Guest commentary: Permanent checkpoint not the answer

As a member of Congresswoman Giffords’ Community Workgroup on Southern Arizona Checkpoints, I feel the need to speak out and tell my neighbors what is at stake.

Many of us are opposed to the idea of a permanent checkpoint 30 miles inland. It is an ineffective solution to the problems of illegal immigration and drug smuggling and it endangers our families. But unless the community speaks up loudly, the Border Patrol seems ready to ram this through.

Though the workgroup was assured repeatedly by Giffords that “no idea is off the table,” it appears that the Border Patrol is little interested in the community’s input.

On the contrary, it seems to be moving forward with its plans for a permanent checkpoint on I-19 near Amado. Unless we stop it.

The Border Patrol is pushing forward despite significant concerns about public safety. These concerns have been raised at every Workgroup meeting, as well as in repeated requests from Workgroup members to hear some alternative solutions.

At the most recent meeting, however, Assistant Sector Chief Fitzpatrick stated, “We didn’t come here to discuss alternatives to a checkpoint with you. That wasn’t our purpose.”

Really? Well it’s time the community and our elected officials stood up and said the security of our border and safety of our communities demand something better than a decades-old strategy that doesn’t work.

By the Border Patrol’s own admission, a permanent checkpoint will drive the drug smugglers and human traffickers off the highway and into surrounding communities, with their multi-million- dollar cargos and their automatic weapons.

The Border Patrol even admits that violence in surrounding areas will increase as a result, with no telling when it will decrease. This threat to public safety is unacceptable, and a major concern for our police departments and sheriffs who do not have the resources to deal with the onslaught that will result.

Permanent checkpoints don’t even work. In fact, within days of a new multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art checkpoint opening near Laredo, Texas, smugglers had built routes and roads around it.

Why are we giving up on securing 261 miles of the border in favor of trying to secure the 90,530 square miles of US territory that make up the Tucson Sector?

Permanent checkpoints are an archaic strategy. They are fixed landmarks for smugglers to avoid. The Border Patrol’s only apparent rationale for moving forward with this flawed approach is, “we have done it before.” Meanwhile, the U.S. Government Accountability Office points out that the Border Patrol does not even keep information on the relative effectiveness of checkpoints!

We deserve better.

It is time for a bold, new strategy to gain control of our border and protect our communities.

The strategy should include securing the border with all the personnel and technology available. It was done in San Diego and El Paso. It can be done here.

We should rebuild the Nogales Port of Entry with modern technology and expanded lanes. We should increase manpower. We should implement advanced mobile checkpoints, with improved technology and the agility to relocate when and where necessary.

Unbelievably, almost six years after 9-11, the Border Patrol still does not have real-time radio communications with local law enforcement. We should ensure upgraded telecommunications, sharing of intelligence, and inter-agency training between Border Patrol, sheriffs and police.

Finally, we should demand that local law enforcement agencies be reimbursed for the millions they spend addressing this issue.

There is a way to secure the border and keep our neighborhoods safe. There is a way for the Border Patrol to become a technologically advanced and agile law enforcement agency, capable of deterring illegal entry into the country and effectively responding to all incursions. Throwing in the towel and setting up shop at a permanent checkpoint - shifting the burden to local law enforcement - is not the answer.

We deserve better. Call Rep. Giffords and Border Patrol. Let them know how you feel.

Jim DiGiacomo is chairman of the Alternative Options Subcommittee for the Community Workgroup on Southern Arizona Checkpoints. He also is executive director of the Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce. Respond online at www.gvnews.com by clicking on the columns link.

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