Border Patrol says full deployment of soldiers making Arizona "safer" (KGUN-AZ)

Border Patrol says full deployment of soldiers making Arizona "safer"

Posted: Oct 08, 2010 9:16 PM
Updated: Oct 08, 2010 9:16 PM
Reporter: Steve Nuñez

NOGALES, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) – The U.S. Border Patrol is claiming Arizona residents are much "safer" now that all 560 soldiers are "boots on ground" along the border. The full deployment began eight days ago.

But if you expect to see the presence of armed soldiers walking in the desert along the border fence; don't. It's not going to happen.

That's because the soldiers will only stand guard in fixed locations similar to a border patrol check point.

KGUN9 News got a chance to see the soldiers in action. The Border Patrol provided access to the media to showcase the Obama Administration's commitment to border security.

Sgt. Perez, one of the 504 volunteer soldiers, agreed to talk to us. He did not want to use his full name to protect his identity.

Sgt. Perez is in charge of what the Border Patrol calls an Entry Identification Team, or EIT.

Their mission: to strictly conduct surveillance 24/7.

Sgt. Perez says even though he's armed he's yet to lift his assault rifle to take aim in self-defense.

The Border Patrol would not tell us how many camouflaged sites are located along the border.

But we do know each fixed site is located in strategic areas where drug smugglers are known to come across.

We asked Border Patrol Chief Victor Manjarrez if soldiers are also patrolling near the Krentz Ranch in Douglas where a suspected drug smuggler shot and killed rancher Robert Krentz last March.

While he wouldn't give specifics, Manjarrez made it clear the Krentz Ranch is one areas the border patrol is interested in providing extra security.

"It would be safe to say that in terms of EIT sites that we were able to meet activity that would go out in that area," said Manjarrez.

So far, in the first eight days of the deployment, the Border Patrol credits the soldiers with helping agents arrest 400 illegal immigrants.

Manjarrez said the extra layer of security has increased the security across the entire country.

"We're able to reduce the risk in other locations not only Arizona but throughout the United States," said Manjarrez.

Sgt. Perez, an Afghanistan war veteran, agreed with the Border Patrol chief.

He said soldiers are, indeed, making a difference in securing the border. "Assisting the Border Patrol with extra eyes and ears in order to help secure the border? Yes. We are making a difference, "said Sgt. Perez.

Overall, Operation Copper Cactus includes 560 Arizona National Guard soldiers.

9OYS has learned of the remaining 56 soldiers, 28 of them are working desk jobs as criminal analysts within U.S. Customs & Border Protection and 28 are working as administrators overseeing the deployment.

The soldiers will be deployed for one year.

The Arizona National Guard tells 9OYS it will continue to recruit, train and have soldiers ready for deployment in case some of the current volunteers decide to quit.