Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Harrison Township
U.S. adds border security post at Selfridge
Air and marine wing will beef up Canada-Great Lakes patrols, help fight human and drug smuggling.
Charles E. Ramirez / The Detroit News

HARRISON TOWNSHIP -- U.S. Customs plans to open a security facility this week at Selfridge Air National Guard Base that will play a key role in Canadian-Great Lakes border patrols, officials said Monday.

The federal agency has scheduled a dedication ceremony for the operation at the base, near Jefferson Avenue and M-59, for local dignitaries and the media Friday.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Air and Marine will use the air wing at Selfridge to strengthen security in the border region.

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It will also play a key part in the government's efforts to dismantle human and drug smuggling operations, according to officials.

"Its primary mission is to provide air support to ground agents for the Border Patrol working in the Great Lakes region," said Juan Munoz-Torres, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Washington, D.C. "It additionally will provide support to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection -- a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security -- is responsible for securing the country's borders and encouraging legitimate travel and trade. The Border Patrol is Customs and Border Protection's uniformed law enforcement arm.

The Custom and Border Protection air and marine wing at Selfridge is the fifth the agency has along the nation's northern border. The Air and Marine Branch also has similar units in Bellingham, Wash.; Plattsburg, N.Y.; Great Falls, Mont.; and Grand Forks, N.D.

The U.S. Congress mandated five years ago the agency's air branch open the facilities to enhance security along the country's northern border, along with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

The Customs and Border Protection's Selfridge wing is being housed in a renovated facility on the base and is made up of 11 air craft and five boats, Munoz-Torres said. The unit will have 75 full-time federal employees and 29 contract workers once it is fully operational, he said.

Harrison Township's chief executive said the community welcomes the new wing.

"The township has always been a big supporter of the base and operations that support the defense of this country," said Anthony Forlini, the township's supervisor.
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