San Onofre

The Dana Point City Council has decided to back the proposed relocation of the San Onofre immigration checkpoint on Interstate 5 in Camp Pendleton.

Calling the present site outdated and inadequate, the council voted unanimously Monday to send a letter to state and federal congressional leaders in support of a $30-million expansion of the checkpoint, now under consideration by Congress.

Under the proposal, the checkpoint--now a few miles south of San Clemente--would be relocated to a spot 5 miles deeper into San Diego County. Already the busiest immigration checkpoint in the country, the four-lane stop would be expanded to 16 lanes.

However, the project is facing delays on Capitol Hill because of its price tag.

San Clemente city officials, who say they are fed up with seeing U.S. Border patrol chases careen through their streets, have reacted angrily to the funding delays.

Dana Point Councilwoman Ingrid McGuire on Monday night questioned whether the new checkpoint would ever be funded.

Councilman T. Michael Eggers pointed out that Congress already has approved $2.7 million in design funds for the checkpoint and expressed confidence that the project will be approved.

As many as 10 people died as the results of incidents linked to the inspection stop last year, according to San Clemente Fire Department paramedics. Many of those who died were illegal immigrants who jumped off vehicles before reaching the checkpoint, the paramedics said.