Border fence buildup seems to be working

ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN
Published: 12.31.2007
AP Photo

Call it cause and effect.

With attention riveted in Arizona during 2007 on border security over illegal immigration, drug smuggling and potential terrorist infiltration, federal authorities responded with a spree of fence-building and high-tech surveillance.

The construction included both old-fashioned fences and the new, high-tech virtual variety, plus vehicle barriers and remote-controlled aircraft equipped with eyes in the sky.

And there are signs that the buildup is having an impact, particularly in far southwestern Arizona.

In the Border Patrol's Yuma sector, which covers roughly Arizona's westernmost 110 miles of border, apprehensions of illegal immigrants plunged dramatically. They were down 68 percent during fiscal 2007 over the previous year - from more than 118,000 to only about 38,000.

By comparison, totals in the Tucson sector for the fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, dipped by 4 percent to 378,000 from 392,000.

In the Tucson sector, covering the rest of the state's southern border, Border Patrol spokesman Jose Gonzalez said marijuana seizures soared by 46 percent. He said the dipping numbers of arrests show that fewer migrants are crossing and agents are able to spend more time on smuggling operations.