Thread: Arizona border patrol targeting illegal immigrants

http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=5985507&nav=15MV

Arizona border patrol targeting illegal immigrants at McCarran

Jan 24, 2007 06:20 PM PST

Extra eyes are on McCarran International Airport. The border patrol from Yuma, Arizona is on a mission to catch illegal immigrants who are crossing borders through our skies.

For the agents, this operation is a first and they're calling it a success. Two hundred illegal immigrants, including some high profile smugglers, have been apprehended since the operation started late last week.

It's a first for the Yuma Border Patrol Sector, which usually watches over fences, miles of desert, and waters that divide the U.S. from Mexico. Now it's focusing on the country's fifth busiest airport.

Agents are looking for passengers who have fake ID's or incomplete travel documents in areas like security checkpoints to the baggage claim. The search isn't easy; some illegal immigrants have been caught sneaking through back stairways to get through airport gates.

Once taken in, they're driven to a processing station in Blythe, California where they're either deported, or if they've done this before, prosecuted.

The operation hasn't affected travel and it may be hard to notice they're even there, unless you spot the trucks around the airport. Passengers we spoke to say they didn't notice the agents but felt that their operation was needed.

The Yuma Border Patrol Sector is stationed in southwest Arizona but oversees parts of California and our state.

Agents say smugglers are known to charge people up to $3,000 just to cross the border. It's likely much more to fly out.

Good for them! We have to watch every avenue of entry and I for one wouldn't complain if it slowed travel down a bit.

some illegal immigrants have been caught sneaking through back stairways to get through airport gates.

Since they sneak across the border concealed under the beds of pick-up trucks, in the dashes of cars, in trailers with no ventilation, sewn up in car upholstery, etc., the back stairways of airports ought to be a piece of cake for them.