Napolitano Announces Border Security Increase

Gov. Janet Napolitano announced that Arizona will receive $6.35 million in federal funding through the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security to enhance border security, a bulk of the $15 million in funds being provided to the border states.

Under federal guidelines, this funding will reimburse local law enforcement agencies for overtime costs associated with immigration-related crime. Funds will enable agencies in Cochise, Pima, Santa Cruz & Yuma counties to enhance their presence along the border through increased patrols, & Arizona has requested that monies also be applied toward equipment that utilizes technology, such as ground radar, infrared detection devices, video cameras & improved radio communications systems.

The funding, which must be used within the next 2 years, will be dedicated to border security projects as part of Operation Stonegarden, a program administered by the federal government to provide local & state law enforcement with supplemental funding for border security efforts.

In 2004 & 2005, Arizona spent $822,000 through Operation Stonegarden over a 4-month period. The increased law enforcement presence along the border’s high illegal trafficking areas resulted in 536 arrests (including 79 felony arrests), 31 recovered vehicles, 6,515 pounds of marijuana seized, the seizure of $16,000 in cash, & 1,871 illegal immigrants turned over to federal immigration authorities. In Aug. of 2005, Gov. Napolitano declared an emergency in Arizona’s 4 border counties that released more than $1.4 million in funds to be used for overtime & other expenses associated with illegal immigration-related crime.