The State - News from Oct. 2, 1986

Apprehension of illegal aliens in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam set another all-time record during the past year, inching closer to the 1 million mark, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service officials announced. The San Diego sector of the INS’ western region had a record 630,000 arrests during fiscal 1986, compared to 428,000 last year--an increase of 202,000, or 47%. Of the 630,000 people arrested, about 400,000, or 58%, were repeat offenders, said Alan Eliason, Border Patrol chief for the San Diego sector. “The borders are out of control,” said INS Western Regional Commissioner Harold Ezell. “Illegal drugs or illegal aliens . . . it’s all the same. It’s out of control.” Ezell said he didn’t mean to imply that all illegal aliens “carry the dope,” but that the flow of narcotics and people have made the borders more vulnerable.