Border Patrol chief allays fears about intrusive fence

March 23, 2008
By Bill Sontag
Feature Writer

“Our interest in the Border Patrol is to keep you secure. You and the other 300 million people in this country,” affirmed Randy Hill, chief patrol agent, Del Rio Sector. Hill presented his plans and expectations to the Del Rio Rotary Club, Tuesday (March 11), for fence-building along the U.S. Mexico border, focusing on two moderate spans in Eagle Pass and Del Rio.

But first, Hill explained that both the magnitude and the seriousness of illegal immigration are what drive the Department of Homeland Security to a variety of actions, of which fence-building is only one. Last year, approximately 876,000 illegal aliens were apprehended by his agency, and of them, 140,000 were identified as “career criminals,” charged with rape, assault, theft, murder and pedophilia.

“As of 2003, we are no longer immigration officers, but we have added drug interdiction and national security to our responsibilities. We are now an ‘equal opportunity’ interdiction agency – drugs, birds, weapons and cigarettes, for example,” Hill said.

With a review of the Secure Border Fence Act, Hill explained that authorizing such a massive development is far from the equivalent of funding it, necessarily influenced by – among other factions in Washington D.C. – the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. The committee is chaired by Rep. David Obey (D-7th Dist., Wis.). Obey visited Del Rio, March 8, at the invitation of Rep. Ciro D. Rodriguez (D-23rd Dist., Texas), and Hill met with both as part of a large contingent of local public officials and civic leaders.

Hill told the Rotarians that 40 percent of illegal immigrant apprehensions are at or near the border in Arizona, a result, in part, of the tendency of crossers to find less scrutinized border segments to cross. Between 1997 and 1999, Hill explained, that what the Border Patrol tightened up in other places fomented a dramatic increase in crossings here in the Del Rio Sector. Hill used the example to characterize the entire U.S.-Mexico border situation as “constantly dynamic.”

Though the Border Patrol in California – with its segments of high, double-wall fence with space between for patrol agents and vehicles – is the subject of controversy, Hill said, “We are seeing some results.” Hill explained that Rep. Duncan Hunter (D-52nd Dist., Calif.) was a sponsor of the fence legislation that authorized some 700 miles of double-walled fence, designed to slow illegal progress if the first wall is scaled, allowing agents time to interdict.

In the Del Rio Sector, 89 miles of that fence were authorized. “But I’ll be frank with you,” Hill said, “I don’t need 89 miles of fence out there.” Hill explained that, while he doesn’t feel that much fence is necessary, he would still have to maintain the infrastructure of it. “I told David Aguilar [chief, Office of the Border Patrol, since May 2004] I only need five miles of fence here.”

Hill explained that where a narrow space exists between the international border and urban settings on the American side, his agents have precious little time to intervene, and those spots are where he’d like to see fence erected, “to bring the entry to a successful law enforcement conclusion.”

“We propose an anti-illegal entry fence,” said Hill, adding that he neither wants nor needs a “Berlin Wall,” but rather a modest barrier to slow down illegal entries giving agents time to respond. In semi-remote areas, Hill said, he needs modest barriers, and in truly remote areas, no barriers. In such locations, Hill remarked, “I might not catch them today, but, for the most part, we’re going to catch them.”

“We arrived at an agreement with the city [Del Rio] to put up an aesthetic-looking, picket-style fence,” Hill said, explaining that his plans are for about three miles of such fence spanning the river corridor from both sides of the international bridge and the new port-of-entry now under construction. In the area covered by the proposed fence, Hill cited numerous records of violence against his agents, apprehension of known criminals, and tons of drugs interdicted.

In Eagle Pass, Hill wants to erect 1.85 miles of fence, also along segments known to be penetrated by documented criminals, dangerous gang members and drug smugglers.

Hill said that a common misconception prevails that, where fence is built, the span of land between fence and border will be abandoned by the United States as a kind of “no man’s land.” “We will not cede that area to a foreign power,” Hill emphasized.

The proposed three miles of fence in Del Rio and nearly two miles in Eagle Pass are slated to be completed by Dec. 31, Hill said, urging calm and support for what he sees as a vital project and reasonable compromise based on his needs assessment. “Let’s not lose sight of the fact that we are at war in this country!”