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Inside the California Guard's border security mission

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SAN DIEGO (NGB)  - In the month since becoming fully  operational  on the U.S.-Mexico border, the California National Guard members   assigned to Joint Task Force Sierra have launched a three-pronged attack  to  help U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in its mission.

 

Watching over the land and sea make up the first two  avenues of  approach, and then criminal analysts bring up the rear by ensuring  all  available data is pored over to remain one step ahead of the game.

 

In all avenues of approach, the Soldiers and Airmen act  as a stable  force, leaving ample time and space for Border Patrol agents to  focus  on their mission of stopping illegal activity of all sorts on the border   between the two countries, said Capt. Daniel R. Fox, the task force  company  commander.

 

The land watchers are made up of small groups of Entry   Identification Team (EIT) members who are placed at strategically  selected  spots throughout San Diego County. While positioned toward the  south, these  teams train their eyes to notice any movement across the  vast, rolling hills  between them and the Mexico border.

Operating 24 hours per day, these teams ensure that when  Border  Patrol agents move to make an apprehension, that there are no gaps in   detection coverage.

 

Depending on the time of day, service members use  binoculars,  infrared sensing devices and stationary truck-mounted cameras to   determine exactly what is on their radar.

 

“You really have to remain aware of all movements, even  when it  seems like nothing is going on — there is no room for complacency,”   said an EIT member who wishes to remain anonymous because of mission  safety  reasons.

 

Known as the “coast watchers,” these groups of EIT  members have the  same basic mission as those who watch the land, but they have  the added  obstacle of monitoring at an ever-moving object. Instead of training   the eye for movement, they look for specific shapes through highly  advanced  optics provided by Border Patrol.

 

“The Guardsmen provide added personnel, giving CBP an  additional  layer to our detection capability,” said Border Patrol spokesman  Justin  M. De La Torre. “This directly increases our likelihood of apprehending   anything that illegally enters our country in-between the ports of  entry.”

 

Along with the already combined efforts of the California  National  Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Border Patrol also   joins forces with the Coast Guard for the maritime mission, reporting  any  suspicious activity to be halted on the sea or detained on land.

 

Intercepting Mexican panga boats crossing illegally into  country  makes up the bulk of the activity, according to De La Torre. These   boats can carry a large load for human or drug trafficking.

 

“There really is a different look to the pangas than anything  else  we’re seeing out there. It’s different than other vessels and it’s   different than wildlife,” said a coast watcher, who also requested  anonymity.

 

Working along with U.S. Immigration and Customs  Enforcement, or ICE,  the criminal analysis mission remains largely classified  by officials.  However, according to the agency’s website, ICE is the largest   investigative agency in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

 

It was formed in 2003 as part of the federal government’s  response  to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and its primary mission is  to  protect national security, public safety and the integrity of the U.S.   borders through the criminal and civil enforcement of federal laws  governing  border control, customs, trade and immigration.

 

Electronic databases, including fingerprint  identification, remote  video surveillance and mobile surveillance systems,  enhance detection.  The handful of military analysts assisting CBP and ICE also  utilize  more low-tech human intelligence capabilities. The specifics of their   gathering methods, exactly what they are viewing and how they are  viewing it  cannot be discussed in detail, according to De La Torre, but  he emphasized that  the mission is going smoothly.

 

Being plugged in on the intelligence side ensures that  the  California National Guard is not only acting as an extra set of eyes and   ears, but that the CNG is actively involved in future operations to  protect  California from activities that could be detrimental to  Americans, according  CBP leadership.

 

With all the various angles to the mission come different  skill  sets, as well as numerous hurdles the troops must overcome. According to   leadership, service members are learning the ins-and-outs of their  mission  working alongside Border Patrol agents.

 

The three approaches, coupled with what Border Patrol  agents were  already doing, have kept illegal entry numbers down 42 percent from   last year, according to Border Patrol statistics.

 

Plus, many of the natural skill-sets needed for the  mission are  already possessed by military members, according to Fox, making  them  vital to the on-going mission.

 

Though the majority of the criminal activity continues to  be human  and narcotic trafficking, there is another side: Officials anticipate   that terror groups could also try this avenue of approach to get into  the  United States.

According to De La Torre, more than 95 percent of illegal   border-crossing is done by Mexican nationals, with the remainder coming  from  anywhere else in the world. As a sort of regional war on terror,  both military  and CBP officials said this joint partnership is helping  to “disrupt, dismantle  and ultimately defeat” illegal smuggling and  entrance of all sorts between the  two countries.

 

As an added bonus, the Southwest border mission acts as a  nice  transition for those recently returning from missions in Iraq or   Afghanistan. This Homeland Security deployment on California soil is a  more  gradual introduction back into the American day-to-day, according  to veterans  currently serving on the task force.

Of course, the mission also brought troops who are  normally  dispersed throughout California into San Diego County, sometimes   keeping them away from families. However, the mission is worth it, said  Fox.

 

“We have established a good working relationship with CBP  and we  will continue to build that relationship for whatever the future holds,”   he said.

 

Fox added that part of mission success is ensuring  home-life  happiness remains. “We couldn’t do this mission without the support  of  our families. We make every effort to make sure the Soldiers and Airmen  get  home to see their families on a frequent basis.”

 

California’s portion of the Southwest border mission  requires about  260 Guardsmen to support CBP, which will give CBP time to train  and  hire new officials. This is part of a larger tasking from President  Barack  Obama, who asked this year for an additional 1,200 troops to be  placed along  the four border states.

 

California was the first to become fully operational and  has  maintained a reserve of trained Soldiers and Airmen to fill in as needed   throughout the yearlong mission.


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