The meeting was called to order at 7:03 pm. Bill Praust, RJCC president conducted the meeting.
2.Previous Meeting Minutes ApprovalMinutes from the February 9, 2004 meeting were approved as posted.
3.Treasurer’s ReportDocuments completed for the 501(c)(3) and will be mailed the next day. No other business.
4. Guest SpeakerSam Lucio, Field Operations Supervisor with the Border Patrol, provided us with information regarding the Border Patrol operations in the Three Points/Robles Junction area. Sam has 18 years in the Border Patrol. Border Patrol officers attend 4˝ months of training. The Tucson station has 220 officers assigned to it. They run 4 shifts: 5 am, 10 am, 4 pm, and 11 pm. At the time that Sam was speaking to us the Border Patrol had approximately 400 detainees at their facility.
The Border Patrol has targeted the Three Points area as a priority. There is an increase in the activity in the area. During one week earlier this year in the Arivaca, 900 persons were detained. They have detailed approximately 200 BORSTAR Search and Rescue personnel to the area. These specialized officers focus on target areas.
The Border Patrol is working to establish a substation in the Three Points area. This would enable them to increase time spent patrolling and reduce travel time from their station in Tucson to the Three Points area.
The Border Patrol is operating under the CAFRA Law, which allows them to seize vehicles being used to transport illegal aliens. When vehicles are seized, their condition is evaluated. Unsafe vehicles are crushed, the remaining are either sold or returned to their owners based on a set of criteria such as was the vehicle stolen.
You can help. If you suspect illegal alien activities, call 1-877-USBP-Help (1-877-872-7436). This number is toll free. Sam asks that you have patience, as there are times when they are short staffed and an officer is not available to respond. They are not in the 911 system, however operators at 911 will transfer if you indicate you need to report to the Border Patrol.
5. Neighborhood Updates■ Diamond Bell held a Neighborhood Meeting on February 29th. Twenty-one people attended. Sam also spoke at that meeting.
■ No other Neighborhood Representatives present
6. Committee Reports■ Citizen Corps Council –Pima Citizen Corps Council needs to know who is designated to vote for the RJCC. Meeting April 7 6pm to vote on how moneys from Federal Government to be distributed to the Corps Councils.
■ Neighborhood Cleanup – Diamond Bell has a representative for the Neighborhood Cleanup
7. Call for Adjournment – No additional reports due to time constraints. 8. Next meeting is Tuesday, April 13, 2004 at the Robles Community Center – Sharon Bronson with Pima County Board of Supervisors is Guest Speaker.