Over the weekend of May 22 and 23, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Officers held a joint operation to deter undocumented alien trafficking through Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. Operation Santa Ana III was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Refuge Law Enforcement, the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office, and the Hidalgo County Constable Precinct 1 Office. Undocumented aliens detained during the operation were transferred to agents of the U.S. Border Patrol Weslaco Station.
The purpose of the operation was to combine enforcement efforts and deter the dangerous trafficking of undocumented aliens through public lands. Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is part of the South Texas Refuge Complex, along with Laguna Atascosa and Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuges. The Refuge Complex has a zero-tolerance policy toward those who expose people to the hazards of crossing the Rio Grande River and Refuge lands. One of the greatest risks is that undocumented aliens will become dehydrated during their long hike across isolated portions of the Refuge, as evidenced by one group discovered during the weekend operation that requested water from the officer because they were ill prepared for their travel.
"This is a bad place to come to smuggle aliens," said Regional Zone Law Enforcement Officer Richard Johnston. "Although Santa Ana is open to the public, undocumented alien smuggling is not an authorized use of a National Wildlife Refuge. In addition to breaking Federal immigration law, it is not compatible with preserving natural resources.? Anyone caught can be arrested for a Federal charge of trespassing, along with any smuggling charges.
Undocumented alien traffickers are often well organized, involving individuals with long criminal histories. One subject involved in these activities over the weekend had been previously arrested for dealing in stolen vehicles, and another had a warrant for his arrest in Georgia. One man arrested during the operation was found wandering the Refuge trails, intoxicated, with little sense of direction. Overall, the operation resulted in detainment of nine undocumented aliens, one alien trafficking arrest, and numerous vehicle and traffic violations. Human trafficking on the Refuge can be an expensive endeavor. Three state citations and three Federal citations issued over the weekend totaled $1,272 in fines. Refuge Officers also issued five federal warnings.
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is well known as a tourist destination located along the banks of the Rio Grande River, seven miles south of Alamo. Bird watchers and butterfly watchers from around the world visit the Refuge. The unique diversity of plants and wildlife create a perfect location for research, recreation, and environmental education. The Office of Refuge Law Enforcement works to keep visitors safe and to protect natural resources.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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