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In the News

In Arizona, border security proves elusive

New concerns over drug smuggling and violence are being raised by administration critics, immigration officers and some residents.

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March 3, 2013

An 18-foot fence separates Agua Prieta, Mexico, and its "sister city," Douglas, Ariz. With the sequester expected to take a $500 million bite out of the immigration enforcement budget and cut the equivalent of 5,000 jobs from a Border Patrol force of 21,000 agents, new concerns over border violence and drug smuggling are being raised by administration critics, immigration officers and some border-area residents.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A woman walks toward the international crossing gate into the Mexican city of Nogales in Nogales, Ariz. Many Mexican residents cross by foot into the United States for goods such as clothes and groceries before returning back to their home country. The prices of items such as milk and cheese, for example, are said to be half as much on the U.S. side of the border.

March 2, 2013

A woman walks toward the international crossing gate into the Mexican city of Nogales in Nogales, Ariz. Many Mexican residents cross by foot into the United States for goods such as clothes and groceries before returning back to their home country. The prices of items such as milk and cheese, for example, are said to be half as much on the U.S. side of the border.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A long line forms at the border crossing station that leads from Nogales, Mexico, into the United States.

March 2, 2013

A long line forms at the border crossing station that leads from Nogales, Mexico, into the United States.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Shoppers in Nogales, Ariz., walk toward the international crossing gate into Nogales, Mexico.

March 2, 2013

Shoppers in Nogales, Ariz., walk toward the international crossing gate into Nogales, Mexico.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Schoolchildren accompanied by their parents, residents of Agua Prieta, Mexico, cross into the United States at Douglas, Ariz., to attend school. Many Mexicans legally cross into the United States for activities such as schooling, shopping and working before returning to their home country in the evening.

March 4, 2013

Schoolchildren accompanied by their parents, residents of Agua Prieta, Mexico, cross into the United States at Douglas, Ariz., to attend school. Many Mexicans legally cross into the United States for activities such as schooling, shopping and working before returning to their home country in the evening.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Schoolchildren Aylleen Alvarez, 10, left, Ramondiego Carrera, 7, center, and Luis Fernando Alvarez, 5, wait for their ride to their home in Mexico near Douglas, Ariz.

Feb. 28, 2013

Schoolchildren Aylleen Alvarez, 10, left, Ramondiego Carrera, 7, center, and Luis Fernando Alvarez, 5, wait for their ride to their home in Mexico near Douglas, Ariz.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Laura Veronica Perez, right, with her daughter Laura Bojorquez, 11, visits with Perez's parents — Juana Alicia Bojorquez and Manuel de Jesus Perez Lopez — at the fence that separates Nogales, Ariz., and Nogales, Mexico. Perez and her children live in Phoenix and crossed into the United States six years ago. If they cross back into Mexico, they won’t be able to return legally. Perez's parents have been trying to obtain a U.S. visa for the past year and a half.

March 2, 2013

Laura Veronica Perez, right, with her daughter Laura Bojorquez, 11, visits with Perez's parents — Juana Alicia Bojorquez and Manuel de Jesus Perez Lopez — at the fence that separates Nogales, Ariz., and Nogales, Mexico. Perez and her children live in Phoenix and crossed into the United States six years ago. If they cross back into Mexico, they won’t be able to return legally. Perez's parents have been trying to obtain a U.S. visa for the past year and a half.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Through holes in the gate that separates Nogales, Ariz., and Nogales, Mexico, Manuel de Jesus Perez Lopez leans against the border marker during a visit with his daughter, who resides in the United States. Lopez and his wife, who have been trying unsuccessfully to obtain a U.S. visa for the past year and a half, traveled 16 hours to see their daughter and grandchildren. They can talk only through the fence. Behind Lopez, a long line forms with people crossing into the United States.

March 2, 2013

Through holes in the gate that separates Nogales, Ariz., and Nogales, Mexico, Manuel de Jesus Perez Lopez leans against the border marker during a visit with his daughter, who resides in the United States. Lopez and his wife, who have been trying unsuccessfully to obtain a U.S. visa for the past year and a half, traveled 16 hours to see their daughter and grandchildren. They can talk only through the fence. Behind Lopez, a long line forms with people crossing into the United States.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Rojelio Bojorquez, 9, speaks with his grandparents through the border fence that separates Nogales, Ariz., and Nogales, Mexico. Rojelio’s mother, Laura Veronica Perez, brought him and his siblings down from Phoenix to see their grandparents, who traveled 16 hours to the U.S. border.

March 2, 2013

Rojelio Bojorquez, 9, speaks with his grandparents through the border fence that separates Nogales, Ariz., and Nogales, Mexico. Rojelio’s mother, Laura Veronica Perez, brought him and his siblings down from Phoenix to see their grandparents, who traveled 16 hours to the U.S. border.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Shoppers in Nogales, Ariz., walk toward the international crossing gate into Nogales, Mexico.

March 2, 2013

Shoppers in Nogales, Ariz., walk toward the international crossing gate into Nogales, Mexico.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

U.S. Border Patrol officers patrol the streets of downtown Nogales, Ariz.

March 2, 2013

U.S. Border Patrol officers patrol the streets of downtown Nogales, Ariz.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A U.S. Border Patrol officer leads a handcuffed man in Nogales, Ariz., toward the international border crossing into Mexico.

March 2, 2013

A U.S. Border Patrol officer leads a handcuffed man in Nogales, Ariz., toward the international border crossing into Mexico.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Men who had just been released from U.S. Border Patrol gather themselves on the Mexican side of the international border crossing station near Douglas, Ariz., in Agua Prieta, Mexico. Roberto Limas, right, said the men were trying to cross into the United States simply to find work and make a better life for themselves.

March 3, 2013

Men who had just been released from U.S. Border Patrol gather themselves on the Mexican side of the international border crossing station near Douglas, Ariz., in Agua Prieta, Mexico. Roberto Limas, right, said the men were trying to cross into the United States simply to find work and make a better life for themselves.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Laura Stump, center, addresses migrants who were just deported from the United States at the Migrant Resource Center near Douglas, Ariz., in Agua Prieta, Mexico. The purpose of the center is to care for migrants when they're repatriated or deported. Stump, a center worker, said: 'One of the biggest things we do for them — we don't have a lot of big services here that we can offer them, but we connect them to some pretty important services, like the shelters that are here. We connect them with a bus ticket discount. We do give them food and water. We can treat blisters, give them a change of clothing. We can also report abuses, mostly at the hands of Border Patrol.'

March 3, 2013

Laura Stump, center, addresses migrants who were just deported from the United States at the Migrant Resource Center near Douglas, Ariz., in Agua Prieta, Mexico. The purpose of the center is to care for migrants when they're repatriated or deported. Stump, a center worker, said: "One of the biggest things we do for them — we don't have a lot of big services here that we can offer them, but we connect them to some pretty important services, like the shelters that are here. We connect them with a bus ticket discount. We do give them food and water. We can treat blisters, give them a change of clothing. We can also report abuses, mostly at the hands of Border Patrol."

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Migrants recently deported from the United States sit at the Migrant Resource Center near Douglas, Ariz., in Agua Prieta, Mexico.

Feb. 28, 2013

Migrants recently deported from the United States sit at the Migrant Resource Center near Douglas, Ariz., in Agua Prieta, Mexico.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

The belongings of a person recently deported from the United States sit on the floor at the Migrant Resource Center in Agua Prieta, Mexico.

Feb. 28, 2013

The belongings of a person recently deported from the United States sit on the floor at the Migrant Resource Center in Agua Prieta, Mexico.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Migrants recently deported from the United States fill out abuse report forms at the Migrant Resource Center in Agua Prieta, Mexico.

Feb. 28, 2013

Migrants recently deported from the United States fill out abuse report forms at the Migrant Resource Center in Agua Prieta, Mexico.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

John Ladd stands on the easement land that separates his ranch from the U.S.-Mexico border in Naco, Ariz. Ladd says his ranch has often been used by people illegally crossing into the United States from Mexico. 'I have a gun, but I've never shot anybody,' Ladd said. 'I sometimes give them water. You can tell good guys from bad, somebody who's in need.' Ladd gave the U.S. Border Patrol access to his land in order that it might better be able to stem illegal immigration.

Feb. 28, 2013

John Ladd stands on the easement land that separates his ranch from the U.S.-Mexico border in Naco, Ariz. Ladd says his ranch has often been used by people illegally crossing into the United States from Mexico. "I have a gun, but I've never shot anybody," Ladd said. "I sometimes give them water. You can tell good guys from bad, somebody who's in need." Ladd gave the U.S. Border Patrol access to his land in order that it might better be able to stem illegal immigration.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

John Ladd crosses his ranch, which abuts the U.S.-Mexico border. The mountains in the distance are Mexico's San Jose Mountain Range.

Feb. 28, 2013

John Ladd crosses his ranch, which abuts the U.S.-Mexico border. The mountains in the distance are Mexico's San Jose Mountain Range.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

A small group from the Mexican army can be seen through the fence that stands on the U.S.-Mexico border in Naco, Ariz.

Feb. 28, 2013

A small group from the Mexican army can be seen through the fence that stands on the U.S.-Mexico border in Naco, Ariz.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

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WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Johnathon Carrington, valedictorian at Dunbar High School, laughs with family and friends after his school's graduation ceremony at Howard University on Friday, June 14, 2013, in Washington, DC. Carrington, who grew up in Tyler House public-housing apartments and is graduating from one of DC's low-performing high schoolsy, where academic expectations are high. (Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 16: Reenactors dressed as knights stage a medieval jousting competition at Eltham Palace on June 16, 2013 in Eltham, England. The 'Grand Medieval Joust' event at Eltham Palace, an English Heritage property which was the childhood home of King Henry VIII, aims to give a great insight into life at the palace during the medieval period. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

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