Horses remain vital tool for Border Patrol

**Jean** · 08-14-2016, 05:21 PM

By A.E. Araiza Arizona Daily Star 9 hrs ago

A.E. Araisa/Arizona Daily Star

NEAR THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER -- At the base of a wheat-colored knoll, partially shielded by scrub oaks and thorny bushes, Shawn Rodgers is on the brink of unleashing Mayhem.

Aided by digital technology and complete knowledge of his surroundings, Rodgers, at the appointed moment, gives the dark bay horse his head and the six-year-old mustang springs up the hill, rocks and dust flying as he gallops forward brushing by trees, crushing dried branches and anything else in his way.

Seconds later in a coordinated maneuver, Rodgers, and fellow members of the US Border Patrol’s Nogales Station Horse Patrol Unit are upon four surprised border crossers a short distance north of the Sonora-Arizona border, just west of Nogales.

As he closes in on some of the men who are making a run for it in the steep, slippery terrain, Rodgers, a supervisory Border Patrol agent, yells out, “Donde Vas? Tenemos caballos,” letting the men know they are being pursued by patrolmen on horseback.“Where are you going? We have horses!”Such an announcement Rodgers says later, helps people like those apprehended today realize they should stop running because they cannot outrun a horse.

In short order, the four men are rounded up and told to sit in the shade of a nearby tree where they are questioned and then searched for identification, weapons and contraband. All their money is counted and documented.

It is also a good time to identify the foot guides, or smugglers, because it is important to a successful prosecution, Rodgers said.

The encounter with the border crossers at that location was not coincidental. “Our operations are intelligence-based and rely heavily on information, traffic trends and all the technology available to us,” he said.

Border cameras and sensors deployed in the area give the agents an idea of the entry point and their experience suggests to them the likely routes the crossers may take.

Communications by hand-held radios gives the agents on the ground the means to keep in contact with those who are monitoring the changing situation.

Because of technology, the areas where the mounted agents are deployed can vary not only daily but even in mid-shift to address changes throughout the day, Rodgers said.

Coupled with the agent’s knowledge of the area, it puts them in the best position to stop any illegal traffic or threat, “We can rapidly and appropriately adjust to address any incursions in the Nogales Area of Operation,” he said.

Plus at any given time they can work hand-in-hand with other ground units, including the agents riding ATV’s in the area.

But the quick interception of the crossers is also where the agency’s mustangs come in.

An agent on horseback can cover more ground in less time than an agent on foot, Rodgers said.

There is also the tactical advantage of being mounted and high above the ground that can make it easier to see things.

And of course, a horse is much quieter than a truck or ATV, he said.

But it is the horse’s keen visual and auditory senses that allow it to alert the agents of the presence of people often before the agents can hear or see the group themselves, he said.

The horse, as a piece of technology, is not new to the border patrol.

As a matter of fact, back in 1924 when the agency began, in order to join the border patrol an agent needed two requirements, one of which was a horse, said Bobbi Schad, the Tucson sector horse patrol coordinator.

The other requirement was a gun, Schad said. The government would provide the ammo.

Now there are between 14 and 22 horses assigned at the Nogales Border Patrol Station alone, she said.

The horse units are assigned to the rural mountainous areas, ranch lands and those areas that are environmentally sensitive, Schad said. They work closely with the local ranchers who are a vital source of information, and in return, the agents inform ranchers of sick or injured cattle, downed fences or non-functioning wells.

Statewide, there are currently 90 mustangs in use, and nine other border patrol sectors also utilize mustangs, Schad said.

Not all mounts are mustangs. Some are purchased from the general public, local rescue groups and occasionally some have been donated. They all must meet the agency’s requirements and any horses purchased must be at a low price, she said.

For agents who want to get into the unit, they must also be certified and must go through a thorough training session.

And although there are 90 agents currently assigned to the horse units in the Tucson sector, several hundred agents have gone through the training and are certified to be in the horse patrol, Schad said.

In addition, the unit’s apprehension numbers for this past June says a lot of the efficiency of the group.

“For the month of June, the horse patrol units within the Tucson Sector apprehended around 400 subjects and seized approximately 2,900 pounds of marijuana,” Schad said.

Back under the shady tree, Rodgers, Schad, along with Mayhem and several other agents wait calmly as they hold the four border crossers until a vehicle can transport them.

Otherwise, the agents would have to walk them to the nearest road.

Luckily, a dirt road is nearby and once the crossers are transported by vehicle the agents find their way back to the horse trailer with a brief stop for water at a local well for the horses to get refreshed for the journey back.

http://azdailysun.com/news/local/hor...beb0226b7.html

**Judy** · 08-14-2016, 05:47 PM

Oh yes, our horses are a vital tool on the border. They are wonderful. They really should use them more widely. I actually thought there were a lot more in use than what this article is stating. They need to get more horses into action and dogs, too. Also helicopters, like we used in Vietnam. They can radio for a helicopter and load up these illegal aliens in no time and fly them wherever they need to go much faster than doing it by vehicle. They would need to train the horses and dogs not to be afraid of the sounds and work that out, but that's all doable. Just part of the training.

**JohnDoe2** · 08-14-2016, 08:03 PM

From the Air and Sea

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) is a critical component of CBP's risk-based and layered approach for border security. With 1,200 federal agents, 256 aircraft, and 286 marine vessels operating throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. AMO interdicts unlawful people and cargo approaching U.S. borders, investigates criminal networks and provides domain awareness in the air and maritime environments, and responds to contingencies and national taskings.

AMO is a federal law enforcement organization dedicated to serving and protecting the American people through advanced aeronautical and maritime capabilities.

AMO's specialized law enforcement capabilities allow AMO to make significant contributions to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) efforts, as well as to federal, state, local and tribal agencies.

AMO conducts its mission between ports of entry, in the air and maritime environments and within the nation’s interior.

https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/air-sea

**JohnDoe2** · 08-14-2016, 08:06 PM

2/28/2012

Military helicopters will be used for border surveillance

**JohnDoe2** · 08-14-2016, 08:15 PM

October 24, 2011

CBP Retires OH-6A 'Loach' Helicopter After 32 Years

The OH-6A family of aircraft has flown more than a million hours, supported more than 9.5 million illegal immigrant apprehensions, and contributed to the seizure of more than 500,000 pounds of drugs, and after 32 years of service, the last of the these helicopters in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection fleet has conducted its final flight. . .

. . . The Border Patrol received its first OH-6 in El Paso, Texas, during the summer of 1979, after the U.S. Army had withdrawn from Vietnam. The second aircraft arrived at Chula Vista Sector, near San Diego, later that year with the Border Patrol eventually acquiring 42 helicopters, stationing them all along the southwest border. During its service life, the agency's first OH-6 flew more than a million hours in support of border security operations. . .

**JohnDoe2** · 08-14-2016, 08:20 PM

6/10/15

ARMORED BLACKHAWKS HEADING TO TEXAS BORDER

**JohnDoe2** · 08-14-2016, 09:16 PM

Aircraft and Marine Vessels

To meet border security threats and challenges, Air and Marine Operations (AMO) deploys aircraft and maritime vessels to air and marine branches and units throughout the country to provide rapid air and marine response capabilities. Aviation capabilities is critical in isolated mountainous terrain, deep canyons and remote areas accessible only by aircraft. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) performs the same functions for marine interdiction by deploying coastal enforcement and riverine vessels.