News
Arrests of illegal immigrants decline in 2008
By Jim Lamb, Green Valley News
During the most recent fiscal year, Border Patrol agents arrested 317,696 illegal immigrants, a 16 percent decline from a year ago in the Tucson Sector. The agency attributes the decline to fewer crossing attempts.
The Border Patrol says because border enforcement is so good, fewer are trying to cross, meaning fewer will be snared.
The fiscal year ended Sept. 30, and national figures mirrored the decline noted here, according to the office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Among other reasons given for the decline was the installation of more fencing along the 1,953 miles of international border with Mexico.
And for whatever reasons, the number of illegal immigrants living in the United States declined to 11.9 million in an estimate released by the Pew Hispanic Center, a respected Washington think tank.
Pew also said the number of illegals living here “has now fallen below that of immigrants who are legal permanent residents, reversing a trend that began a decade ago.”
The Christian Science Monitor in July said 1.3 million illegal immigrants have left the United States since Congress declined to pass comprehensive immigration reform in 2007.
But in the same article the Monitor reported that critics say that very little is known about this workforce of illegals, but it has been estimated “from 11 million to 20 million.”
The Tucson Sector, which includes most of Southern Arizona except for the Yuma area, has added more border fencing, increasing the total to 78 miles. Another 11 miles of temporary vehicle barriers have been built, bringing that total to 39 miles.
Tucson Sector agents still led the nation in the amount of marijuana seized, 812,142 pounds valued at $649 million. That’s more than 50 percent of marijuana seizures by total Border Patrol forces.
Other Tucson Sector seizures for the fiscal year included 256 pounds of cocaine, 61 ounces of heroin and 23 pounds of methamphetamine.
In its year-end roundup, the BP’s Tucson Sector said 261 agents were assaulted, a 29 percent increase for the year.
Agents were assaulted with rocks, there were 51 physical assaults, 24 vehicle assaults and shooters fired at agents nine times.
jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749
The Border Patrol says because border enforcement is so good, fewer are trying to cross, meaning fewer will be snared.
The fiscal year ended Sept. 30, and national figures mirrored the decline noted here, according to the office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Among other reasons given for the decline was the installation of more fencing along the 1,953 miles of international border with Mexico.
And for whatever reasons, the number of illegal immigrants living in the United States declined to 11.9 million in an estimate released by the Pew Hispanic Center, a respected Washington think tank.
Pew also said the number of illegals living here “has now fallen below that of immigrants who are legal permanent residents, reversing a trend that began a decade ago.”
The Christian Science Monitor in July said 1.3 million illegal immigrants have left the United States since Congress declined to pass comprehensive immigration reform in 2007.
But in the same article the Monitor reported that critics say that very little is known about this workforce of illegals, but it has been estimated “from 11 million to 20 million.”
The Tucson Sector, which includes most of Southern Arizona except for the Yuma area, has added more border fencing, increasing the total to 78 miles. Another 11 miles of temporary vehicle barriers have been built, bringing that total to 39 miles.
Tucson Sector agents still led the nation in the amount of marijuana seized, 812,142 pounds valued at $649 million. That’s more than 50 percent of marijuana seizures by total Border Patrol forces.
Other Tucson Sector seizures for the fiscal year included 256 pounds of cocaine, 61 ounces of heroin and 23 pounds of methamphetamine.
In its year-end roundup, the BP’s Tucson Sector said 261 agents were assaulted, a 29 percent increase for the year.
Agents were assaulted with rocks, there were 51 physical assaults, 24 vehicle assaults and shooters fired at agents nine times.
jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749
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