http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=3932409

Border Patrol Yearly Statistics

Mark Stine KOLD News 13 Reporter
Posted: 10-3-05

It's an ongoing problem and the numbers don't lie. Border Patrol agents still have their hands full. And in some areas, more than ever.

U.S. Border Patrol spokesman Jose Garza said, "The combination of the technology and the additional manpower along the border is making us be a little more effective as far as the apprehensions of the illegal aliens."

Agents caught nearly 439,000 illegal immigrants. That's down 11% from last year.

Garza says the cornerstone of their operations is deterring illegal immigration. So they can gain operational control of the border. "The likelihood of the illegal getting arrested being highly likely that will send the message that Tucson Sector is not the place for the smugglers to conduct their operations."

The number of illegal immigrant deaths in the Tucson Sector is on the rise. This fiscal year 210 immigrants died, compared to the 141 deaths in 2004. Garza says the number is up because of the heat wave this summer and more agents searching in the desert. "We have a vested interest to find out where these deaths are occurring so that we can, as an agency, try to develop methods to stop these deaths."

Some of those methods are to enhance the search and rescue team. This year agents rescued 980 immigrants. Last year they saved 563. "We call it a rescue because these people were apprehended, in a sense, because they needed help," Garza told KOLD News 13.

Another number going up from last year is the amount of marijuana seized. This year, Border Patrol agents confiscated almost 490,000 pounds. That is 13% more than the all time high number Border Patrol got last year. Garza responded, "Now having more agents, a lot more technology we are now effectively able to interdict this and our seizures are going to continue to go up."

Border Patrol agents believe the numbers can be better. And they have a long way to go before they are happy with the statistics. "This is a very tedious effort. We are expanding our efforts as we speak. We've got additional resources coming this year, more promise in the future," Garza said.