8/22/2008 6:16:00 PM Border Patrol checkpoint used to stop vehicles bound for Hood Canal Bridge, round up illegal aliens
The occupants of this white van (left) went high-speed past a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint Friday on State Route 104 near the Hood Canal Bridge, and then stopped and fled the vehicle. Several of the suspected illegal aliens were caught fairly quickly, but others were still be sought as of late Friday afternoon. - Photo by Melanie Lockhart
By Allison Arthur & Melanie Lockhart
The U.S. Border Patrol set up a first-ever checkpoint in Jefferson County Friday on State Route 104, stopping traffic near the Hood Canal Bridge in an apparent search for illegal aliens.
The effort netted eight people; seven of them alleged illegal aliens and one with an outstanding felony warrant who was taken to the Port Angeles Police Station. The other seven were taken to the Border Patrol station in Port Angeles, said spokesman Mike Bermudez, supervisory agent at Blaine Sector headquarters' public affairs office.
"We had some successful activity," Bermudez said.
And it won't be the last such highway checkpoint in Jefferson County.
"These checkpoints will be occurring on regular basis," Bermudez said.
The checkpoint was along State Route 104 at the Hood Canal viewpoint near the large electronic traffic alert sign. Approaching traffic saw a temporary orange sign "Danger" followed by second sign, yellow, that read "Slow Down" followed by a third sign, "U.S. Officials Ahead."
Orange traffic cones were set up in the SR 104 median. Apparently the eastbound (toward the bridge) traffic was not always brought to a complete halt, more like a "rolling stop" for what the Border Patrol terms primary inspection. Vehicles or persons meriting a closer look were directed into the roadside pull-out used for what the agency terms secondary inspection.
The checkpoint was in use from 9 a.m. to about 1:30 p.m. Aug. 22, when it was closed due to the need to process the people already apprehended, according to Bermudez.
About noon, soon after a car was stopped and three males who were apparently in the country illegally were taken into custody, a white Ford van drove past the checkpoint. The van stopped about a quarter mile down the road, and an estimated nine or 10 occupants fled into the woods. Washington State Patrol and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office personnel were summoned to assist Border Patrol agents and a Border Patrol K-9 unit in the search.
As of late Friday afternoon, an unknown number of people from the van were still at large.
"We're still looking for them," Bermudez said. "Eventually we'll come in contact with them."
Homeland Security
The Border Patrol is part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a component agency of the federal Department of Homeland Security. Legally speaking, neither the Washington State Patrol nor a county sheriff's office or police department can do random traffic checkpoints, unlike the Border Patrol, which is an arm of the federal government.
The Border Patrol (operating from the Blaine, Wash., sector) had informed the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office a week ago about its intention to create a checkpoint here, according to Undersheriff Tony Hernandez. The undersheriff did not know the checkpoint was in progress until contacted by a Leader reporter.
"I have a feeling we're going to be having some discussions in the future; all the agencies in this jurisdiction need to know what the guidelines are and what the lines of communication are," Undersheriff Hernandez said, adding, "We are not going to participate in checkpoints."
The Washington State Patrol was unaware of the Border Patrol checkpoint, district public information officer Krista Hedstrom said Friday.
State Department of Transportation officials are aware the Border Patrol intended to conduct such highway checkpoints, said Lloyd Brown, DOT communications director, but are not told exact times or dates.
DOT officials connected with the Hood Canal Bridge project did not know about the Aug. 22 checkpoint in Jefferson County until contacted by The Leader.
Brown said the Border Patrol can essentially "do what they want" in terms of stopping traffic on a state highway. The DOT has let the Border Patrol know areas where checkpoints could be conducted without causing traffic hazards, and also let the Border Patrol know when road paving or other highway work is taking place.
"We have worked out these limited protocols with [the Border Patrol] to identify locations where they can operate safely and help them understand when their activities might hinder our operations, but it's still their choice on when and where," Brown said.
Agents on scene
A Leader reported counted eight Border Patrol agents around the checkpoint early Friday afternoon and others were out looking for people who had fled the white van.
Bermudez explained that anyone apprehended at the checkpoint who is in the U.S. illegally would be taken into custody.
"If he's broken immigration laws, he would be taken to Port Angeles," Bermudez said. "If we encounter anyone who is wanted by Jefferson County or the state of Washington or New York state of course we would hold on to the person."
Agents checked on vehicle drivers and passengers, Bermudez noted.
Anyone who attempts to avoid a Border Patrol checkpoint faces further trouble, he explained, a felony charge.
He emphasized that the checkpoint personnel worked "diligently" to keep traffic flowing.
More checkpoints
A man who works in the Shine area said around 1:30 p.m. that traffic was backed up past South Point Road. Initially, some thought the delay was associated with the Hood Canal Bridge - but that proved not to be the case.
"This is absolutely insane," the man told The Leader. He said the only time he had seen traffic worse on the road was when the Hood Canal Bridge had two bridge openings back to back.
In the meantime, Bermudez said people in Jefferson County should expect to see more checkpoint stops in the future.
"Yes, yes, yes you will be seeing more of these checkpoints. These checkpoints are set up to provide security as well as to keep the community safe," Bermudez said.
"In the past, they weren't going up as often as they should have due to issues with manpower," the Blaine official said.
"The Border Patrol is required by law to take action when there is reason to believe an individual is in the United States illegally or has committed any kind of offense against the United States," he said.
The Border Patrol is part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a component agency of the Department of Homeland Security. According to a pamphlet obtained at the checkpoint, the Border Patrol's "primary mission is to prevent the entry of terrorists and terrorist weapons into the United States. Its traditional mission is to prevent the illegal entry of aliens into the United States, and to interdict those aliens who have illegally entered the United States at locations other than authorized international Ports of Entry."
The type of checkpoint used here Aug. 22 is a "critical enforcement tool for securing the nation's borders against terrorists, smugglers of weapons of terrorism, other contraband, and illegal aliens," according to the Border Patrol pamphlet.
[Look for an updated version of this story in our Aug. 27 print edition.]
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Article comment by:
R. Wiesinger
We need security. Lots of it. You can never have too much security. I wouldn't mind if we had checkpoints everywhere checking our papers to make sure were not terrorists. An implanted RFID microchip should also be mandated for every American to ensure compliance with central government edicts and data bases. We need to be tightly controlled and watched for our own good, even if that means we should have our vehicles, homes and persons randomly searched every day or so. Absolute state control is tantamount to safety. Beware of those radical liberty activists who complain of police state totalitarianism. They're ideational terrorists!
Posted: Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Article comment by:
Jeffrey M Bossler
If we are so worried about "illegal alliens", let us begin by removing our 780 military bases around the world we have superimposed upon those who don't want us there. Next, if this is a country of laws and there shall be no amnesty for those who break the law, let us begin with the White House!
Posted: Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Article comment by:
Sue Jarosz
I was glad to see the Border Patrol along the Hood Canal on Friday. I was at Fort Worden State Park & saw them there as well. I think we all need to remember what has happened to us as a country in the past. I freely stopped at the checkpoint. I have nothing to hide,so what if some drivers were delayed due to the checkpoints, they are probably the ones that complain about the illegal aliens, terrorists, etc. Let the officials do what is necessary to keep our country safe!
Posted: Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Article comment by:
Gabriel Maranos
Some friends of mine where affected by this "random checkpoint". Unfortunately this is just a taste of what's coming..
See, if we don't do something about it -the N.A.U (yup - North American Union) will be in place (aimed for 2010). A new currency called the "Amero" should then replace our federal reserve notes (which are actually far from the dollar - as written in our constitution). Our sovereignty will be history along with the physical borders between Canada and Mexico so to speak. This plan for the NAU was born in 2005 under the SPP initiative, decided by our heads-of-state meeting behind closed doors. I'd call this outright fraud of the/ undercutting our constitution (just like since 1913 letting a private bank own the FED). Read about it - share what you know, fight for it if you care about freedom.
Posted: Monday, August 25, 2008
Article comment by:
Sylvia Heins
We all need to stop and pay attention to this. I am more in favor of closing the borders than most people I know around here, and I don't believe for a minute that this really has anything to do with that "illegal immigrants". Could this be a preparation for a sudden and drastic removal of our liberty to travel at will? Could well be.
If Ron Paul were president, this would not be happening.
Posted: Monday, August 25, 2008
Article comment by:
Hal Washburn
It's about time someone started rounding up these parasites and sending them back where they belong!
We wouldn't miss Norm Dicks if they deported him also!!
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Posted: Monday, August 25, 2008
Article comment by:
Alex Hepler
A different paper reports the suspicionless internal checkpoints serve to to apprehend felons, terrorists, and illegal immigrants, seize drugs and weapons, and deter illegal activity. This sounds like a general purpose stop.
Free people should not expect to be stopped and questioned at a federal checkpoint as they go about their business far from the nearest international border.
Posted: Monday, August 25, 2008
Article comment by:
Richard Hefley
I met with the Border Patrol a few weeks ago. I was driving my old landscaping truck, and passed a Patrol outside Fort Worden.
The Patrol car did a U-turn and followed me into the Fort, up to The Commons.
I parked and got out to ask him what the problem was but he sped off.
I guess I looked too Nordic to be of any interest to Border Patrol (though I could have been an illegal Canadian).
Posted: Monday, August 25, 2008
Article comment by:
Tom Thiersch
In March, 2007, Rep. Norm Dicks' spokesman said, "Customs and Border Protection staff shouldn't function as immigration enforcement officers". Couldn't have said it better myself. So, why is this still going on?
Jack-booted storm troopers, stopping everyone and demanding identification. Is this really the kind of country we want to live in?
Ihre Papiere, schnell! (and don't forget to salute Sig Heil).
By the way, exactly which "border" is at the Hood Canal Bridge?
Posted: Sunday, August 24, 2008
Article comment by:
Lee Rosson
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