FORKS — The U.S. Border Patrol station in Port Angeles is part of a “huge national puzzle” that serves the local community by keeping the country safe from terrorism, one agent told the Forks City Council on Monday.
“We’re going to continue to enforce the laws as they’re written on the books,” Field Operations Supervisor Rafael Cano said.
“We’re going to do so because Congress said they wanted us to do so. We’ve been mandated by Congress to do so.”
Cano and station supervisor Jose Romero gave a “Customs and Border Protection 101” presentation at the request of the council.
“We’re very interested in developing partnerships,” Cano said.
“We work very closely with multiple local, state, federal and tribal agencies.”
Councilman Kevin Hinchen asked the agents if they target members of particular nationalities.
“I’ve arrested people of all shades and nationalities, I can assure you of that,” said Cano, who arrived in Port Angeles four years ago after patrolling the southern border near Tucson, Ariz.
“When we talk about partnerships, it’s not just about finding illegal immigrants,” Romero said.
“It’s not just about finding terrorists. But we also deal with narcotics. That’s part of our authority. It’s any type of contraband.”
After the attacks of 9/11, terrorism came to the forefront of the Department of Homeland Security agency’s mission, Romero said.
“Terrorism is a threat, and I understand it’s not something that we see here daily or weekly, monthly or yearly,” he said.
“With terrorism, it’s not a Johnny-come-lately. It’s not what happened recently. One act of terrorism is one too many.”
Romero cited the case of Ahmed Ressam, who was arrested in Port Angeles after he arrived aboard the MV Coho ferry from Victoria in a rental car loaded with bomb-making materials Dec. 14, 1999, on his way to bomb Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 1, 2000.
In 2008, traffic checkpoints sparked outrage from local groups that protested the immigration checks.
“Where I come from, that’s a vital part of what we do,” said Romero, who arrived in Port Angeles from El Paso, Texas, in October.
“And I understand that some people may consider that to be an inconvenience, but when we talk about the safety and security, we’re not talking about just the safety and security of any one small community.
“Our community is nationwide, and even one weak link is one too many.”
The agents did not respond to critics who testified before the presentation.
Manuela Vasquez of Forks said she told her family to stop speaking their native language in public for fear of being harassed by immigration officials.
“Is it safe to speak Spanish anymore in the community?” Vasquez asked. “I’m not sure anymore.”
Francisca Velasquez of Forks expressed concerns over racial profiling.
“I’ve had students that come to me occasionally and say that they have been questioned by Border Patrol, and all these students are brown,” Velasquez said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com
