Locals weigh in on GAO report

U.S. Homeland Security officials say they are moving to address recommendations contained in an oversight agency’s report on Border Patrol checkpoints, including a proposed permanent facility on Interstate 19 north of Tubac.

READ THE REPORT (under Aug. 31) AT: http://www.gao.gov/

The Government Accountability Office report released Monday in Washington says checkpoints on Southwestern border-area roadways help authorities seize drugs and apprehend illegal immigrants.

But the report also says the Border Patrol doesn’t adequately measure the checkpoints’ effectiveness and the impact they have on surrounding areas where smugglers go to evade the checkpoints.

The Border Patrol says it is working to develop new monitoring systems for checkpoints, including their effectiveness and staffing needs.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who is hosting a town hall on the report Wednesday in Green Valley, said Tuesday that she was still reading the 147-page report, and has not decided whether she will advocate for a permanent or mobile checkpoint.

Giffords requested the GAO report in Dececember 2007, and will have the authors at the meeting along with the Border Patrol and the public to “listen and learn.”

Al White, the Border Patrol agent in charge of the Nogales Station, told the Rotary Club of Green Valley on Tuesday that the GAO report raised concerns about the agency’s accounting practices, but on practical issues, “my hands are tied.”

“I can’t spend money on technology,” he told about 30 members of the club at a lunch meeting. “We know they’re (illegal immigrants) going to skirt the mountain ranges, follow the river or the railroad tracks, the gas line. We need that technology increase.”

“We can’t be in all places at one time. The one thing we can do is catch folks and respond.”

White said the upgraded interim checkpoint, with canopies and other ameneties, will be functioning by May.

As for a permanent checkpoint, “We’re waiting for the fallout from the GAO to see what we will and won’t be able to build,” White said.

Carol Cullen, executive director of the Tubac Chamber of Commerce, said she was impressed that the GAO looked at the concerns of the communities, “But it appears the Border Patrol has issues on data. It’s more accurate and reliable data from the Border Patrol that we need to know. We have to hold this large federal government agency accountable.”

Garry Hembree, a past president of the chamber who organized two peaceful drive-through protest at the checkpoint this summer, said, “How many are going around the checkpoint is what we want to know. If they don’t have the manpower, what’s the point? It’s affecting our businesses and our safety. No one came to ask me how this is affecting my livelihood in Tubac, and believe me it is.”

The GAO was asked to assess checkpoint performance and factors affecting performance; checkpoint performance measures; community impacts considered in checkpoint placement and design; and the impact of checkpoint operations on nearby communities.

According to the report:

More than one-third of Border Patrol drug seizures come from checkpoints.

The Border Patrol established three performance measures to report the results of checkpoint operations, but they do not indicate if checkpoints are operating efficiently and effectively.

GAO found that a lack of management oversight and unclear checkpoint data collection guidance resulted in the overstatement of checkpoint performance results in fiscal year 2007 and 2008 agency performance reports, as well as inconsistent data collection practices at checkpoints.

Current and projected traffic volume was a key factor in the design of the proposed Interstate 19 checkpoint.

Individuals GAO contacted who live near checkpoints generally supported their operations but expressed concerns regarding property damage that occurs when illegal aliens and smugglers circumvent checkpoints to avoid apprehension.

Includes information from the Associated Press.

WEDNESDAY

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is holding a public meeting about the GAO report at 9:30 a.m. at the West Social Center, 1111 Via Arcoiris, Green Valley. The meeting will include the writers of the report from the Government Accountability Office, and Border Patrol officials.