Border Patrol
has Implemented Zero Tolerance
for Illegal Mexican Border Entries
Beginning in January 2008, the Border Patrol will be conducting enhanced operations along the border encompassing both the Grey's Wells and Midway Campgrounds. These operations will include a heightened detection and surveillance strategy coupled with an immediate response protocol to intercept all illegal cross border traffic. We will implement a zero tolerance for illegal cross border entries. It is and will remain the responsibility of the recreationists to know and abide by the law. Recreationists who accidentally illegally cross the border are subject to the zero tolerance.

Entry into the United States must be via a Port of Entry. Any individual who effects an illegal entry is subject to arrest and/or fine. Vehicles and personal property are subject to seizure.

Please read the their letter to fully understand the Border Patrol enhanced operations along the border encompassing both Grey's Well, Buttercup and Midway Campgrounds. Visit My Website

Better have your passport!

Last year we did a nice run along the border and I kept a very close eye on the gps. Talk about some soft sand in some areas.

ok so what happens when BP says u were across the border when u were a full valley away?

heck i was even past sidewinder rd before they pulled us over ( 2 out of 3 ) buggys and trucks

when i got pulled over by the under cover BP all he did was let air out of my buggy tires and then let me go. but still i know we didnt get anywhere close enough south to be in mexico even though they sayed they watched us go there

great, now WE'RE the criminals

Yeah, does that apply to people headed north? Or just those of us already in the north?

yeah, good thing they're ramping up efforts to keep recreationists in check...do they possibly have bigger fish to fry? Shoot, I'll just toss on a sombrero & run from them, they aren't allowed to do anything to me then!

In all seriousness, though, I'm sure they are just trying to keep us away from the border so that they can monitor it better without having to have us in the way.

Geeze Louise....

Bitch and moan about Illegal Immigration and Now when the BP is actually trying to ramp up and do a better job....

Your complaining about not being able to ride in that area?



This sounds like a good thing. Stay clear of the area so the BP can do their job effectivly without having to
worry about legal citizens.

Would be a good idea for anyone riding in them south dunes to have their GPS's turned on to mark their route - this way if you ever got accused of crossing over - you could show em you track and they could see for themselves... would be indisputable evidence if you ask me...

it sounds real easy but the markers are buried in several places , and the border is only a few hundred feet from i8 at the west end of buttercup , it would be very easy to accidently stray . i am not saying it's a bad idea but it could be tough to know all the time without better markers . and reentry through a checkpoint would be unrealistic on a non street legal machine , i think stating it that way was kind of cheesy , they know no one could drive into the checkpoint and into the us with a sandcar . hopefully they will be a little tolerant of a mishap .tim

I couldn't agree with you more on all your points. All the more reason to stay at least a 100 yards or more from the border when in the area. Avoid the hassle and leave no doubt that what they picked up on their alarms or spotters, wasn't you that crossed the border. They are warning us that there won't be tolerant of a mishap. We don't have to like it, or think it is fair, they are trying to fore warn us of how it is going to be. Let's hope they think this is enough to control the area. Our cooperation can make the difference.

IMHO, anyone that close to the border is a moron.. Coming or going..

Unfortunately as Dan pointed out sometimes even being a full valley away from the border isn't enough. Though being along on that trip I have to say it was an experience I've never had before, or since, and quite different than the times I've been warned about getting too close (or accidentally crossing) the border.

I've been stopped by the BP several times while in the dunes warning me that I was either very close to crossing the border - or in one case had crossed it several times (only by about 10 feet) without realizing it. The stops were always courteous and friendly (though I can't say others in my group were approached the same way on some occasions,) other than the flashing lights and siren. Maybe they were more friendly to me because without any rearview mirror and louder motor it was easier to believe I didn't hear or see them (the friend who was yelled at did have a rearview and quiet exhaust in his street legal buggy - and not stopping immediately was their biggest beef.)

The time Danno is talking about was very unusual. It was a quick afternoon trip. We came out from Yuma and parked at the Cul-de-Sac at Buttercup on a sunday afternoon. We went on two short rides and did go as far east as the canal (which is unusual for our group) but we only went one valley south and were quite a ways off from the next valley (map shows the border being another ridge and valley past the furthest point south we ever reached. We did get Danno stuck in the valley and had to stop and dig him out - but that whole afternoon we saw maybe 5 other vehicles in the dunes and none came near us.

BP did not stop or approach us in the dunes. In fact after our second ride we came back to camp....relaxed and talked to another duner we ran into...played with my radiator and took a little test run...took our time loading up and finally left. Then just past Ogilby (Sorry Danno, I'm pretty sure it was Ogilby and not Sidewinder...I may be remembering wrong but I was pretty sure it was Ogilby) they started picking off members of our group. I was in the lead and I guess they ran out of officers because they never reached me. But the other vehicles in our group all got pulled over (by unmarked DHS SUV's) and asked if they would consent to a search of the vehicle.

All I can guess is maybe someone had come up from the south and left something in the valley near where Danno got stuck and they suspected us of picking it up. But I know at least one of the people pulled over said when they asked why they were being pulled over it was because they had crossed the border illegally.

Staying away from the border can be tricky down there in some areas. But it's even harder when you're never within a mile of the border and still get pulled over for it.

That says it all..

For me, I'll stay a bit North..

Approx. 1000 sq. miles in the ISDRA and people can't stay away from the border....go figure

If you're too cheap to buy a GPS and a map, you should get ticketed/fined for accidentially crossing the border.

Here's the letter from CBP

December 18, 2007
President Bob Mason American Sand Association 3113 North 52nd Street Phoenix, AZ 85018
Mr. Mason,




1111 North Imperial Avenue El Centro, CA 92243
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Let me begin by expressing our gratitude and appreciation for the support and confidence that the American Sand Association has extended to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol, particularly the EI Centro and Yuma Sectors who patrol the Imperial Sand Dune Recreational Area. We, as public servants, can only maximize our success with the cooperation and assistance of our community. Respectfully, we now call upon you and the members of the American Sand Association for assistance as we work to eradicate the criminality of cross border activity in this area and negate the possibility of terrorist infiltration into the United States.

Beginning in January 2008, the Border Patrol will be conducting enhanced operations along the border encompassing both the Grey's Wells and Midway Campgrounds. Our intent is to gain operational control over this area, which has long been a dangerous, highly trafficked corridor by alien and narcotic smugglers. Last year, over 33,000 pounds of narcotics was seized and 2,137 aliens apprehended in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreational Area alone.

These operations will include a heightened detection and surveillance strategy coupled with an immediate response protocol to intercept all illegal cross border traffic. We will implement a zero tolerance for illegal cross border entries. It is and will remain the responsibility of the recreationists to know and abide by the law. Recreationists who accidentally illegally cross the border are subject to the zero tolerance.

Any individual who affects an illegal entry into the United States is subject to arrest and/or fine. CBP requires that all individuals report to a CBP Port of Entry when returning to the United States. CBP's border search authority is derived through Title 19 Section 1581, which provides that all persons, baggage and merchandise arriving in the United States are subject to inspection. Failure to report to a port of entry could result in a fine and/or seizure of your conveyance. CBP's seizure authority is derived through Title 19 Section 1595a.
If you enter Mexican territory during your visit to the Imperial Sand Dunes, you must make proper re-entry at a U.S. Port of Entry.

There are future plans to construct a permanent anti-vehicle fence clearly defining the border, however; in the short term to avoid any confusion the border will be marked with temporary

There are future plans to construct a permanent anti-vehicle fence clearly defining the border, however; in the short term to avoid any confusion the border will be marked with temporary paddle markers and pre-existing border monuments. These paddle markers are similar to those used by the Bureau of Land Management as trail markers. Please see the attached photograph.

In short, strict adherence to the law regarding the entry into the United States, by United States citizens or otherwise, must be observed. Securing this area by eliminating the illegal activity is critical to protecting our homeland. I hope to work together and reduce any misinformation or confusion regarding this matter in the present and future as our collaborative efforts will undoubtedly yield a successful resolution to the challenges we now face.

Again, please assist the El Centro and Yuma Border Patrol Sectors by disseminating the aforementioned information regarding our intentions to strictly enforce the law as it applies to illegal border entry to your members. It is our sincere desire to inform and educate all those who camp and recreate in the Imperial Sand Dunes so that vacationers can enjoy the dunes in partnership with our efforts to enforce the laws and remove the criminal threat.

As a result of your valued assistance and commitment to the security of our great nation, our combined efforts will prove yet again that we can accomplish as a team our shared goal of improving the quality of life in our community.

Yours Respectfully,

Jeffery Calhoon
Acting Chief Patrol Agent
CBP Border Patrol, El Centro Sector


Paul Beeson
Chief Patrol Agent
CBP Border Patrol, Yuma Sector



2

Garmin

you have obviously never been to buttercup a large portion of the campsites are within several hundred feet of the border , if your concept prevails we will no longer have this dune spot. we are losing a lot of dune area so i would question your 1000 sq. miles , alot of people have made buttercup their duning home . i would think that intellect could prevail by finding a solution that works for duners and border patrol agents , just giving up the entire riding and camping area seems ill thought out . IF YOU DUNE IN BUTTERCUP YOU ARE ALWAYS NEAR THE BORDER !maybe you need to buy a map . when it is all said and done the duners are not the problem , we all need to be repectful of the border and the agents we pay to defend it . and in the same manner we need better markings to be able to comply with the new policy .tim

Replying to Zero Tolerance For Illegal

I can attest to the zero tolerance policy. Last weekend the BP came to friend's camp after they attempted to follow the border West to East. It turned out to be very difficult as it zig zags through the dunes with markers every half a mile (sometimes). They crossed over several times in their attempt to learn exactly where the border was. BP showed up later at the camp, took pictures of all their vehicles, IDs, etc. No more Buttercup for us which is the only place I've camped (Grey's Well) for years. Next month we are going to Glamis for the first time. Between zero tolerance in a place where it's very hard to know where the border is sometimes (unless you don't stray to far South from comp hill) and the killing of the BP agent and dangerous situation the drug runner made for other campers as he ran for the border we are done with it.

Click to view attachment

That's funny shiz. Talk about continuing to ruin things for us american citizens. It's a shame but a reality.

when i got pulled over by the under cover BP all he did was let air out of my buggy tires and then let me go. but still i know we didnt get anywhere close enough south to be in mexico even though they sayed they watched us go there
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They let the air out of your buggy tires? and then let you go? Are you for real?

air out of the tires checking for drugs I would assume.