CBP Border Patrol BORSTAR Agent taking count of illegal immigrants. Photo Credit: Gerald L. Nino

ABC Initiative's Phase II Goals:

• Reduce the flow of illegal aliens
• Disrupt and dismantle human smuggling operations
• Further reduce exposure deaths in the West Desert Corridor
• Reduce crime in Arizona

Phase II Additional Resources
Personnel:

• A nearly 25 percent increase in the number of CBP Border Patrol agents stationed in Arizona:
  • 155 seasoned CBP Border Patrol agents will be permanently assigned to the Arizona border in the Tucson and Yuma CBP Border Patrol Sectors.
  • 379 CBP Border Patrol trainees will be assigned to the Arizona Border over the course of the year.
• 200 CBP Border Patrol agents will be temporarily assigned to the Tucson Sector.
  • 26 of which will be assigned to the BORSTAR team. These agents are specially trained in search, rescue and remote tactical operations. These agents are able to deliver life-saving medical treatment in remote parts of the Arizona desert when necessary.

Security:

• Continue the use of expedited removal of illegal aliens.
• Further tighten control at all Arizona Ports of Entry to thwart alien smuggling.
• ICE’s Detention and Removal Operations (DRO) will continue to build upon operational efficiencies for alien removals in Arizona.
• Continue to target violent smuggling organizations in the Phoenix area through Operation ICE Storm.

Techniques:

• Defense in Depth: Expand enforcement operations, using permanent and tactical checkpoints to increase the number of apprehensions and reduce successful entries.
• Disruption Strategy: CBP and ICE will work together to disrupt human smuggling operations. ICE will pursue joint investigations of identified criminal and terrorist organizations through its combined immigration and customs authorities.
• Increased Mobility: CBP Border Patrol’s National Strategy created and strengthened a central command for securing the borders. This significantly improves the mobility of our agents on the ground by using intelligence driven operations to deploy resources.
• Aggressive prosecution: Pursue aggressive prosecution at the federal and state levels in close coordination with the U.S. Attorney Office in Arizona.

Partnerships:

• Continue to partnership with the Government of Mexico on the Border Safety Initiative, repatriation programs and other efforts to save lives.
• Continue close collaboration with the Department of the Interior, the Tohono O’odham Nation, the United States Attorney’s Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona Office of Homeland Security, and dozens of local law enforcement agencies.

ABC Initiative FY-04 Successes

• Arrests and Detentions:
  • Apprehended 384,954 individuals
    • Represents an increase of 42 percent over the previous year -- 270,585
  • Repatriated more than 14,000 illegal aliens into the interior of Mexico through a pilot program, negotiated with the Government of Mexico.
  • Detained and removed 35,263 aliens through judicial proceedings
    • Represents an increase of 30 percent over the previous year
    • 13,403 were removals of criminal aliens
    • 3,004 were other than Mexican Nationals
    • A 309 percent increase, from 930 in the FY 2003
  • The remaining illegal aliens apprehended were voluntarily removed to Mexico
• Narcotics seizures:
  • Seized 388,849 lbs of Marijuana – the 1563 seizures equate to a 105% increase over FY 03 totals
  • Seized 5,242 lbs of cocaine – the 171 seizures equate to a 13,333% increase
• Operation ICE Storm:
  • Seized more than $7.4 million in currency
  • Prosecuted 343 defendants
  • Seized 288 weapons
  • Rescued 655 migrants held against their will.
• Border Related Deaths:
  • 19 percent reduction in border crossing related deaths
    • FY-03 62 border crossing exposure deaths compared to 50 border crossing exposure deaths in FY-04
• The ABC Initiative also promoted targeted, intelligence-based operations such as Operation ICE Storm, an ongoing ICE initiative that targets violent smuggling organizations in the Phoenix area. As a result of ICE Storm, more than 340 dangerous human smugglers have been prosecuted for a variety of crimes including money laundering, kidnapping, narcotics smuggling and weapons charges. Local law enforcement has attributed a significant reduction in homicides, hostage-takings and other violent crimes to the ABC Initiative and ICE Storm.