U.S. plans entrant patrols in N. Arizona
Arthur H. Rotstein

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are intent on hitting the road in their fight against illegal-entrant smuggling organizations.

Plans are in the works to establish a permanent agency presence in Northern Arizona. That’s because smugglers make such frequent use of Interstates 17 and 40 as they transport entrants from drop houses in the Phoenix area to disperse across the country north, east and west of Arizona.

The idea has been percolating for the last year, punctuated with a successful 90-day trial run last winter in which four agents worked out of Flagstaff.

Covering areas including Kingman and Bullhead City, they worked with local authorities, identified and interdicted some local smuggling organizations and even helped rein in gang operations in Beaver Dam, near the Nevada and Utah borders.

The ICE special agent in charge in Arizona said a permanent presence is in the planning stages, with a supervisor and three agents expected to be in place no later than June.

“I certainly anticipate that it will move forward and that we will staff permanently,â€