CHECKPOINT SOCIETY: PRO

By Michael J. Fisher
2:00 a.m. January 11, 2009

Civil rights and immigrant rights groups in the county have complained about what they see as the increased use of checkpoints by the U.S. Border Patrol and local law enforcement. For some, the fear is of an emerging . . . Checkpoint society

An effective tool to protect America

Since the 2001 terrorist attacks, the Border Patrol's priority mission has been to prevent the entry of terrorists and terrorist weapons into the U. S.

The United States Border Patrol has used traffic checkpoints to help secure our nation's borders since 1924. Checkpoints have been strategically located on routes leading away from the border, and they have proven to be an effective component of our defense-in-depth enforcement strategy designed to protect America.

Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the Border Patrol's priority mission has been to prevent the entry of terrorists and terrorist weapons into the United States. However, Border Patrol agents are mindful that the primary purpose of a checkpoint is – and has always been – immigration enforcement. Enforcement of immigration law is recognized as one of the most effective tools in the fight against terrorism.

When Border Patrol agents observe violations of other laws while conducting checkpoint operations, they take appropriate enforcement action as they have been trained. For example, during a recent six-month period, from May to October 2008, Border Patrol agents at checkpoints in the San Diego sector not only arrested 922 foreign nationals who were in the country illegally, but seized more than 4,500 pounds of marijuana, 56 pounds of cocaine and 27 pounds of methamphetamine. The checkpoints resulted in the apprehension of 183 people from countries other than Mexico. That number included arrests of aliens from “special interest countries.â€