Border Patrol's Citizens' Academy tours border, checks out immigration processing

Citizen-students involved in the Yuma sector's Border Patrol's Citizen Academy toured the International Border with Mexico and got a first-hand look at how processing is done, during the seventh week of the course.

"The majority of our work takes place along the border," said agent Michael Bernacke, a spokesman for the Yuma sector. "The tour was an opportunity for them to get an idea of the area and how we catch people trying to enter illegally."

The tour began at the Yuma sector headquarters building, and proceeded down Avenue B to the border. Once at the border, citizens got an up-close look at fencing erected along the International Boundary on the east side of San Luis, Ariz.

From there the tour paralleled the border, heading west, into the urban areas of San Luis. At the last stop, the citizens checked out the Sanchez Canal and the triple layer fencing on the west side of San Luis.

"It is definitely curbing the amount of traffic in the area," Bernacke said of the walls.

Once back at the Yuma station, Special Operations Supervisor Roy Browning gave the citizens a lesson in processing illegal aliens.

Browning explained the importance of checking criminal and immigration records along with fingerprinting illegal aliens utilizing a biometric system.

"The intent is to identify criminal elements who keep re-entering the country illegally and committing criminal offenses," Bernacke said. "And any criminal history the individual has will assist in their prosecution, for this recent offense or any others that are still outstanding."

After the processing lesson, the class toured the Yuma station’s detention area.

This latest session of the Citizen Academy was held Friday, Oct. 17.

The Yuma sector’s Citizen’s Academy is a bi-annual event. This current session is filled to capacity but other academies will be held in the near future. If you have any questions, please contact the Yuma sector Public Affairs Office at 928-341-6559.

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James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.