Law Enforcement Worried About Pending Border Patrol Closures
By: Alexandra Stone, myhighplains.com
Updated: October 18, 2012
AMARILLO -- Several months after US Customs and Border Patrol announced it would close nine stations, including the office in Amarillo, Panhandle law enforcement remains concerned.
"Amarillo is very unique in the United States because we are the crossroads. You've got I-40 runs east and west from one side of the country to the other," said Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas.
"We as law enforcement have no authority over someone that's just undocumented. If you're an undocumented person and we stop you on the highway all we can do is stop you for, the only thing I can do is what I stopped you for-- for speeding.
Amarillo will lose its two border patrol agents.
"You've got basically approximately 26-thousand square miles up here that those guys are responsible for, " said Thomas.
CPB says the closures will save $1.3 million in total, but local law enforcement and legislators worry there could be far worse costs that come from the closure.
"We are in conversations with the border patrol and with the ICE folks in Washington," said Congressman Mac Thornberry. "About how this job of backing up local law enforcement gets done. And we've asked a lot of questions they have not been able to answer yet."
The border patrol agents will remain in Amarillo until March. After that, they will be re-assigned to stations closer to the border.
Local border patrol officials declined to comment, but they did say the decision is considered a de-activation, meaning the office could eventually re-open.
"Amarillo is very unique in the United States because we are the crossroads. You've got I-40 runs east and west from one side of the country to the other," said Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas.
"We as law enforcement have no authority over someone that's just undocumented. If you're an undocumented person and we stop you on the highway all we can do is stop you for, the only thing I can do is what I stopped you for-- for speeding.
Amarillo will lose its two border patrol agents.
"You've got basically approximately 26-thousand square miles up here that those guys are responsible for, " said Thomas.
CPB says the closures will save $1.3 million in total, but local law enforcement and legislators worry there could be far worse costs that come from the closure.
"We are in conversations with the border patrol and with the ICE folks in Washington," said Congressman Mac Thornberry. "About how this job of backing up local law enforcement gets done. And we've asked a lot of questions they have not been able to answer yet."
The border patrol agents will remain in Amarillo until March. After that, they will be re-assigned to stations closer to the border.
Local border patrol officials declined to comment, but they did say the decision is considered a de-activation, meaning the office could eventually re-open.
