PORT ANGELES — Watch for more impromptu U.S. Border Patrol immigration checkpoints around the north Olympic Peninsula, an agent says.
One such checkpoint was set up Friday near the Hood Canal floating bridge. Another was used about six months ago near Forks.
The latest checkpoint, set up a mile west of the bridge, operated for five hours Friday.
The main objective of the temporary checkpoints is to catch terrorists and illegal immigrants, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Michael Bermudez said.
They’re also used with local law enforcement to arrest felons and seize drugs and weapons, he said.
Friday’s checkpoint netted seven illegal immigrants and one person with a felony warrant, Bermudez said. Also, $2,500 worth of illegally harvested salal, an evergreen perennial popular in floral arrangements.
Bermudez declined to say where or when the next checkpoints would be but added, “We are expecting to begin using them frequently in and around that area, and in places in Jefferson and Clallam counties.”
Border Patrol Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Joseph Guiliano said checkpoints on U.S. Highway 101 are planned north of Forks and south of Discovery Bay between now and mid-September.
Six illegal immigrants were detained at a checkpoint eight miles north of Forks about six months ago, Guiliano said.
In March 2007, agents detained seven people at a checkpoint near Forks.
Friday’s checkpoint required vehicles heading eastbound on State Highway 104 to stop briefly while agents looked them over and asked some questions of the drivers.
Cars were sent to a secondary lane if agents thought more investigation was needed; otherwise, drivers were allowed to proceed.
Bermudez said he doesn’t think traffic came to a halt at any time during the checkpoint.
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