DATE=6/9/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-40636
TITLE=BORDER / RIGHTS
BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS
DATELINE=SAN DIEGO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A RECENT REPORT BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CRITICIZED
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED BY U-S LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENTS ON THE U-S/MEXICO BORDER. BUT, AS V-O-A'S
GREG FLAKUS REPORTS FROM THE BORDER AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, THE
BORDER IS, IN MANY WAYS, A MORE PEACEFUL AREA AS A RESULT OF THE
INTENSE ENFORCEMENT EFFORT.
(TEXT): //// SOUND OF VEHICLE/RADIO SQUAWK ////
THE RUGGED ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES OF THE U-S BORDER PATROL CONTINUE
TO ROAM THE BUMPY ROADS ALONG THE SOLID-STEEL FENCE THAT DIVIDES
CALIFORNIA FROM MEXICO HERE IN THE IMPERIAL BEACH AREA. BUT
HERE, AT THE SOUTHWESTERN MOST PIECES OF U-S TERRITORY,
APPREHENSIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE DOWN. ALMOST NO ONE
ATTEMPTS A DAYTIME CROSSING ANYMORE AND EVEN AT NIGHT, AGENTS
SAY, THE NUMBERS ARE SMALL COMPARED TO EVEN TWO OR THREE YEARS
AGO.
THEY CREDIT "OPERATION GATEKEEPER," A REINFORCEMENT EFFORT AT THE
BORDER THAT BEGAN IN 1994, IN RESPONSE TO AN ALL BUT
OUT-OF-CONTROL SITUATION AT THIS SECTION OF THE BORDER. BACK
THEN, IT WAS COMMON FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO CROSS OVER BY THE
HUNDREDS, WITH OUTNUMBERED BORDER PATROL AGENTS STRUGGLING TO
APPREHEND EVEN A FRACTION OF THEM. TODAY, IMMIGRANTS ARE
DISCOURAGED BY EXTRA AGENTS AND PATROLS AND A NEW THREE-METER
HIGH FENCE WHICH EXTENDS WELL OUT INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN SURF.
STANDING BY THE FENCE, BORDER PATROL AGENT SALVADOR ZAMORA
SURVEYS A QUIET, EMPTY LANDSCAPE WHERE ONLY A FEW YEARS AGO
AGENTS PLAYED A CONSTANT GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE WITH ILLEGAL
ENTRANTS.
/// ZAMORA ACT ///
THE QUIETNESS COMES AS A RESULT OF OPERATION GATEKEEPER.
THE NEW METHOD OF OPERATION WOULD BE TO PREVENT THE
ENTRY OF ILLEGAL ALIENS AS OPPOSED TO THE DETECTION AND
APPREHENSION. THE SECURITY ALONG THIS BORDER HAS
INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING
ACROSS (HERE) IS VIRTUALLY ZERO. THE PATTERNS OF
CROSSING OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE CHANGING.
/// END ACT ///
BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY ENFORCEMENT IN THIS AREA DIRECTLY ACROSS THE
LINE FROM THE MEXICAN CITY OF TIJUANA, IMMIGRANT SMUGGLERS HAVE
MOVED THEIR OPERATIONS FARTHER EAST AND THE FORMERLY EMPTY
"NO-MAN'S LAND" IN THE IMPERIAL BEACH AREA IS NOW THE SCENE OF
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION. AGENT GLORIA CHAVEZ SAYS DEVELOPERS HAVE
MOVED IN NOW THAT THE BORDER PATROL HAS MADE THE AREA SAFE.
/// CHAVEZ ///
THIS AREA WAS PRETTY MUCH ISOLATED BEFORE OPERATION
GATEKEEPER. NOW, WE ARE GETTING MORE INTEREST IN
BUILDING CLOSE TO THE BORDER. PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE BIT
MORE CONFIDENT OF BUILDING THEIR HOMES HERE AND
ESTABLISHING THEMSELVES HERE FOR THE FUTURE.
/// END ACT ///
BUT HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS, INCLUDING AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, SAY THE
ENFORCEMENT AT THE BORDER HAS ALSO INVOLVED ABUSIVE TREATMENT OF
IMMIGRANTS. THE AMNESTY REPORT MOSTLY CITED CASES INVOLVING THE
U-S MILITARY -- WHICH NO LONGER HAS PERSONNEL PATROLLING THE
BORDER -- AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN AREAS NEAR THE
BORDER. BORDER PATROL AGENT ZAMORA SAYS HIS AGENCY HAS TAKEN A
PROACTIVE STANCE TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF SUSPECTS OR DETAINEES.
/// ZAMORA ACT ///
IF AN AGENT SEES SOMETHING NOT TO HIS LIKING THAT IS
SUBJECT TO BEING INVESTIGATED, HE IS OBLIGATED TO REPORT
THAT. IF NOT, HE IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE JUST AS THE PERSON
THAT SUPPOSEDLY DID SUCH AN ACTION. SO, OVERALL, THE
PROACTIVENESS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN GOES HAND IN HAND
(ALONG) WITH WHAT AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND OTHER GROUPS
HAVE EXPRESSED. THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL, WE HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED, AND IF NOT,
WE HAVE ALREADY LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH PROGRAMS.
/// END ACT ///
AGENT ZAMORA SAYS THE BORDER PATROL HAS ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH
MEXICAN AUTHORITIES TO PREVENT THE ROBBING AND MISTREATMENT OF
IMMIGRANTS BY GANGS OF BANDITS OPERATING ALONG THE BORDER. IN
ADDITION, AUTHORITIES IN MEXICO HAVE TRIED TO DISCOURAGE
IMMIGRANTS FROM GOING OVER THE MOUNTAIN PASSES AND DESERTS EAST
OF SAN DIEGO BECAUSE OF THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NATURAL
TERRAIN.
OPERATION GATEKEEPER'S SUCCESS HAS ALSO COME AS THE RESULT OF A
VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN TO BREAK UP IMMIGRANT SMUGGLING ORGANIZATIONS,
SOMETIMES USING TACTICS DEVELOPED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ORGANIZED
CRIME.
LAST MONTH, THE BORDER PATROL, ALONG WITH AGENTS FROM THE FEDERAL
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AND IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION
SERVICE ARRESTED MORE THAN TWO DOZEN SUSPECTED SMUGGLERS AT "SAFE
HOUSES" IN SAN DIEGO AND LOS ANGELES USED FOR HIDING ILLEGAL
ALIENS. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME A FEDERAL WIRETAP HAD BEEN USED TO
BREAK UP AN ILLEGAL ALIEN SMUGGLING RING. THE U-S ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE IN SAN DIEGO REPORTS THAT AT LEAST THREE MAJOR SMUGGLING
RINGS HAVE BEEN BROKEN UP AS A RESULT OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/GF/LTD/JO
09-Jun-98 11:06 AM EDT (1506 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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