Border Patrol Helicopters at Port Angeles

The public is instantly notified when the US Border Patrol assists local law enforcement agencies:

“Two helicopters from the Border Patrol were searching the area, and at 2:15 p.m., two tracking dogs and several teams of tactical trackers in camouflage uniforms, carrying assault weapons, were deployed to the search area.”

Why are we told that Border Patrol arrest statistics linked to the US/Canada border must be kept secret?

US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA-

Aug 2010-

A US Border Patrol spokesperson tells the press:

“Border Patrol spokeswoman Jenny Burke said Monday that the agency will not release any information on the number of arrests made by agents who work out of the Port Angeles station, the names of those arrested, what they were arrested for and the disposition of their cases”

“The number of arrests for Port Angeles’ or any other station is “law enforcement-sensitive,” Burke said.”

“The names of those arrested and other facts about them are not available for release under the 1974 Privacy Act, she said.”

Sept 2012-

Denied FOIA requests-

“The Border Patrol has refused repeated requests by the Peninsula Daily News — including those made under the Freedom of Information Act — for arrest totals for the Port Angeles station, which covers a territory that includes Clallam and Jefferson counties.”

Even more secretive-

Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine agents, stationed in Port Angeles

Has any arrest ever been made by this unit?

Twice last year- a CBP helicopter assisted in tracking a local fugitive:

Sheriff: Man who gunned down sex offenders said it ‘had to be done’

UPDATE: Manhunt west of Port Angeles seeks man after shot fired this morning

Word of US Border Patrol involvement in the above incidents was immediately released to the public.

Again- why is the public told that USBP arrest statistics involving the local homeland security mission must remain secret?

Looks like information that reflects favorably on DHS immediately goes public, while public information not reflecting favorably must be kept secret or confidential, as seen here: Local whistleblower steps forward-

and here: No arrest linked to the US/Canada border in more than 3 years

When was the last time the Port Angeles Border Patrol used a helicopter to successfully prevent any person from illegally entering the US?

How many helicopters are in the CBP unit that serves Port Angeles?

The US Navy provides similar info Re: submarines assigned in Kitsap County.

Show of hands- how many smaller government folks are OK with having the Border Patrol around to act as a federal reserve force for local law enforcement agencies?

“Nothing in the Constitution gives the federal government authority over ordinary crimes. In America, crime fighting is the responsibility of state and local government. But despite the lack of constitutional authorization, federal policymakers continually try to involve themselves in crime fighting.”

Federal agents on hand to work local boat race event-

“The law enforcement contingent at Saturday’s race comprised three Port Angeles police officers, including Roggenbuck, one Clallam County sheriff’s deputy and two Border Patrol agents.

Roggenbuck said the Border Patrol agents, with training on all-terrain vehicles, were there to quickly traverse the uneven terrain of the park and surrounding land if the need arose.

“They’re able to get pretty much anywhere on the grounds that were are not,” Roggenbuck said.”

Federal agents on hand to investigate drug stash at storage unit

More here:

Secret arrest statistics are un-American

Secret arrests?

News tip/story idea

Struggling to Defend the Border Patrol

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