9OYS Border Watch: think he'll be back? Maybe not this time

Posted: Mar 02, 2011 12:40 PM CST
Updated: Mar 02, 2011 5:01 PM CST


Notes by: Forrest Carr

It was a routine night for border watchers. 9 On Your Side's camera was rolling as Arizona-based Border Patrol agents captured a couple of migrants trying to sneak into the country. One of the nabbed crossers bragged he'd probably try it again.

But if he tries it in the same place, he's likely to get the same result. That's because he attempted to cross the fence in the Yuma sector.

Arizona's most vocal advocates for border security -- and harshest critics of the federal government -- have pointed to the Yuma sector as the model for securing the U.S. border. Since 2005 arrests in that sector are down 95%. The word is out: for anyone wanting to cross into the U.S. illegally, the Yuma sector is not a wise choice for the place to do it.

What does the Yuma area have that the Tucson area doesn't?

9 On Your Side investigator Steve Nuñez and photojournalist Alfonso Sahagun are just back from two days in the Yuma sector asking that very question.

They found that Yuma has:

-- 126 miles of triple-layer border fence;

-- Significant natural barriers in the form of canals and rivers;

-- Man-made vehicle obstacles in the form of Normandy-invasion style iron crossbars;

-- Extensive infrared surveillance on cameras and aboard helicopters.

The KGUN9 News crew was on hand as one of those infrared cameras spotted two crossers - and the chase was on.

Nuñez is in the KGUN9 newsroom now logging his video and preparing to write a story. Find out more about what he and Sahagun learned in their special report, which will air tonight on KGUN9 News at 10.

http://www.kgun9.com/global/story.asp?s=14172596