Increased Border Presence Challenged By Immigration Activists

An immigration rights group in Seattle has accused the U.S. Border Patrol of tagging along with local authorities on non-immigration related calls, in the off chance someone associated with the call could be an illegal immigrant. Jorge Baron, of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, reported that his organization has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding an incident in which a man, pulled over for allegedly speeding, ended up being arrested for being in the states illegally. Baron accuses the cof violating civil rights in their interrogation of individuals regarding their immigration status without any probable cause. James Frackelton, a spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol has stated that their presence is intended to offer assistance to local enforcement officials and that their primary responsibility is not only to patrol at the borders, but to enforce immigration laws everywhere in the U.S. City officials are attempting to meet with federal officials to inquire about the higher than usual presence in Spokane. Reportedly, in 2003, there were 40 border agents in the region and according to records, that number has grown to 285.

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