Border Security
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U.S. Customsrontline and Border Protection H Spring 2008 Border Security Northern, Southern and the ‘Third Border’ HFRONTLINE IMAGES CBP Air and Marine’s Blackhawk helicopter was one of several tools used to help secure airspace above Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz. Photo by Gerald L. Nino HFRONTLINE IMAGES CBP Air and Marine’s Blackhawk helicopter was one of several tools used to help secure airspace above Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz. spring 2008 H Feat Ures 6 Protecting the Southern Border 12 Along the Northern Border 18 Defending the Surprising Third Border 22 Our Partners Down Under 28 Q & A with Thomas S. Winkowski 30 CBP Partnerships H DEPARTMENTS 3 Frontline Images 32 Around the Agency 38 In Focus 48 To the Trade 50 Agriculture Actions 52 Great Work 54 Frontline Awards 56 In Remembrance on the cover: photo by Gerald L. Nino H Illegal immigrants disembark yola after making landfall. Defending the Surprising Third Border Page 18 Commissioner’s message Welcome to the first issue of Customs and Border Protection’s new quarterly magazine, Frontline. CBP is America’s frontline border agency charged with the difficult mission of securing our borders against terrorists and terrorist weapons, while ensuring s p r i n g 2 0 0 8 the free flow of legitimate trade and travel. We also protect our s e C retary of Homeland s e C u r i t y nation from illegal drugs, human smugglers, and tainted agricultural Michael Chertoff and food products, as well as collect revenue on goods coming into the country. In Commissioner of u . s . C u s t o m s and Border Prote C t i o n essence, we guard the boundaries of freedom and stand between the good citizens of W. Ralph Basham our nation and those who want to do us harm. With this new publication, we hope to a s s i s t a n t C o m m i s s i o n e r o f f i C e o f P u B l i C a f f a i r s reach the broadest spectrum of our partners and stakeholders and tell our story about Jeffrey C. Robertson the important—and often dangerous—work we do across the nation and around the world. e d i t o r - i n - C H i e f This first edition—and all subsequent issues—will tell of everyday CBP heroes, Laurel Smith m a n a g i n g e d i t o r of the hard work and courage it takes to encounter illegal aliens, often alone, in a Dannielle Blumenthal, Ph.D. desolate desert setting, of the steadfast dedication it takes to remain on constant alert s taff Writers to potential danger while still being courteous to the more than a million passengers Eric Blum, Elysa Cross, Linda Kane and visitors we clear into this nation each day, and the expertise and agility it takes to P r o d u C tion manager confront drug smugglers on the waterways or provide “eyes in the sky” for our agents Tracie Parker on the ground. Ours is a proud story of an agency that is five years old, but whose P H o t o g r a ph e r s James R. Tourtellotte legacy stretches back to the founding of our nation, and whose history is deeply rooted Gerald L. Nino in the finest traditions of both safeguarding the border and law enforcement. d e s i g n Richard Rabil, Juana Merlo, Joanne DiGiorgio Through this publication we also hope to tell of the good work we are doing with our The Secretary of Homeland Security has determined many partners—with other federal agencies, with state, local and tribal agencies, with that publication of this periodical is necessary in the transaction by CBP of public business as required. our private sector and international partners, and with Congress. We hope to provide address letters and contributions to: information and insight into the many domestic and international programs we have put m a i l : Managing Editor, Frontline, U.S. Customs and Border Protection in place since 9/11, and how we are working every day with our partners to secure our 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 3.4A, nation, protect our economy, and preserve the freedoms of our citizens. We will also tell Washington, D.C. 20229 e - m a i l : [email protected] of our long-range planning efforts to protect our homeland by constantly evaluating the f a x : 202.344.1393 changing nature of threats and evolving our strategies to meet those threats. CBP Web site address: www.cbp.gov We are excited to launch this new magazine that will provide a window into the distribution: daily realities and challenges the men and women of Customs and Border Protection Do you want to add or delete your name from the distribution list? Have you changed your face and the sacrifices they make to serve and protect the American people. We are address? Please call 0.344.1310 or fax changes to 0.344.1179. pleased to invite you to learn about and celebrate CBP, America’s frontline. ■ —W. Ralph Basham, Commissioner H C OMMISSIONER ' s m e s s a g e H f r o n t l i n e i m a g e s Photo by Gerald L. Nino Photo by James R. Tourtellotte H a CBP air interdiction agent patrols the skies. H CBP air interdiction agents make a law enforcement stop on an aircraft. F r o n t l i n e H s P r i n g 2 0 0 8 3 Photo by James R. Tourtellotte H a team of CBP officers board a ship to check cargo and foreign workers. 4 H frontline images H f r o n t l i n e i m a g e s Photo by James R. Tourtellotte H Border Patrol agents make use of all-terrain vehicles to patrol along the rugged border with mexico. F r o n t l i n e H s P r i n g 2 0 0 8 First oF a two-part series Protecting the Southern Border By David V. Aguilar H s o u t H e r n B o r d e r H Photo by Gerald L. Nino Interest in securing and protecting the southern border of the United States against all illegal incursions is at an all time high. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, our country’s border management agency, is at the center of the firestorm of discussion and controversy on issues like illegal immigration, fences, increased border violence and deployment of the National Guard to the border. Here, Chief David V. Aguilar, the head of the CBP Office of Border Patrol since July 2004, speaks to some of the prominent issues facing the organization and addresses what it is like to be on the frontlines today. F r o n t l i n e H s P r i n g 2 0 0 8 7 Photo by Gerald L. Nino H Border Patrol agents in the san diego sector intercept illegal immigrants attempting a border crossing under the cover of night. Detecting, apprehending and preventing democracy, and our way of life through responded as the nation recognized the need illegal aliens, narcotics and other contraband terrorist acts, terrorism and terrorist to curb the influx of people entering the U.S. from crossing our borders between the ports weapons. Our agents know that this is the between official ports of entry. Those seeking of entry—these are the traditional missions greatest responsibility we have. illegal entry have ranged from those seeking for which the Border Patrol has long been a better life, to criminal elements seeking to known. These traditional missions are as NeW threats met With timeless skill aNd teNacity establish criminal enterprises and commit important today as they were in our past, Since the days of our mounted inspectors crimes in our country. and our people do an outstanding job that rode the borderlands of the southwest, As our nation has evolved so has our working to accomplish them. the Border Patrol has protected this country’s job. Few people know that the Border Patrol But by far, our most important mission borders. Very simply put, what we protect played a vital role during some of this today is protecting our country from the this country from has changed over the years, country’s most turbulent periods. During worst threat that we have faced as a nation: but our basic mission remains unaltered. We World War II, our officers guarded prisoners keeping people out of this country that defend the border. We have enforced U.S. laws of war in POW camps and patrolled the are intent on harming our families, our as they accommodated a maturing nation. We coastlines for German submarines. Our H s o u t H e r n B o r d e r H During fiscal year 2007, our agents apprehended 858,000 illegal aliens, and had more than 144,000 hits of aliens with criminal backgrounds. Of this group, some 18,000 had records for serious felonies such as homicide Photo by Gerald L. Nino and rape. In addition, the Border H the modern day Horse Patrol continues to play a critical role in border enforcement, providing a way into areas that are otherwise inaccessible.