Countywide : Border Patrol Releases Written-Pursuit Policy

The U.S. Border Patrol this week released its first written policy for agents pursuing vehicles suspected of carrying illegal aliens.

Border Patrol agents formally were instructed on the safety rules of high-speed chases, but this is the first time they have been put into writing.

The report was issued at the request of Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad) and local elected officials of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, who expressed concern that chases originating from the Border Patrol’s San Clemente checkpoint were winding through their cities and increasing the danger of accidents and injury to innocent residents.

Packard sought the written policy after several high-speed chases last winter caused serious injuries and damaged property in cities near the checkpoint.

The pursuit policy describes the guidelines Border Patrol agents should observe when pursuing suspected vehicles, such as conducting chases only in authorized emergency vehicles and the properly using sirens, roadblocks and backup vehicles.

To help prevent further pursuit dangers, Packard and U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.) are preparing to introduce legislation to relocate the San Clemente checkpoint five miles south of its current location in San Onofre to give agents more time to catch fleeing motorists before they reach city limits.