Border is Safer 2014, CBP Not perfect, but doinbg a good job.

Although the federal government has poured billions of dollars worth of personnel, infrastructure and technology into the U.S/Mexico border over the last decade, the question that always still seems to be asked is, how secure is it?
The answer, according to officials at the Yuma Sector Border Patrol, is that the line between between Mexico and the U.S. is now more secure than it’s ever been in the past.
   The 126-mile-long Yuma Sector stretches from between the Yuma-Pima County line in Arizona and the Imperial Sand Dunes in California and includes three stations, which are located in Yuma, Wellton and Blythe, Calif.

Agent Enrique Zarate of the Yuma Sector Public Affairs Office explained that every mile of the Yuma Sector's border with Mexico has some type of fencing, man-made or natural barriers, sensor technology, or is routinely patrolled. Also, since 2004 the number of agents assigned to the sector has tripled, increasing from 330 to more than 900.

In fiscal year 2005, apprehensions of illegal entrants for the Yuma Sector was at an all-time high of 138,438. By fiscal year 2012, however, the last year official figures were available, apprehensions of illegal entrants for the Yuma sector had plummeted to 6,500.

"The numbers are pretty low, but it's still not anywhere close to being zero," Zarate said. "For the Border Patrol, securing our borders means first having the visibility to see what is happening on our borders, and second, having the capacity to respond to what we see."

As for drug seizures, in fiscal year 2005, Yuma Sector agents seized 36,385 pounds of marijuana and 0.13 pounds of cocaine. By comparison, in fiscal year 2012, a total of 31,692 pounds of marijuana and 437 pounds of cocaine were seized in the Yuma Sector. Figures for other types of drugs were not immediately available.

Zarate added that while the personnel and infrastructure has helped tremendously in the great success the Yuma Sector has had in securing its stretch of the border, it would not have been possible without the tremendous partnerships it has with other federal, state, local, tribal and Mexican law enforcement agencies.

While the 2012 apprehension figure represented a slight increase over the 5,833 arrests that were reported in 2011, Zarate cautioned about using the number as sole indicator for border security, saying not all of the arrests occurred along the border.

"We have people enter our country illegally and attempt to abscond from us. Although we apprehend most of the people who enter illegally, we don’t apprehend everyone," Zarate said. "This is one of the reasons we have checkpoints, which are part of our defense in depth strategy. "

According to Zarate, while the Yuma Sector has had an unprecedented level of control over its operational area the past several years, it would be unrealistic to assume that agents are preventing every illegal border crossing attempt. He added that there may be several other reasons that could also explain why the number of illegal entrant apprehensions has dropped off so sharply.

Agent effectiveness is likely the main reason, Zarate said, but added that other factors could include a weak U.S. economy that has fewer jobs to offer, tougher new immigration laws, violence along the border caused by drug cartels and the area's dangerous terrain and harsh environment.

"I'm sure all those probably play a factor into an individual's decision to try to attempt to enter the country illegally, but it is hard for us to quantify," Zarate said. "We interview everybody we apprehend, but most of the questions we ask are in reference to their illegal entry, not necessarily as to why they chose to do so."

"Sometimes we do ask, but even then it is kind of difficult to determine whether they are stating the truth or not. Then of course, we don't interview those individuals who got to the border and decided not to attempt to cross," he noted.

Also, what is true in the Yuma Sector isn't necessarily true in other sectors. While other sectors have higher apprehension figures, Zarate explained that most other sectors have longer stretches of the border to patrol, which means more apprehensions. Yuma is also more remote, and not near any major population centers, which may make it a less-than-desirable potential crossing point.

"It is hard to quantify how many people have been deterred from trying to enter illegally by our presence along the border. There are a lot of people who approach the border seeking to enter illegally, but see agents and chose not to try," Zarate said. "Other times they will just look for another area where they think it will be easier to try and enter. There are also people who say they can't make past the Border Patrol and decide to not even try."

The unprecedented level of border security has also allowed Yuma Sector agents to assist Tucson Sector agents in patrolling an area known as "The Seam," which is in the vicinity of the Yuma-Pima County line.

Zarate said the Yuma Sector, however, faces many challenges on a daily basis in its attempts to keep the border safe, especially from well-funded transnational criminal organizations that have gone through tremendous efforts over the years to smuggle drugs and people into the country.

For example, there have been drug tunnels built in the San Luis area, an ultra-light aircraft has flown over the border and dropped off bundles of drugs in a field, and in certain areas pneumatic-powered cannons have been used to launch narcotics over the fence to then be picked up by drug smugglers already in the country.

While vehicles still attempt to park at the border to be loaded up with drugs, there have also been instances where vehicles have driven up to the border and attempted to get weapons and cash back south in to Mexico.

Other examples include trucks, Jeeps, all-terrain vehicles and utility vehicles loaded with drugs trying to cross fences and other barriers by using large metal ramps and people and horses being used to carry drugs through the desert.

At checkpoints, agents have seen vehicles with hidden compartments and other types of modifications used to conceal illegal drugs.

"The men and women of the United States Border Patrol are aware of these threats and remain vigilant in their duty to secure our nation’s borders," Zarate said.

Close to the border, U.S. Border Patrol agents have been assaulted with large rocks and have even been shot at. Zarate said these violent acts cause the agency great concern and that agents are consistently training to ensure that no harm comes to the public they serve, themselves or those individuals they have in custody.

Budget cuts are another challenge the Yuma Sector constantly faces Zarate said. He said every year the agency's budget gets cut, causing them to attempt to do more with less.

"We will do everything in our power to ensure budget cuts do not affect the high level of security Yuma Sector has been able to attain," Zarate said.

Although the threat of terrorism is a major concern, Zarate explained that he could not disclose if the Yuma Sector has ever apprehended anyone with ties to terrorism, but that every illegal entrant taken into custody is thoroughly screened through various national databases.

"The Border Patrol has policies and procedures in place to process people who have been identified as terrorists or having terrorist ties," Zarate said.