‘Homeland Security’ Checkpoint: Day 4

DHSCheckpoint23JAN08It looks like the Department of Homeland Security has expanded the scope of its suspicionless checkpoint operations near mile marker 146 on SR86 from (as some would erroneously claim) a ‘simple’ immigration check to now include sniffs from specially trained drug dogs.

Continue reading “‘Homeland Security’ Checkpoint: Day 4”

‘Homeland Security’ Checkpoint: Day 3

20JAN2008Roadblock from Checkpoint USA on Vimeo.

As the video above shows, I was seized yet again by Homeland Security agents at a suspicionless federal checkpoint in Southern Arizona on January 20, 2008. This checkpoint, the same one I’ve been stopped at twice before in the past two weeks, is located near mile post 146 on Arizona State Route 86, over forty miles North of the Southern border.

Continue reading “‘Homeland Security’ Checkpoint: Day 3”

DHS Checkpoint Update, Free Talk Live Discussion

CBPCheckpointOn January 10th, the hosts of the radio talk show Free Talk Live spent about twenty minutes discussing my recent Homeland Security Checkpoint experience.

For those interested in listening to the discussion (which I highly recommend), the archived mp3 audio file is available on FTL’s website. The checkpoint discussion begins about 8.5 minutes into the recording and continues through minute 28.

Continue reading “DHS Checkpoint Update, Free Talk Live Discussion”

Southern Arizona Homeland Security Checkpoint – Day 2

CheckpointSignThis an an update on day 2 of a suspicionless Southern Arizona checkpoint being conducted by the Department of Homeland Security. The checkpoint is currently located near mile post 146 on Arizona State Route 86 – over 40 miles North of the international border. So-called Border Patrol agents appear to be manning the checkpoint which has been in operation for at least three days – if not longer.

Continue reading “Southern Arizona Homeland Security Checkpoint – Day 2”

Active Homeland Security Checkpoint on SR86 Near Mile Post 146

BPRoadblockWell, it looks like the Department of Homeland Stupidity is at it again.

Employees of the department have always acted geographically challenged and today would be no exception. While driving Westbound along Arizona State Route 86 near mile marker 146, I came upon a suspicionless federal checkpoint that appears to be manned by Border Patrol agents employed by Homeland Security. Since this area is well over forty miles North of the international border, it would appear that these so-called “Border Patrol” agents still haven’t figured out where the actual border is.

Instead of using a GPS unit to help them find the border however (a great place to be if you actually want to patrol it), these agents have instead chosen to harass the traveling public well inside the country along a State Highway absent any reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing. Of course this location is much closer to local convenience stores than the border which may explain the decision to locate the checkpoint where it is.

Continue reading “Active Homeland Security Checkpoint on SR86 Near Mile Post 146”

Southern AZ: DHS Checkpoint – Day 2 Video

CheckpointSignAs indicated in my earlier post, the Homeland Security Checkpoint was up and running for a second day near mile marker 146 on Southern Arizona’s State Route 86 as I drove back to Tucson. I arrived at the checkpoint and videotaped the encounter shortly after 4:00 pm:

Continue reading “Southern AZ: DHS Checkpoint – Day 2 Video”