U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Fighting Crime on the Southwest Border: A Progress Report

NCJ Number
164124
Date Published
1996
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The Department of Justice's comprehensive plan initiated in 1993 to restore the rule of law to the southwest border of the United States has made significant progress by increasing Federal resources along the border and working closely with State and local law enforcement agencies.
Abstract
The border strategy has three central components: (1) unprecedented cooperation with local law enforcement, (2) effective prosecution strategies and enhanced penalties, and (3) strengthened border enforcement. Funding has been provided to hire more than 172 additional police officers in southwest border communities, as well as 579 Federal prosecutors and 1,264 immigration agents. These efforts have resulted in declines in serious crime, including a 30- percent decline in San Diego, Calif., a 5-percent decline in Nogales, Ariz., a 14-percent decline in El Paso, Tex., and a 20-percent decline in Brownsville, Tex. Prosecutions for the smuggling of aliens increased significantly during fiscal year 1995 in the five southwest border districts. Local law enforcement leaders and community residents support these efforts, and the Federal Government plans to continue to work with these communities to ensure their safety and security. Figures