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Pinal Co. Sheriff Paul Babeu: 'The border is not secure'

by Catherine Holland
Fox 11

Posted on January 5, 2011 at 3:36 PM

PHOENIX -- While the Department of Homeland Security says it has made significant progress in securing our border with Mexico over the past few years, Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu says that's not the case.

"We hear the border is more secure than ever," Babeu said. "We obviously know different than that, having lived here, and the enforcement statistics prove it out."

According to Babeu, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office has seen a significant increase in drug seizures, vehicle pursuits, and calls to the U.S. Border Patrol for illegal immigrants.

In 2008, PCSO seized 19,618 pounds of marijuana. In 2010, that number jumped to 44,819.

PCSO deputies were involved in 140 pursuits in 2008, 289 in 2009, and 335 in 2010.

In 2008, there were 169 calls to the U.S. Border Patrol. That number increased to 270 in 2009, and 370 in 2010.

"If the border is more secure now than ever, how come we are seeing these dramatic increases?" asked Babeu in a news release. "Each and every time a vehicle flees from my deputies it puts them and everybody else on the roadway at risk. These numbers truly show the border is not secure and needs immediate attention.â€