Still no justification provided by elected officials or the US Border Patrol for an upgrade in staff requiring a new $11.9 million, 50 agent facility at Port Angeles- an area sharing no land border with Canada.
Urban legend: The US Border Patrol stopped the Millennium Bomber at Port Angeles-
Ahmed Ressam was captured at the traditional port of entry at Port Angeles by Customs Inspectors wearing blue uniforms- not by Border Patrol Agents wearing green uniforms.
“On March 1, 2003, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established, and the U.S. Border Patrol became part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a component of DHS.”
The US Border Patrol is the primary federal law enforcement agency between the ports-of-entry.
How many US Border Patrol agents were stationed at Port Angeles in 1999?
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.”
Aug 2011-
“In March, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Richard Sinks declined to release statistics on apprehensions or detainments made by the Port Angeles station.”
“Disclosure of the arrest statistics from the Port Angeles station would provide those interested in crossing our borders illegally with information that could aid their strategic targeting of potentially vulnerable areas along the border,” he said in an e-mail. “To maintain operational security these numbers will not be provided.”
Imagine a school district wanting to expand staff and facilities and, at the same time- suppressing public information Re: the number of students enrolled, teachers on staff and number of students graduated in the past 36 months.
“…the Border Patrol has refused to divulge the number of agents in Port Angeles…”
Big-time terrorist takedowns go public– while local Border Patrol arrests must be done in secret?
Meanwhile- sensitive DHS documents are released to the public at a garage sale.
Perhaps the new USBP outreach program will take time to explain why- in the whole wide world of law enforcement work- does the Port Angeles US Border Patrol station tell us they can’t report arrests because that would help the bad guys- yet crimes handled by local law enforcement agencies & the FBI are reported as public information?
Ask yourself- why doesn’t the local car dealership have 42 sales people on staff?
Why doesn’t the local real estate office expand to a 50 agent facility?
Local, US Border Patrol timeline:
2006- Staffing level at USBP Port Angeles station is 4 agents.
“In 2006, four agents worked in the Port Angeles headquarters, which covers both Clallam and Jefferson counties. That number had increased to 24 by April 2009. By last August, the staff was 25.”
2008- Jefferson County– Checkpoints begin– then end- after local complaints and protests.
Suspicionless bus boardings take place at Discovery Bay.
State and local LE agencies do not conduct DUI/suspicionless checkpoints in Washington State.
We are told the #1 US Border Patrol objective is to stop terrorists. The US Border Patrol explains this objective at a local public forum- this YouTube video covers Border Patrol objectives at 3:50.
At that same forum a lady asked:
“What is the penalty for not identifying oneself to federal agents at an internal, suspicionless checkpoint?”
US Border Patrol said they would call in the Sheriff when a person refused to identify themselves.
Sheriff says they will not respond to a non-emergency situation involving a person peaceably refusing to interact with federal agents.
Question about providing ID is at 0:35
War on Terror- credibility squandered.
May 2010- Two amphibious Canadian marijuana smugglers are captured on a remote Olympic Peninsula beach by the US Border Patrol.
Secret arrest policy instantly lifted if something to brag about takes place?
Aug 2010- US Border Patrol dictates a news blackout on local arrests while moving to establish a 50 agent station at Port Angeles.
March 2011- Local paper submits FOIA request for USBP arrest numbers to justify new 50 agent station. FOIA request denied. FOIA appeal denied.
March 2011- 30 day public comment period for 50 agent station project. Public comments have never been released, published or discussed- project has moved forward.
May 2011- The Benjamin Roldan Salinas incident.
Best case scenario- local (Olympic Peninsula) reporters would have investigated the mysterious practice of federal officers conducting “traffic stops” on US Highway 101.
Why was the vehicle stopped on U.S. 101 by a U.S. Forest Service officer?
How did the officer first know about the salal? Did they have a permit? How much salal was in the vehicle? Was it legal? Anything related to a police report as to why and where the vehicle was stopped? What became of the salal- if there was any at the scene?
Aug 2011- Agent Sanchez reports USBP staffing level is now 40 agents & fraudulent overtime clams are the norm.
Aug 2011- Post 911 efforts to keep terrorists from visiting the homeland- still unable to keep illegal drugs out.
Sept 2011- Congressman Norm Dicks says USBP whistleblower lacks credibility. A proper investigation will reveal the truth- where is the report Congressman?
Sept 2011- Is the US Border Patrol relaxing a news blackout on Olympic Peninsula arrests? Maybe just reacting to the whistleblower story last month?
Sept 2011- Border Patrol offers more outreach.
Oct 2011- Any results on investigations of fraudulent overtime claims? DHS is probably best served by stalling on this. Our Washington State Patrol opened a criminal investigation in a similar case.
Oct 2011- Local, USBP news blackout continues to show signs of easing. Any arrests of persons crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca? Efforts to prevent Central American immigrants from crossing into the US might best be conducted from US Border Patrol stations 1500 miles south of Port Angeles.
Oct 2011- Cross-border traffic threatens Olympic National Park? Bill before U.S. House would give Border Patrol unprecedented powers in Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park now designated as US/Canada border?
Though the Olympic Peninsula may not warrant tactics used 1500 miles south of this location- central planning provides one size fits all solutions to perceived post-911 problems.
Oct 2011- Seattle paper has no problem obtaining Border Patrol Police Report.
Newspapers on the Olympic Peninsula are not in the habit of obtaining the equivalent of a police report Re: local US Border Patrol arrests- they are more prone to deliver the message that local US Border Patrol arrests will not be reported.
Oct 2011- Any arrests of people crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca?
Oct 2011- Increased Border Patrol staffing fails to keep the heroin out.
Nov 2011- “The report is always limited to one page regardless of the number of arrests made, includes only those arrests selected by the agency for public release and does not include apprehensions that result in ongoing investigations.”
Sounds like something out of the Soviet Union.
A free and independent press plays no role here in questioning public policy- simply passing down dictates from above.
So, if this guy is arrested it might be done in secret if the one page report is already full, the arrest is not selected by the agency for public release or is an apprehension that results in an ongoing investigation?
Nov 2011- “A request for assistance during a traffic stop being conducted by an Olympic National Park ranger in a remote area of U.S. Highway 101 southwest of Forks resulted in the arrest of a Mexican national illegally in the U.S.”
Looks like federal agents are now doing traffic stops on U.S. Highway 101?
When folks head out to cut their Christmas tree in the National Forest- do they get stopped by federal officers on U.S. Highway 101 for a quick check & inspection to validate permits, vehicle contents & cargo?
Nov 2011- Border Patrol stops bus searches
“A Customs and Border Protection spokesman, Bill Brooks, repeatedly insisted any shift in enforcement tactics does not amount to a change in policy. He said local commanders retain authority to pursue illegal immigrants near the border and at transportation hubs.”
Nov 2011- Border Patrol launches Twitter account
“…officials in Washington, D.C., have refused to release aggregate arrest figures for Clallam and Jefferson counties for what they say are security reasons.”
Translation: We haven’t made enough arrests out of the Port Angeles USBP station over the past 36 months to justify the new 50 agent facility coming to Port Angeles in the spring of 2012. Public information will not be released if it reflects poorly on the Dept. of Homeland Security.
Any other law enforcement agencies observing the do not report arrest numbers due to security reasons protocol?
No public information/security conflict at the U.S. Border Patrol station (not sector, which is an arbitrary federal zone- confusing by design) in Erie, PA.
Erie Station– similar to Port Angeles in that it is separated from Canada by water.
Note: reports of the expansion at Erie include numbers of arrests out of that station:
“The Border Patrol operations in Erie, nearly six years old, include more than 30 agents who apprehended 588 illegal immigrants in fiscal year 2008-09.”
“The Border Patrol’s apprehensions in the Erie area have grown steadily, from 332 in fiscal 2006-2007 to 588 in 2008-09 to 305 so far in 2009-10.
Of those apprehended so far this fiscal year, 136 were individuals found by other law enforcement agencies and turned over to the Border Patrol.”
Nov 2011- Local US Border Patrol arrests have been regularly reported since Agent Sanchez came forward in late July.
Nov 2011- “…two Guatemalan citizens arrested during a traffic stop near Forks…”
Federal agents now doing traffic stops on the Olympic Peninsula?
Local (Olympic Peninsula) reporters fail to question the practice.
Why was the vehicle stopped?
Local papers have no problem working with local law enforcement agencies to publish detailed arrest reports– why are federal arrests any different?
Local paper able to coordinate with foreign authorities Re: mishap at sea in Mexican waters– yet details of arrests taking place in Clallam County go unreported.
Jan 2012- Forks site of several Border Patrol detentions
Any arrests of people crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca?
If local arrests are not connected in any way to the US/Canada border- maybe every Port Angeles sized town- all across America- should have its own 50 agent US Border Patrol station.
Jan 2012- Border Patrol reports 22 arrests made since Dec. 19
Any arrests of people crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca?
Feb 2012- Analysis: Border Patrol OT costs up as arrests drop
The overtime issue is not new here on the Olympic Peninsula-
Related:
Aug 2011- Agent Sanchez reports USBP staffing level is now 40 agents & fraudulent overtime clams are the norm.
Sept 2011- Congressman Norm Dicks says USBP whistleblower lacks credibility. A proper investigation will reveal the truth- where is the report Congressman?
Oct 2011- Any results on investigations of fraudulent overtime claims? DHS is probably best served by stalling on this. Our Washington State Patrol opened a criminal investigation in a similar case.
Feb 2012- More community outreach
(see Sept 2011- Border Patrol offers more outreach)
“The number of Border Patrol agents operating out of the Port Angeles station grew from 36 in mid-September to 42 as of Friday, said George Behan, a spokesman for U.S. Rep Norm Dicks, whose 6th Congressional District includes Clallam and Jefferson counties.
That doesn’t include air and marine interdiction agents with the Office of Air and Marine who operate out of a headquarters on Port of Port Angeles-owned property at 1908 O St. in Port Angeles.
It also doesn’t include agents from the Office of Field Operations who monitor the U.S. port of entry at the Port Angeles ferry dock.
All three agencies operate under the administrative umbrella of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Office of Air and Marine spokesman Mike Milne said Friday he could not, for security reasons, release the number of interdiction agents based in Port Angeles.”
The US Navy provides similar info Re: submarines assigned in Kitsap County.
Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict –
“I still stand by the fact that I have questions about whether we truly need 60 or 70 agents,” “a total Benedict posited by estimating the number of Border Patrol agents combined with Office of Air and Marine interdiction agents and Office of Field Operations agents.”
Feb 2012- Border Patrol arrests include two near Forks
“The Border Patrol does not issue a complete report.
Reports are always limited to one page regardless of how many arrests are made and do not include the genders of those arrested or any arrests made that result in ongoing investigations.”
Is the US Border Patrol the only law enforcement agency making use of these bizarre and arbitrary reporting procedures?
Still no Olympic Peninsula arrests connected to the US/Canada border or people crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Feb 2012- “Agents apprehended two citizens of Guatemala as a result of a vehicle stop near Forks.”
Why was the vehicle stopped by federal agents?
How many Olympic Peninsula US Border Patrol arrests are connected in any way to the US/Canada border?
Efforts to prevent Central American immigrants from crossing into the US might best be conducted from US Border Patrol stations 1500 miles south of Forks.
Feb 2012- Same story as above- reported by a different news outlet: “The Guatemalan nationals arrested near Forks, apprehended during a vehicle stop, were processed for removal from the United States, the Border Patrol said.”
Looks like vehicle stops by federal agents are the norm.
Don’t look for local (Olympic Peninsula) reporters to ask why the vehicle was stopped.
Feb 2012- “Agents arrested a subject who had an immigration detainer and was scheduled to be released from the jail in Forks. The subject, a Mexican citizen illegally present in the U.S., was in possession of both a fraudulent permanent resident card and fraudulent social security card. The subject was processed for removal.”
March 2012-
We’re just weeks away from the grand opening of a new, $5.7 million 50 Agent US Border Patrol station at Port Angeles- an area sharing no land border with Canada.
Still no justification provided by elected officials or the US Border Patrol for an upgrade in staff requiring the 50 agent facility- due to open in the spring of 2012.
March 2012- Weekly US Border Patrol arrest reports posted here.
March 2012- Post 911 efforts to keep terrorists from visiting the homeland- still unable to keep illegal drugs out-
April 2012- Finish delayed on new Border Patrol HQ in Port Angeles
April 2012- ACLU challenges suspicionless federal traffic stops on the Olympic Peninsula.
May 2012- Local LE agencies differ on Border Patrol intervention
May 2012- Sign up for the Port Angeles Border Patrol Citizens Academy
May 2012- Agents encountered two subjects during a vehicle stop west of Port Angeles. Why was the vehicle stopped?
May 2012- Border Patrol may move into $9.8 million HQ Thursday
My take here
June 2012- Very busy time for the Port Angeles Border Patrol.
“06/04/2012- While patrolling the border, Port Angeles Border Patrol agents encountered an individual west of Pillar Point near Clallam Bay. The agents determined that the individual was a citizen of Mexico who admitted to being illegally present in the United States. The subject was placed under arrest and processed for removal.”
“While patrolling the border”- first time I have seen this phrase used in a local report.
Did the citizen of Mexico cross illegally into the US via the Strait of Juan de Fuca?
Was this arrest connected in any way to the US/Canada border?
Aug 2012- U.S. Reps. call for probe of Border Patrol authority
Sept 2012- Grand opening of the $9.8 million, 50 agent US Border Patrol station at Port Angeles- access restricted “only to media with credentials and invited guests”
This local story has been developing for years now. There has been plenty of time for people with the advantage of a press credential to schedule appointments, do interviews & ask questions. Unfortunately- local reporters are not in the habit of doing so.
Sept 2012- Information suppression campaign continues
Oct 2012- Port Angeles Border Patrol- whistleblower update:
GAP Praises Successful OSC Mediation for Border Patrol Whistleblower
“The whistleblower, Christian Sanchez, was stationed at a Port Angeles, Washington office staffed by over 40 employees – an office where there was insufficient work for the prior crew of four.”
“In the settlement, Border Patrol admitted no wrongdoing and a spokesman says its representatives actively worked with Sanchez to find effective solutions to the situation.”
Zero reporting on the following questions:
Are fraudulent overtime claims the norm at Port Angeles?
Does the practice still continue?
How long did it go on?
Dec 2012- Border Patrol to stop language translation for local law enforcement
May 2013- Massing agents at the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca fails to keep heroin out of Port Angeles.
June 2013- ACLU, feds reach tentative deal on Border Patrol stops
Political parties and personalities are not as interesting as what stays the same no matter who is elected to office.
