see also: in July 2007 News Releases:   CBP Air and Marine Acquires Helicopters for Border Security Mission   CBP Officers At El Paso Port Nab 50 Pounds Of Cocaine; Two Juveniles Taken Into Custody   CBP Border Patrol Agent Dies In the Line of Duty   Hong Kong to Scan U.S.-Bound Goods for Radiation as Part of Secure Freight Initiative   Border Patrol Assists in Third Canal Rescue in a Week   CBP Officers Apprehend Fugitive Wanted For Murder, Rape, Burglary ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Yuma, Ariz. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol’s Yuma, Ariz. sector recently expanded Operation Streamline, which has resulted in the prosecution of more than 1,200 illegal immigrants since the operation began in December 2006.

Modeled after the highly successful operation that began in the Border Patrol’s Del Rio, Texas, sector in December 2005, the operation targets illegal immigrants apprehended in specific enforcement zones for immediate prosecution for illegal entry. Violators face punishment of up to 180 days in jail. Additionally, deportation procedures are initiated to formally remove the individual once they complete their jail sentence.

The program provides an added margin of safety for both agents conducting patrol operations in high-traffic areas and illegal immigrants whose lives are put at risk when trying to cross Arizona’s harsh desert or treacherous waterways.

“What this program does for us is to send a strong message that we are not letting illegal border crossers have a free ride,” said Yuma Sector’s acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeff Calhoon. “We’re not just fingerprinting them and then sending them back. If they cross into the U.S. illegally in a designated zone, they will be prosecuted and will likely face jail time. Then they’ll be sent back to their country of origin.”

Since December, the primary scope of the program in Yuma was to reduce illegal cross-border traffic on the east side of San Luis, Ariz., an area notorious for illegal entries of people and narcotics primarily by smuggling organizations. In June, the program was expanded to include all of San Luis, as well as portions of the Wellton Border Patrol station’s area of responsibility.

After nearly eight months, the program is showing positive results. Currently, the Yuma Sector is currently seeing a 70 percent reduction in the number of apprehensions throughout its area of responsibility compared to the same period one year ago. Although not a direct result of the operation itself, the decrease in apprehensions does highlight the success of applying the proper mix of resources, such as manpower, infrastructure, technology and innovative programs like Streamline, to the appropriate areas.

One success for the program has been the number of individuals who have been prosecuted so far this year. Yuma Sector prosecutions have nearly doubled since December with more than 2,800 cases prosecuted, of which a little more than 1,200 are Streamline cases. Nearly 300 of those prosecutions were felony cases against individuals who have criminal histories, have a previous order of removal or are involved in smuggling humans or contraband.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.