US Border Patrol planning for new checkpoint
Eduardo Morales
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The US Border Patrol is in the early stages of establishing a new checkpoint near Yuma.
The new checkpoint would be east of Yuma on Interstate 8 near the Mohawk Region, and it will likely cost over $100,000,000.
The new checkpoint is meant to replace the one in the Foothills after it was crashed into over a year ago, where two agents were injured.
One of them has returned to full duty while the other is still recovering.
Chief Justin De La Torre explains how this new checkpoint could help keep the entire nation safe.
“While it is beneficial to, you know, the people here in Yuma County, it’s really beneficial to the entire country, our agents work tirelessly to detect organized crime, elements of organized crime,” said Chief De La Torre.
There is no timetable yet on when construction will begin. However, Yuma County Board of Supervisor Jonathan Lines is in favor of the checkpoint.
“Reinstating this type of an approach, or putting it further out the city, narrows that choke point and gives them the ability to cut off traffic that would be involved in narcotics or human trafficking,” said Lines.
Chief De La Torre says that despite the current checkpoint being down, Border Patrol is still active.
“In the meantime we still have robust interdiction capabilities on the highways, we have our agents who patrol the highways on a daily basis and we’re still successful on interdicting cross border criminal activity,” said Chief De La Torre.
Border Patrol would also like to remind visa holders to always have their official documentation when they cross any Border Patrol checkpoints.