Sweep by Border Patrol Nets 626 More Illegal Aliens

The Border Patrol arrested 626 illegal aliens Wednesday during the third day of an operation aimed at reducing the numbers of undocumented workers in northern San Diego County.

Since Monday, when the crackdown began, the Border Patrol has apprehended 1,744 aliens during sweeps through North County.

The region attracts thousands of illegal aliens who come to work in vegetable and fruit fields.

The Border Patrol operation was prompted by complaints from residents and area authorities that the aliens were loitering and creating a nuisance.

In recent months, concern about the aliens has been rising, fueled by reports that illegal aliens are responsible for a variety of crimes. But others have said such accounts of criminal behavior by aliens are greatly exaggerated.

“We got a lot of complaints, and we decided to do something about it,” said Gene Smithburg, assistant chief patrol agent in San Diego.

In particular, authorities and parents were concerned about the area near Kelly School in Carlsbad, where parents had complained about aliens loitering near the school building. In response to the problem, the Border Patrol has arrested hundreds of aliens in the vicinity of the school this week. Concerned parents have said they were pleased by the operation.

Area farmers have said they don’t like the raids, but they have learned to live with occasional Border Patrol sweeps. “It’s business as usual,” said Ben Hillebrecht, past president of the San Diego County Farm Bureau.

Between 30 and 40 agents, reassigned from posts along the border, were involved in the sweeps. The aliens were arrested in fields, on streets and in a variety of other locations.

By Wednesday, Smithburg said, aliens were aware of the increased Border Patrol presence and attempted to conceal their whereabouts.

“Word was out, and it made things harder,” Smithburg said.

The operation is scheduled to end Friday. At that point, Smithburg said, officials will evaluate the situation and determine whether to continue the pressure.

The Border Patrol sweeps have begun at about daybreak and continued until the early afternoon. Agents have used horses, a helicopter, four-wheel-drive vehicles and off-road three-wheel vehicles to pursue the aliens.

The great majority of those arrested have been Mexicans who were quickly returned to Mexico. A number of Central Americans apprehended have been held for further legal proceedings.