Thread: Illegal traffic moving east after Goldwater lockdown

Illegal traffic moving east after Goldwater lockdown
Story by Lance Cpl. Gregory Aalto

[Hi-Res Photo]



As part of increased border security in the area, a section of fence is built on the Colorado River portion of the U.S.-Mexico border July 25, 2008. The recent decrease in human traffic in the Yuma area has caused a sharp increase in violence and drug traffic to the Tucson sector east of here. Last year, the Tucson sector had 261 assaults on officers, while prior to the Yuma area's border lockdown, they only had 103 assaults.
After the halt of nearly all illegal immigrant activity on Yuma's Barry M. Goldwater Range, the amount of illicit drug smuggling and assaults to Border Patrol officers east of here has risen sharply.

In the Border Patrol's Tucson sector, east of the Marine Corps portion of the range, the amount of marijuana seized has increased 88 percent since 2004 and 228 percent since 1999.

Violence has also escalated to the east.

"The (illegal immigrants) are becoming more aggressive as the difficulty to transfer humans has increased," said Michael Scioli, Tucson sector Border Patrol agent.

In 2004, the Tucson sector, which goes from Yuma County to the Arizona-New Mexico border, had 103 assaults on officers. Last year, it jumped to 261.

By making human trafficking more difficult, the price for an individual to be smuggled has increased. Because of this, the smuggling cartels are now becoming more aggressive in assuring the people being transported get to their destinations, said Scioli.

These changes to the east are being attributed to the Yuma sector's border lockdown, said Ben Vik, Yuma sector supervisory border patrol agent.

Since 2004, a multifaceted attack by the air station and Customs and Border Protection stopped nearly all human and drug traffic on the Barry M. Goldwater Range.

"Everyone we are catching in Wellton, (Ariz.,) is coming from the east now," said Vik.

In the past, most illegal immigrant apprehensions came from the south.

This recent rise in activity to the east of the Goldwater Range is following a trend of illegal immigration that has held steady for 15 years.

In 1994, the Border Patrol launched Operation Gatekeeper, focusing border security on the five westernmost miles of the California-Mexico border. By 1997, the program extended eastward, allocating funds and manpower to the El Centro sector, which ends at the Imperial Sand Dunes, west of Yuma.

Another result of the illegal immigration moving eastward is the effect of humans and vehicles to the Sonoran Pronghorn, a deer-like animal from the antelope family.

The increased activity is having a large effect on the Sonoran Pronghorn and will likely make an even larger impact this spring, said James Atkinson, wildlife biologist and Sonoran Pronghorn recovery team leader for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department.

Between March and June, the fawns end up being separated from the does when illegal immigrants and Border Patrol personnel and vehicles disturb them.

The separation causes the fawns to die, said Atkinson. Fawns are disappearing at the same time each year because of disturbances.

"It's the human presence that is doing this," said Atkinson.

One concern of station personnel and U.S. Fish and Wildlife is that the ground activity will drive the Sonoran Pronghorn onto the Barry M. Goldwater Range.

However, the Sonoran Pronghorn have recently been showing no organized migrations. They have a massive flight response, causing them to flee from minimal disturbances.

"The pronghorn have been unexpectedly popping up with no explanation," said Atkinson. "I don't have an answer yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if some of these animals had to move a great distance every day to avoid disturbances."

Currently, the animals have not migrated directly onto Goldwater Range. However, if the animals do begin to move, U.S. Fish and Wildlife could place flight restrictions above the range, said Pete Loughlin, station mission assurance director.



http://www.yuma.usmc.mil/?PgId=desertwa ... 9,feature3

Build that fence fast!

Great information
IT WORKS

We should stimulate a few more miles ....

Between March and June, the fawns end up being separated from the does when illegal immigrants and Border Patrol personnel and vehicles disturb them.

The separation causes the fawns to die, said Atkinson. Fawns are disappearing at the same time each year because of disturbances.

Great News!

So this means that the illegals are bad for the environment and NOT the fence!

. . . and yet NOT ONE WORD from the HYPOCRITE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS!!!!

Where's the outrage from the Sierra Club or Greenpeace!?!