Checkpoint effectiveness needs to be reviewed – and very fast

Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Nogales International
Guest Opinion By U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

Border security is my top priority as the U.S. representative of Arizona’s 8th congressional district. The Tucson Sector is the most porous section of the U.S.-Mexico border, with more than 48 percent of the nation’s drug traffic and 44 percent of all illegal human traffic entering the United States through Southern Arizona. Every day, approximately 1,049 illegal immigrants and 2,749 pounds of drugs cross our ranches, highways, precious lands, and communities.

I cannot and will not stand by and allow our region to remain a dangerous thoroughfare. All smart options to address this problem must be considered. Furthermore, it is my responsibility to monitor the efforts of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) to make sure their border-security efforts are effective and tailored to meet the unique characteristics of Southern Arizona.

The Tucson Sector is the only sector along the U.S.-Mexico border that does not have a permanent, interior checkpoint.

Last spring and summer, as part of my Community Workgroup on Southern Arizona Checkpoints, a cross-section of Southern Arizona citizens examined this issue. Residents along the Interstate 19 corridor, from Nogales to Tucson, participated in many public forums and spent countless hours investigating the possibility of a permanent checkpoint on this roadway.

Strong and divergent sentiments emerged. One group of residents supported more security directly on the border instead of any stationary interior checkpoints, while the other group advocated for a permanent interior checkpoint on I-19 in addition to efforts directly on the border.

Throughout the summer, the need for credible data on the effectiveness of checkpoints became increasingly more obvious. Do internal checkpoints reduce the flow of human smuggling and drugs into the United States? Do they create flanking that drives the criminals smuggling humans and drugs into local neighborhoods?

The workgroup submitted an exceptionally thorough document in August with a detailed analysis of the complexities of the checkpoint issue. As a result of the report, the Border Patrol agreed to scale back the size of the proposed permanent checkpoint on I-19, and to locate an interim checkpoint at kilometer 41.5 or 42, away from the most densely populated areas along I-19 near Green Valley.

I believe an interior checkpoint on I-19 is critical, and I support it. But I also believe we need an in-depth examination of the existing checkpoints along the US-Mexico border, including the interim checkpoint currently near Tubac. The most recent study of checkpoints was completed by the U.S. Government Accountability Office in 2005 and did not address all the concerns identified by members of the workgroup. It was also conducted prior to the I-19 checkpoint in the Tucson Sector becoming stationary in November, 2006 and before the addition of new border security technologies.

That is why I have been working with Sen. Jon Kyl to design a new GAO study that will provide thorough and up-to-date information about the operational effectiveness of existing checkpoints and any impacts they may be having on nearby communities.

My colleague’s expertise as the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security Subcommittee has been extremely helpful during this process.

I am pleased that Sen. John McCain joined us in making this request, along with six other members of Congress that include the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and the House Intelligence Committee Chairman. The GAO request has been made by a bipartisan, bicameral group of members who represent Americans living near the U.S.-Mexico border. We share the goals of securing our border while also protecting residents and making the best use of taxpayer dollars.

I made a commitment to my constituents, after careful study of the workgroup recommendations, to do all that I could to enhance border security and to demand accountability from CBP on the effectiveness and impact of interior checkpoints. This request to the GAO is an important part of my pledge to better secure our border and provide vigilant oversight of the federal government initiatives.

Click here to read the guest opinion on the Nogales International website