Yuma Sector expands Operation Streamline

Due to the success seen in this sector the past four years, the Yuma Sector Border Patrol will take the strategies it has employed as part of Operation Streamline and apply them to a neighboring area of operations in Ajo.

“We are trying to help as much as we can,” said Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Kenneth Quillin, a spokesman for the Yuma Sector. “We are doing this to help our sister sector to get control of their western desert.”

The Yuma Sector implemented Operation Streamline on Dec. 4, 2006. A “zero tolerance” enforcement operation, it uses judicial consequence as a deterrent against those entering illegally in designated geographic areas.

Quillin said the Yuma Sector decided to expand the use of Operation Streamline into the westernmost areas of operation of the Ajo Station, which abuts Yuma Sector's Wellton Station area, a few weeks ago.

Agents from the Wellton Station have already been working the seam between the Tucson and Yuma sectors and have been involved in numerous apprehensions and the prevention of many drug-smuggling attempts.

Quillin said the operation will address illegal entries within that target zone and present those individuals apprehended for prosecution. The operational objective of Operation Streamline is to provide a focused prosecutorial effort to all individuals entering illegally into the western border zones.

What that means, Quillin said, is that suspects caught within the area will be taken into custody and brought back to the Yuma Sector the following day, where they will be processed and eventually prosecuted.

The only exceptions will be juveniles and adults accompanied by minor children, depending on the adult's criminal history.

Quillin also said it will not require additional manpower to patrol the area where Operation Streamline has been extended. Once the Yuma Sector determines that this zone is controlled or at a maintained level, a new target area will be designated.

The operation will assist the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and the Border Patrol in securing the southern border.

To report suspicious activity, call the Yuma Sector Border Patrol's toll-free number at 1-866-999-8727.

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