Illegal-Alien Arrests at 30-Month High

The number of illegal immigrants arrested in August was the highest in 30 months in the San Diego area, and overall arrests of aliens have increased 30% this year, a U.S. Border Patrol spokesman said Tuesday.

The 52,440 arrests in August kept pace with a dramatic increase in the number of alien arrests along the U.S.-Mexican border--after a three-year decrease--first reported in April. On Tuesday, Border Patrol Agent Ted Swofford said more than 98% of the immigrants arrested in August were Mexicans.

The last time more arrests were made in a month was in February, 1988, when 54,527 arrests were reported.

In April, Border Patrol officials reported a 50% increase in the number of arrests between October, 1989, and March, 1990, for the San Diego area, contrasted with the corresponding period for 1988-89. Nationwide, the increase was slightly more than 30% for the same period.

Swofford blamed the increase in illegal immigrants on the deteriorating Mexican economy and the easy availability of forged documents in the United States that enable many aliens to get jobs.

He said a forged visa and Social Security card, both needed to prove to an employer that a job seeker is in the United States legally, can be purchased for $50 to $150. Under the 1986 law, employers can be fined and jailed for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.

“The word has gotten back to Mexico that counterfeit documents are relatively inexpensive to get. For a few bucks, you can buy a counterfeit immigration document and Social Security card, which will enable you to get a job. The deterrent factor of the law has been diminished,” he said.

Critics of the immigration law have said it won’t put a dent in illegal immigration until Congress recognizes the economic, social and political reasons that force many Mexicans to leave their country--legally or illegally--for greater opportunities in the United States.

Border Patrol agents are also arresting more families these days, Swofford said.

“Our apprehensions are now about 20% women and kids. Five years ago, they were probably no more than 10%,” he said.

In August, agents also seized 653 vehicles allegedly used by alien smugglers, and 112 of the seized cars were reported stolen. Both figures represent record highs.

Another factor in the growing number of apprehensions of vehicles and illegal immigrants was an increase by 80 in the number of agents assigned to the San Diego area, Swofford said.