County remains sector's hot spot for illegal immigrant apprehensions

COCHISE COUNTY - This border county continues to be a major point for illegal immigrants entering the United States.

Nearly half of the 34,342 illegal immigrants apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson Sector in January happened in Cochise County. In Cochise County, 16,579 were apprehended, said Andy Adame, a Border Patrol spokesman.

The number of apprehensions for the sector are up by 28 percent when compared to January 2003, when 26,823 illegal immigrants were taken into custody, he said Monday.

Last month, Naco Station agents saw a 19 percent increase of apprehensions in contrast to January 2003, 7,061 versus 5,939, Adame said.

Douglas Station agents had an 18 percent increase, with 8,142 people apprehended last month compared to 6,972 for the same month in 2003.

In Willcox, agents apprehended 1,436 illegal immigrants compared to 542 in January of last year, which is a 65 percent increase. The number of agents working out of the Willcox Station has increased, Adame said.

That, coupled with a checkpoint and a special ranch patrol, are the reasons Willcox area agents are apprehending more illegal immigrants, the spokesman added.

"Willcox (Station) is operating a checkpoint on Highway 80 and apprehending those trying to go around it," he said.

Willcox Station agents also are putting an emphasis in the Rucker Canyon area of the Chiricahua Mountains, Adame added.

Since the beginning of the federal fiscal year, which started Oct. 1, and going through the end of January, there has been a 34 percent increase in the number of illegal immigrant apprehensions in the Tucson Sector when compared to the same four-moth period for the previous budget year of Oct. 1, 2002, through Jan. 31, 2003, Adame said. In this fiscal year, 102,976 illegal immigrants have been apprehended compared to 76,862 in 2003.

The three stations in Cochise County accounted for 56,972 of the apprehensions, Adame said. Naco Station agents took 28,967 into custody for the first four months of the current federal fiscal year, which is a 114 percent increase over the 13,525 apprehended for the same period in the previous budget year.

Douglas Station agents had a 13 percent increase when compared to the same period in the last fiscal year - 23,952 to 21,250.

Willcox Station agents apprehended 3,523 illegal immigrants so far this budget year in contrast to 2,940 for the same four months in the last fiscal year, a 14 percent increase.

Marijuana confiscations also have increased this fiscal year in the Tucson Sector, with 165,353 pounds seized compared to 140,369 pounds from Oct. 1, 2002, to Jan. 31, 2003, he said. That is an 18 percent increase.

Naco Station agents were responsible for the seizure of 26,451 pounds so far this budget year. During the same period last year, 13,074 pounds was confiscated. That is a 102 percent increase.

There was a 37 percent decrease in the amount of marijuana seized by Douglas Station agents this year compared to the previous four months of the federal budget year of 10,995 pounds compared to 17,396 pounds, the spokesman said.

Willcox Station agents also saw a 22 percent decline in marijuana seizure for the two fiscal year periods, with 1,212 pounds so far this budget year in relationship to 1,561 pounds in the previous fiscal year.

Countywide, the three stations accounted for 38,658 pounds of marijuana this budget year compared to 33,031 pounds from Oct. 1, 2002, to Jan. 31, 2003.

2 posted on 02/03/2004 4:15:26 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)

Great job by these guys who are trying to fight this human invasion while our government looks the other way.

3 posted on 02/03/2004 4:22:22 PM PST by janetgreen (WANTED: A President Who Will Enforce Immigration Laws)

You think maybe building a fence might help cut down on this?

4 posted on 02/03/2004 4:22:30 PM PST by WOSG (Support Tancredo on immigration. Support BUSH for President!)

" Great job by these guys who are trying to fight this human invasion while our government looks the other way.'

The US Border Patrol ( part of our government) is obviously not looking away.

5 posted on 02/03/2004 4:27:13 PM PST by Wild Irish Rogue

6 posted on 02/03/2004 4:28:21 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)

7 posted on 02/03/2004 4:41:54 PM PST by janetgreen (WANTED: A President Who Will Enforce Immigration Laws)

Sorry this is a duplicate post. Would you please lock it and refer all who may wish to reply to the original posting at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1070873/posts?

8 posted on 02/03/2004 4:53:27 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)

Wish Arizona was a little more accommodating after they sneak across.

Most go right to California where the liven is easy and the consequences of failure are a benevolent hand out from the taxpayers.

Wish Arizona was a little more accommodating after they sneak across.

Those of us on the front edge battle area would like to be "a little more accomodating" but not in a way that Me.Ch.A., Voz de la Raza, or the supporters of Aztlan would like.

10 posted on 02/03/2004 5:00:20 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)

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