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Progress on towers, checkpoint
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CopyUS Border Patrol agent and public affairs officer Devin Reno discussed progress on SBInet surveillance towers and the highway checkpoint north of town during the recent meeting of the Western Pima County Community Council.
Six sensor towers with radar and cameras are planned for installation within twenty miles of the border south of Ajo, primarily on Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The project is known as Ajo-1. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-October. Reno pointed out that the area south of Ajo is only the second region in the country to receive the border surveillance towers. He said agents using the Project 28 tower equipment around Sasabe and Arivaca are reporting success.
Five communication relay towers will be installed between the surveillance towers and the observation center, which will be established at the USBP Ajo Station. It is anticipated that testing of the upgraded Ajo-1 sensor technology will occur in early spring of 2010.
The Highway 85 checkpoint north of town has received a new canopy that stretches across the roadway, providing some shelter from the elements. Future plans may call for a permanent facility with secondary inspection lanes and more technology for detecting hazardous items, illegal aliens, and contraband. In the meantime, Reno pointed out, drug-detection dogs are doing a fantastic job.
The Ajo Station area of responsibility covers 3600-squaremiles, from just west of Sells to the Yuma County line. It comprises one-fifth of the Tucson Sector and is considered the largest land-border area of responsibility in the nation.
Because of that, more permanently assigned agents are coming to the Ajo Station all the time. There are currently just less than 300 field agents working out of the station. While apprehensions of illegal aliens in the area are down, narcotics seizures are up significantly.
Reno mentioned he is working on establishing a program that will encourage high school students to stay away from a life of crime. He will have more details as the effort progresses.
Responding to a question, he said it is not a crime to provide water to suspect illegal aliens when they appear at a residence or are encountered in the desert. However, he said residents are encouraged to contact.the Border Patrol whenever suspect IAs are encountered. The local number is 387-7002. A toll-free number is 1 800-USBP-HELP.
Copyright 2009 Ajo Copper News, Ajo, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.
© 2009 Ajo Copper News Ajo, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.
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