Guest Commentary: Border checkpoint issue raises important questions

In response to the Green Valley News’ lead story and the Guest Comment by James O’Berry, both of June 29, 2007, 1 have some questions.

First, I, too, attended those I-19 Working Group meetings as a spectator. Were they not to provide input to the Border Patrol on location of a checkpoint? The Working Group was to give reasons as to why this or that location was best for ‘us.’ I heard a comment by Deputy Chief John Fitzpatrick that the CBP has already picked the location. Am I correct?

Is not the reason for an inland checkpoint based on the huge number of people who now bypass the Border Point of Entry? If so, will they not bypass this checkpoint as well?

Fitzpatrick says they need X-ray equipment to screen the large trucks. Are these the trucks which have already been screened at the Mariposa Port of Entry? If not, are we to screen the trucks originating within the State - delivering goods to/from Rio Rico, etc?

If Mariposa does not have this equipment, should we not install it there first?

A statement has been made that this location was chosen to be north of the Arivaca Road so we will ‘catch’ illegal activity coming from there. Should we not locate it north of Continental Road to catch illegal activity coming in from the Caterpillar site and Box Canyon? At what point will ‘they’ stop trying to reach I-19?

Since only 5 percent -10 percent of the apprehensions of drug- and human-smuggling occur at fixed checkpoints, should we be looking ‘outside the box’? I believe that wherever the checkpoint is located, the ‘illegal traffic’ will fan out east and west just prior to the checkpoint. Where do we want these ‘dragonfly wings’ to be? (Envision a dragonfly sitting on a map of I-19, facing north. The wings go out each way to cover land, homes, businesses, etc.)

As to how dangerous ‘they’ make our community at night, how many of ‘them’ have you met who asked for more than water? However, how many times have you witnessed or been told of the wild chases through yards and streets by the CBP and Minutemen? Should we know the difference between people walking and being chased?

As for the high-tech equipment needed, how about a fixed base located off the interstate with the equipment and computer room? Add to that 6-8 unmanned aerial vehicles with radar and photo capability? Would this technology find suspected movement, identify the location, and guide officers to the problem area? It is being done in the Middle East now!

And finally, the statement that ‘this is how it is done’ just sets us up for failure. In 1776, the British marched through New England in bright uniforms while we rebels fought from behind trees. Did the ‘this is how it is done’ process work for the British? No. Can we learn from history?

Please ask questions. Do not assume we have all the answers yet. Be open to new choices.

Green Valley resident Chet Davis is a community activist, most recently the first vice president of the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council and currently is the president of the Continental School District board.

The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily this newspaper’s.