Thread: Border Patrol Shows Increased Effectiveness in 2008

CBP News Release

Border Patrol Shows Increased Effectiveness in 2008

October 22, 2008

Chula Vista, Calif. - An aggressive enforcement strategy, combined with increased personnel and border infrastructure enhancements have resulted in increased effectiveness for the Border Patrol in San Diego Sector for fiscal year 2008.

San Diego Sector recorded 162,390 apprehensions of people who illegally crossed the border during the entire fiscal year. This is a total increase of 6.5 percent since FY07, during which time 152,460 apprehensions were recorded.

In FY08, the San Diego Sector Border Patrol launched a comprehensive enforcement strategy with focused goals of reducing border violence while raising the level of operational control. Operational control is defined as the extent to which Border Patrol agents are able to detect, identify, classify, respond to and ultimately resolve all threats within their area of responsibility.

Although San Diego Sector experienced a record number of assaults in FY08 (384), their enforcement strategy in concert with border infrastructure enhancements have helped to curb violent attacks in recent months.

In FY08, San Diego Sector increased its ranks to more than 2,300 agents. The onset of new border infrastructure projects will bring more technology, fencing, and all-weather roads to specific areas along the border. Included among these projects is a stretch of border, 3.5 linear miles, from Smugglers Gulch to the Imperial Beach coastline and about 14 additional miles along designated border areas from Otay Mountain to Jacumba, Calif.

San Diego Sector recorded seizures of marijuana in the amount of 49,049 pounds in FY08, a 31 percent increase over the 37,459 pounds seized in FY07. Agents also seized 699.19 pounds of cocaine, 46.79 pounds of methamphetamine, and 217.65 ounces of heroin in FY08.

As the Border Patrol enters into FY09, San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Michael Fisher has stated, “We will face new challenges that require innovative approaches to our current enforcement posture, therefore we must be flexible and maintain an increased level of vigilance to address all potential threats.â€

Border Patrol:
Keep up the good work