Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-03-25
Keeping Back Door
Shut On Smugglers
|Proues a Real Job
Rum Runners Narcotic Peddlers, and Those Bringing
In Aliens All Bold Criminals But Officers OF the
OveDrab Meet Them Fearlessly
DEFEAT is UNKNOWN
Tips of ViOIatOrs Come From Many Sources, Most
Usually From Dupes Trade Enemies

These pursuits usually follow q
night or possibly many nights Of ly-
ing out, without shelter and only such
food as can be carried on horseback.
None but men of unusual physique
c-ld stamina can be successful in this
class of work"
The passing of the immigration act
of 1924 necessitated the establishment
of an immigration border patrol force
in order to prevent the illegal entry
of aliens along the remote sections Of
the border For this purpose, con-
gress, in making appropriations for
year 1925, wisely provided $1,000O00
the department. of labor for the fiscal
for the immediate establishment Of
such force.
Although it has been in existence
less than four years, the border patrol
carries many on its roster who saw
service as officers in our army and
navy during the World war Due to
their courage, enthusiasm and devo-
ton to duty, the force has in a COM
paratively short time made itself felt
amongst those who would seek to ply
their nefarious traffic across our bor-
ders
The average border patrolman is
rather easy going, home-like indi-
yiduaI He knows his job; his horses,
his rifle and pistol. He is neatly and
snappiIy uniformed. Lack of uni
formity Of dress in the beginning ma
terially handicapped the officer, as
there was nothing other than his
badge to distinguish him from the
ordinary citizen This, coupled with
the fact that the officers are COM
PEELED to announce themselves as such
in challenging smugglerS, and must
not shoot first upon the assumption
that they will be fired upon, made
their work most difficult and trying.
Now the entire force is equipped with
uniform clothing which is a creuit to
the department which it represents
In general, a man is appointed in
the border patrol for his grit, common
sense and ability to take care Of him
se!f. AS a rule, the successful appli-
cants are cattlemen who saw service
d lring the late war and now lind
| range life monotonous.
Referring to the duty roster Of one
of the most active patrol districts
| (Arizona subdistrict No. l, a unit of
district No. 25) we lind that its per-
| sonnel consists OF one chief inspector
and 40 officers In addition, one clerk,
one motor mechanic and one laborer
are provided for. This force is
equipped with three trucks for the
| transportation of aliens and IA auto
mobiles, besides horses.
| In order that the best results be
accomplished, the Mexican border is
divided into districts for patrolling,
each of the immigration border dis
tricts being divided into several patrol
or subdistrictS, and an immigration
Off ccar placed in charge OF each OF
theVG units, the entire force in each
district operating under the general
supervision of district chief
The force of a subdistrict is or
ganized so that the maximum services
may be rendered in curbing the ac-
tivities of smugglers. For purposes
of administration and patrolling,
southern Arizona is divided into sec
/ tionS, each section having its indi-
vidual station, and those located on
| the main highways either in village
or on the outskirts OF a town. Two
or more patrolmen operate from each
of these stations. The officers operat-
ing as a general rule in pairs, check
the roads, inspect the railroad yards
and patrol the mountain ranges and
remote sectors of the border. These
! stations form two lines of defense.
Those stations located on the border
form the first line; those along the
highways leading from the border,
the Secorld.
The reason for such distribution is
evident. Considering the area to be
guarded and the limited force pro-
j vided for this defense, it is a correct
and systematic arrangement. With the
small number of officers available.
, it is impossible to effectively patrol
, the entire border, with the result that
many smugglers and quite number
; of undesirable aliens manage to get
across. Having successfully, by chance,
, lpassed the first line of defense, the
: average alien believes himself beyond
5 apprehension by immigration and bor-
! der patrol officials. But such is not
the case. Usually the foreigner VIII
! seek the main highways to guide nm
| to his destination, a city in the north-
4, ern part of the state. Ignorant as 70
: the location of the border patrol
Continued on Page SIX