Can We Control the Border?
A Look at Recent Efforts in San Diego, El Paso and Nogales

TUCSON AND NOGALES: THE OLD FRONTIER

Tucson is the Border Patrol sector headquarters that is responsible for most of the Arizona border — all but the portion covered

by Yuma, at the border with California. The only major border crossing point for legal and illegal immigration is at Nogales, about 60 miles south of Tucson. Tucson sits astride the major east-west interstate highway (I-10) and where the only major route from Nogales (I-19) intersects with that highway.

The generally barren land in this area suggests that border control should be fairly straightforward. However, anecdotal information points to a significant illegal alien problem in Tucson, which

would appear to belie the effectiveness of the Border Patrol in this sector. The INS, drawing on experience with the 1986 IRCA legalization program (in which about 83,000 illegal aliens applied from Arizona), census data and other indicators, estimated that by 1992 the approximate number of illegal aliens in Arizona had risen to about 57,000. Of this number, the INS estimated that over 80 percent were Mexicans.

Apprehension data for the two Arizona border sectors reflect different patterns (see Figure 11). The Tucson sector, which accounts for the greater number of apprehensions, has witnessed an escalating number of attempted illegal entries at both the border (Nogales) and in the interior. Yuma, on the other hand, appears to have been immune to similar pressures.

The greatest increase in apprehensions occurred after the El Paso border control operation was launched in September 1993. This suggests that Nogales became the secondary target for would-be illegal immigrants who were deterred by Operation Hold-the-Line's effectiveness. The average increase in apprehensions in FY-94 was about 2,000 higher than would have been expected from the rate of escalating apprehensions before the El Paso operation (see Table 2). The total increase of 4,000 apprehensions is a significant amount of dislocation. It is evidence of the effectiveness of the prevention strategy at El Paso for the overall border control effort to deter illegal immigrants, if that strategy can be replicated along the entire border.

The decrease in apprehensions in the Yuma sector is somewhat surprising. It goes against the trend in increased pressure on the Border Patrol elsewhere on the border. The data on personnel levels during this same period of time do not reflect any decreased level of effort. The implication is that either the Border Patrol is so effective in this sector that alien smugglers steer clear of it, or that the sector is simply so unattractive to would-be illegal immigrants that they do not try their luck in this area. In either case, the Yuma sector merits a closer look.

Observations — On visiting Nogales and extensively observing the border downtown as well as in outlying areas, it was readily apparent that there would be little challenge to illegal entry into either Mexico or the United States given the current state of border fencing. There were numerous holes in the fence, and some entire sections that had been torn down to accommodate vehicular access. During a tour of this region with a Border Patrol agent, Mexicans freely crossed into the United States in order to pick up supplies they presumably had purchased. Residents noted that anything that was not bolted down was likely to disappear.

The loose semblance of control was true also in the downtown area. Within about 15 yards of a legal entry point — and within full view of anyone working at that point — there was a hole that had been cut in the fence, reportedly earlier in the day, and there were a half-dozen persons on the Mexican side of the fence presumably looking for an opportunity to make a dash through the informal portal. A short distance further on is a railroad point of entry with steel gates that are opened periodically to admit a train, and, officials said, the train is always accompanied by a number of aliens on board or on foot trying to take advantage of the opportunity to avoid detection and apprehension.

Although the local Border Patrol agents seemed resigned to this lack of control, it was encouraging to note efforts are underway to upgrade border security. Part of the new capability is in the form of surveillance equipment and part is new secure fencing. The fencing operation faces hurdles, such as awaiting the results of environmental impact studies and negotiating with landowners for the right to place equipment on their land that abuts the frontier.