A few weeks ago at a Cook County Board of Commissioners’ meeting board chair Heidi Doo- Kirk talked about the cramped and to some, what would be called deplorable conditions at the Border Patrol office in Grand Marais.
Especially troubling to Doo-Kirk was the open-air bathroom that was part of the workspace.
Efforts have been under way for some time to find a new place to build a larger, more efficient Border Patrol station. Or at the least, enlarge and improve the space they now have. Those efforts were given a boost recently when U.S. Congressman Rick Nolan paid a visit to the station.
Noting that agents are charged with covering Northeastern Minnesota and the Lake Superior shoreline, Nolan said, “Agents at the Grand Marais station face danger as they patrol over tough terrain in challenging weather conditions all year round. And with that in mind, it’s clear that their facility needs a major upgrade.
“Given all the responsibility they have to protect us, the mission support team still does business out of a tiny office that once served as a jail holding cell where the bathroom is literally part of the workspace and their computer support systems operate out of a garage. Make no mistake— they aren’t complaining. But as their congressman, I promise to leave no stone unturned to locate some funding to give them the upgrade they deserve for the important jobs they have. A grateful nation should provide nothing less.”
Matt Curran, Patrol Agent in Charge (PAIC) of the Grand Marais Border Patrol Station, said he was eager to hear from the public about the possibility of having a new station built.
Local Border Patrol agents assist police and other units of government, as well as individuals they come across that need help, said Curran.
A strong promoter of Northeastern Minnesota, Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) Board Member Hal Greenwood said he has been working for some time with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Nolan to find money for building either a new station or to bring the old building up to snuff.
One suggested location for a new office headquarters is near the Cook County Airport, near Devil Track Lake, which is currently undergoing a runway expansion and other upgrades.
A larger building, surmised Greenwood, could possibly provide space that could be used to train agents, which could create more jobs in the area.
“I know some people might be against it, but I don’t see a downside to the community,” Greenwood said, adding that other amenities could be tied to an expansion.
If a new headquarter site is selected for Devil Track, public meetings would be held first to discuss that potential move.
The Border Patrol Station in Grand Marais is part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection safety net, and was first established in 1924 as part of the Duluth Border Patrol Sector. The Duluth Sector was abolished not long after it came into being and in 1939 the station in Grand Marais was placed under the sector headquarters in International Falls.
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website, “The priority mission of the Border Patrol is preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons, including weapons of mass destruction, from entering the United States…”
“While the Border Patrol has changed dramatically since its inception in 1924, its primary mission remains unchanged: to detect and prevent the illegal entry of aliens into the United States. Together with other law enforcement officers, the Border Patrol helps maintain borders that work—facilitating the flow of illegal immigration and goods while preventing the illegal trafficking of people and contraband.”
While in the county, Congressman Nolan met Border Patrol agent Heidi Klozotsky and her canine partner, Dorr.
According to Congressman Nolan, “About 90 percent of all detections and seizures of controlled substances and other contraband materials often used to find terrorism and criminal drug trafficking are carried out by these dogs and their partners,” said Nolan, adding, “Dorr also assists other local law enforcement agencies, helping make the Grand Marais station an asset to the entire region.”
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