Why, Ariz. - Tucson Sector Border Patrol leadership conducted a ground-breaking ceremony today in Why, Ariz., to begin construction on a new Ajo Border Patrol Station.
The 52,900 square-foot facility, scheduled for completion in July 2012, will accommodate more than 360 personnel and have room for future growth. It will draw power from the latest generation of solar panels. The station will also feature a Storm Water Pollution Prevention system, which ensures water that flows onto the facility will leave as clean as it was when it came into the facility.
The station's design is based on "economy of motion," following the agents' activities and natural movement to increase overall efficiency.
Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent Victor M. Manjarrez, Jr., key note speaker for the event, told more than 100 guests attending the ceremony that Ajo agents are functioning with the barest of accommodations, yet they are excelling in mission accomplishment. "Imagine what they will accomplish in their new home," he said. "A more efficient Border Patrol will ultimately lead to a safer nation."
The Ajo Station, which was originally constructed in 1987, is located about 10 miles south of Ajo, Ariz., along State Route 85, and approximately 120 miles west of the Tucson Sector Headquarters. In its inception, the current facility was designed to accommodate 25 agents responsible for patrolling more than 7,000 square miles and 68 miles of the border between the United States and Mexico.
The Ajo Border Patrol Station plays a key role in maintaining operational control of our nation's border.