MEDIA ADVISORY

Date of Advisory: September 5, 1998

Community Calls for Continued Support for Operation Safe Crossing

& Border Crackdown

Labor Day Weekend Marks One-Year Anniversary of Bi-National Law Enforcement Task Force


CONTACT:  English- Dana Stevens (619) 474-8844 x16, (619)719-6423;   Spanish -Gloria Sotelo (619)474-8844 x18, (619)520-0752

...

WHAT: Labor Day Weekend marks the one-year anniversary of Operation Safe Crossing, a combined effort of numerous law enforcement agencies to prevent youths under age 18 from entering Mexico without parental consent and to reduce DUIs and other alcohol-related crime and violence along the Tijuana/San Diego border region. Over the 1997 Labor Day weekend hundreds of teens were turned away at the  border.   Friday night (Sept. 4, 1998), 99 minors were detained for attempting to cross. There were 3 alcohol-related emergency medial calls at the border.                

      
WHEN: SATURDAY NIGHT SEPTEMBER 5, 1998. Participants will make statements at 10:15 p.m. Live interviews available from 10:15-11:15 p.m. Law enforcement activities will begin at an undisclosed time Saturday evening. Call to arrange other interview times.
               
WHERE: San Ysidro-Tijuana border crossing and throughout Tijuana. Statements will take place on the US side near the southbound pedestrian turnstiles (last U.S. exit).
            

BRIEFERS: S.D.P.D., Lt. Vince Villalvazo, (619) 424-0410

Tijuana P.D., Roberto Sanchez Osorio (011) 52 66 38 51 68
Enrique Mendez, Reglamentos (Tijuana Alcohol Licensing) (011) 52 66 83 40 20
Lt. Theresa Sumprer, CHP (619) 296-6661
James Baker, Executive Director, IHA (619) 520-7211 (day/night)
Jaye Carballo, Friday Night Live advisor, Montgomery Middle School (619) 518-3389
Youth health advocates
         
U.S. Law Enforcement: San Diego PD, U.S. Customs, and ABC will conduct enforcement.
  • SouthboundBID checks of youthful appearing would-be crossers to stop those under 18 from crossing without a notarized letter from their parent.
  • NorthboundBDUI operations, detention of severely intoxicated pedestrians, crowd control

Tijuana Law Enforcement: DUI operations, increased enforcement of public drunkenness, ID checking , minimum drinking age enforcement, and other alcohol-related crimes.

            
Community & Public Health: IHA is coordinating volunteers to 1) distribute leaflets to the Tijuana- bound U.S. residents and 2) Provide public health assistance as needed on Saturday night.
Note: IHA contacts will be available for live interviews from the border

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