SAN JUAN COUNTY

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SAN JUAN ISLANDER EDITORIAL - Exactly how meaningless are the county rules?

Larsen's solution: help Border Patrol push operation out to water

posted 06/02/2008
U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (D-40th), in Friday Harbor Saturday May 31, said he would like to see the Border Patrol operation at the Anacortes ferry terminal moved out to the water closer "to the border and the islands."

In an interview with San Juan Islander, Larsen said, "It would be a more effective job of interdiction. The choke point (ferry terminal) is the last point in a layered defense," he said. Such a change would require money, boats and helicopters.

A majority of Town and County Councilmembers have been outspoken in their opposition to the random Border Patrol checkpoints at the ferry terminal. Much of the objections have centered on the arrest of people living illegally in the county and the difficulty the prospect of being arrested has created on their ability to travel freely to the mainland.

The chilling effect on the local economy because of the negative publicity generated by the checkpoints was also cited as a major concern. Standing room only crowds of islanders showed up at two public meetings this spring. The majority complained saying they felt their civil rights were violated when they were asked what their nationality was when they went through the checkpoints.

Both councils wrote to Larsen, U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell asking for help with the problem.

In Saturday's interview, Larsen said moving the Border Patrol's operation away from the ferry terminal could be a more effective way of achieving the agency's goal of preventing drug smuggling and terrorism. "I'm looking for a solution that addresses the issue."

Five Councilmembers sign letter to Border Patrol after council votes not to

posted 05/15/2008
San Juan County Council voted against 3-2 with one abstention not to sign a letter to the U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray and Congressman Rick Larsen expressing concern about the impact of frequent Border Patrol checkpoints at the Anacortes ferry landing. The vote was taken after a discussion Tuesday morning during their May 13 meeting.

Sometime between then and 4 p.m. the letter was revised and five of the councilmembers signed it. "Opposed" was stamped next to Councilmember Rich Peterson's name. The original letter was drafted by Friday Harbor Mayor David Jones. The letter is not on the Town Council's agenda for today.

Dear Senators Murray, Cantwell, and Representative Larsen,

On April 22, 2008, the local officials of the Town of Friday Harbor and San Juan County met in joint session and discussed the increasingly frequent spot checks by the U. S. Border Patrol during local, non-international sailings. Both Councils were closely aligned in their concerns, which we would like to bring to your attention.

As a community of islands, we are entirely dependent upon the Washington State Ferry system for the transportation of goods and services, as well as all the activities that must be dealt with daily.

One concern we have with these Border Patrol checks is the lack of provision for anyone travelling for necessary medical attention, or for anyone dealing with an emergency while going through a checkpoint, an experience that has caused delays of an hour or more.

We are also concerned about economic issues. The year-round population of San Juan County is 16,000 people, but between late spring and fall we receive nearly 600,000 visitors, a tourist population critical to the economy of San Juan County and neighboring communities. These security checks may deter travelers who do not want to risk delays, or who feel intimidated by the militaristic appearance of the guards, or who have concerns about their civil liberties.

As well, many foreign residents and visitors in our communities are being subjected to higher levels of scrutiny, which some of our citizens view as harassment or racial profiling.

San Juan County has been receiving an abundance of negative publicity regarding this subject, including a recent front-page article in the Seattle Times and a story on National Public Radio. While we fully support the Border Patrol in their lawful mission, we urgently and respectfully ask your assistance in securing the following relief:

• Ensure that no actions of the Border Patrol impact negatively our local and regional economy;
  
  
• that medical and other emergencies are accommodated immediately;
  
  
• that there are equal and reasonable levels of security checks for everyone passing the checkpoint.

We thank you for your consideration of our concerns, and assure you that we will work cooperatively to find a balance between necessary security measures and important quality of life issues.

Signed by Councilmembers Alan Lichter, Howie Rosenfeld, Bob Myhr, Gene Knapp, Kevin Ranker.

SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008

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