Governor Napolitano was joined by top officials from New Mexico, California and Texas in calling on DHS to revise the guidelines to allow local law enforcement agencies to use these federal funds for a wider range of border security efforts. In the past Operation Stonegarden reimbursed state and local law enforcement agencies only for overtime costs. DHS has now agreed to pay for border security and surveillance equipment such as ground radar, infrared detection devices, video cameras and improved radio communications systems.
"I appreciate Secretary Chertoff responding to my request to provide greater flexibility in this program," said Napolitano. "State and local law enforcement agencies in Arizona will now have more options in their efforts to improve security along the border."
Additionally, Napolitano was able to persuade DHS to drop a proposed requirement that local law enforcement agencies match 25 percent of the federal dollars in order to participate in Operation Stonegarden. This proposed match requirement would have placed a tremendous financial burden on border law enforcement agencies in Cochise, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties. With the match requirement eliminated, these agencies along Arizona's more than 370-mile border will not be forced to pay for a federal responsibility.
In September, Napolitano announced that Arizona will receive $6.35 million through Operation Stonegarden, a bulk of the $15 million allotted for the border states. In 2004 and 2005, Arizona spent $822,000 through Operation Stonegarden. The increased law enforcement presence along the border's high illegal trafficking areas resulted in 536 arrests (including 79 felony arrests), the confiscation of cash and stolen vehicles, large quantities of drugs, and 871 illegal immigrants turned over to federal immigration authorities.
