Click the play button on the video window to the right to see the storyTUBAC, AZ- Residents in the Southern Arizona town of Tubac say they’re concerned about what a temporary border checkpoint along Interstate 19 is doing to their community.
“Break-ins to homes, total destruction of property, littering,” said Rich Bohman.
The U.S. Border Patrol says it’s an important second line of defense and the checkpoint is going to be made permanent. Something the border patrol says is not up for discussion.
“It’s not a want,” said U.S. Border Patrol Agent Robert Gilbert. “We’ve identified this as an operational national security need.”
What is up for debate is where this checkpoint will end up. That’s why the people of Tubac packed their community center Wednesday night; they want the Border Patrol to know they don’t want it here.
“The problem is you report what is seized. We don’t know what is going around the checkpoints,” said Nan Walden with the Coalition for a Safe and Secure Border.
Critics say a permanent checkpoint eliminates the element of surprise. They suggest a different approach.
“Well one of the primary things that we’ve talked about is roving checkpoints,” said one critic.
But border officials say roving checkpoints violate border patrol policy.
While meetings like this won’t stop the permanent checkpoint from being built, it may help determine where.
“It’ll be strategically placed where it brings us the best operational benefit with a minimum amount of impact to the surrounding communities,” said Border Patrol Agent Gilbert.
Tubac residents are hoping that impact won’t be on their community.
