Fence, surveillance marked Arizona’s 2007 border efforts

By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN
Associated Press

TUCSON — 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.

The year began and ended with decisions by the nation’s Homeland Security chief to waive environmental laws, enabling prompt construction of steel barricades along parts of the Arizona border.