Range.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by a large number of Border Patrol personnel, city and county officials and several members of various area law enforcement agencies and military representatives. Noticeably missing, however, were many of the Wellton agents who now work out of the new building, which Bristow addressed during his remarks.

“I'm sure they would have liked to be here, but they take their charge very seriously and are out there doing the job that is expected. I'm very, very proud of them.”

In addition to being the first station to get “managed” control over its section of the border, the Wellton station leads the sector in apprehensions.

Martin also spoke about the overall success the Yuma Sector has had over the past several years in securing the border, saying the Wellton station agents have been a large part of that success.

“In crowded conditions and sometimes chaotic situations, the men and women of the Wellton station have performed their duty admirably,” Martin said.

Hector Montalvo, deputy director of the Project Management Division, said the Wellton station is one of 18 being built around the country and the first to be opened. He added that planning for the station began back in 2006 and that the new building is expected to meet the needs of the Yuma Sector and Wellton station for decades to come.

The Yuma Sector covers the western portions of Yuma, La Paz and Mohave counties in Arizona; the eastern portions of Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in California; and the entire state of Nevada.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at James Gilbert, Reporter | Facebook or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.

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