Elderly Former Arizona Governor Detained at Border Checkpoint
- Posted on July 6, 2012 at 8:00am by
Christopher Santarelli
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(AP) — Former Arizona Gov. Raul Castro, who in the 1970s served as the state’s first and only Hispanic governor, was detained at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint after the vehicle he was traveling in triggered a radiation sensor.
The Arizona Republic reported that Castro was briefly detained June 12 at a checkpoint on Interstate 19 as he was traveling from his home in Nogales, Ariz., to celebrate his 96th birthday in Tucson. The Mexican-born Castro was governor of Arizona from 1974 to 1977.
Castro said agents questioned him outside his vehicle in 100-degree heat. He said he explained to them that he had undergone hospital testing on his pacemaker the previous day, likely triggering the sensor.
Castro told The Associated Press on Thursday that he believed the stop was prompted by a monitor being set off, not on his appearance.
“I don’t think being Hispanic had anything to do with it,” Castro said. He said he was detained for 40 to 45 minutes; the federal agency said it lasted 10 minutes.
The former governor downplayed the detention, noting that he wasn‘t pleased with the way he was treated but didn’t file a complaint. He said that he understands Border Patrol agents are “there to do a job” but that they need a better system for dealing with elderly people. He said he was exposed to the sun during part of the questioning.
“Once I identified myself, who I was, and that I had been to the doctor, I was under medical care, I have a pacemaker on my heart, (I would have thought) that they would have been more considerate and said, `Keep on going.‘ But that didn’t happen,” Castro said.
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Secret Squirrel
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 7:21pm.
Report Post »They’re stopping people at the border?
When did this begin?
Oh, he was heading south. Never mind.
Secret Squirrel
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 7:19pm.
Report Post »Too bad it wasn’t Napolitano
rightwinglefty
Posted on July 7, 2012 at 12:41pmFirst and only Hispanic Governor in AZ. He had close ties to organized crime and illegal gambling in AZ. Jimmy Carter made him ambassador to Argentina after 2 yrs. as Gov. The heat was on Castro in Arizona due to the assasination of a local newspaper reporter. Let him sweat a little.
Report Post »inferno
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 2:14pmThis is for Snowleopard., whoever he or she is… As regards to Arizona “harassing” people at the border, If and when a radiological device does make it into the US, I would hope that Snowleopard and others with the same mentality, are the very first to glow in the dark, should such a device be detonated.
Report Post »Wool-Free Vision
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 3:09pmREADING COMPREHENSION 101:
SnowLeopard’s comment was that she was sick of “Feds harassing Arizonans.” YOU MISSED HER POINT ENTIRELY. You and EqualJustice seriously need to follow the basic rule of internet message boards: Read, Comprehend, Post. IN THAT ORDER. RCP.
Report Post »Wool-Free Vision
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 3:23pmThe point is that this American citizen did not even cross the border, and he is the FORMER GOVERNOR OF THE STATE. Do you really think HE was smuggling uranium from his home in Nogales, Arizona to Tuscon, Arizona????????
The point is that this is how the Feds are choosing to handle the situation – just like the TSA is handling the airports. They are heaping unnecessary burdens on the backs of American citizens merely for the sake of political correctness. No profiling allowed in this Bizarro P.C.U.S.A. The feds are INTENTIONALLY harassing the citizens of Arizona INSTEAD of the actual illegal aliens. A former governor in the heat on the roadside for 45 minutes at his age and with a pacemaker.
Report Post »wildbluyonder11
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 3:40pmSo, woolfree, because he’s an ex-politician, he’s above reproach? Just because someone serves in government does not get them a free pass.
Report Post »Wool-Free Vision
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 4:14pmNo, Wildblu. It’s the fact that it was his NINETY-SIXTH BIRTHDAY. AND he is a former governor. AND he is a U.S. citizen travelling within the borders, not across them. AND I don’t have a problem with the fact that they checked him out, because he DID set off the radiation detector – but it shouldn’t have taken 40+ minutes in 100+ temperatures to check his EASILY verifiable credentials AND story about the pacemaker. He should have been back on the road to Tuscon to celebrate his birthday in less than 10 minutes.
Does anyone with any common sense really believe that this pleasant, well-dressed, 96 year old former governor would be smuggling a dirty bomb to Tuscon ON HIS 96th BIRTHDAY???? Seriously.
The problem is that no one bothers to apply common sense anymore. It’s why elderly grannies and little children are poked and prodded by the TSA. It is more of the soft tyranny that comes from a bloated and overreaching Federal government.
Report Post »inferno
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 2:05pmHardly a peep by the establishmnet when an elderly Grandmother , or a four old is practically strip
Report Post »searched at an airport, even though they did nothing that would signal a security risk. However, let a Latino ex Governor set off a radiation alarm, and charges of racism raises it’s ugly head. Thank goodness there are Latino and Latina border agents. They are there to protect their families along with everyone elses. Had there only been Anglo agents, one would hope they would not have ignored the alarm, to avoid being called “racists”.
Wool-Free Vision
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 3:36pmWhere are these charges of racism you mention? OTHER THAN IN YOUR COMMENT, I MEAN.
Report Post »dennisS
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 12:55pmThe checkpoint that ex-Gov. Castro was stopped at is on I-19, about 20 miles north of Nogales. There are permanent or temporary checkpoints on all state roads north of the border. I live in Tucson and have gone through these checkpoints thousands of times. Most of them have no air conditioning and I find it hard to believe that racism is even being brought up. Go through a checkpoint and I would say that at least 50% of the Border Patrol agents are Hispanic.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 11:41amWell at least they have radiation sensors………….
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 11:39amSweet lookin old dude, but glad to see someone is on the ball.
Report Post »Bennett Hammond
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 10:43amOh a trace of medical radiation they recognize, but not the Governor? Some of those Border Patrol people are on the wrong side of the border.
Report Post »lokisince89
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 10:50amWithout looking, who was the Governor of your state in 1974???
Report Post »lokisince89
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 10:16amHave to say this is a non issue- Rad detector hit requires a stop regardless of the person driving. The sensors will pick up not only medical radiation but often some deposits of granite have enough to trigger an alarm.
Report Post »BURTOUT- CBP has enforcement and search rights within 30 miles of the border. At the border station they have broader search rights than they do in the enforcement corridors though.
RaydocX
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:18amWe were initially tols to tell patients receiving radioactive iodine for hyperthyroidism to be aware the sensor at airports train stations etc might prompt extra questions… Just last week I was informed it’s now 90 days…
That’s impressive sensitivity, but makes me wonder why they’ve ratcheted up the sensitivity… Of course this administration and it’s enforcement arms only gave transparency lip service, they wont employ profiling which is effective, and won’t talk to us so we can help to protect ourselves by vigilance. No, just let us check your ID 3 more times after check in to the cure area, oh, and those hideously expensive drinks purchased in the secure area? Let them ‘test’ those too…
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:00amRadiation could mean a “dirty bomb.” They were right in checking for the source and keeping him away from any buildings.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 8:48amI’m impressed that said detection instrument is actually that sensitive. It’s too bad for the elderly former Governor, and he probably should have taken to an air conditioned office. But, the detection alert obviously had to be checked.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 8:34amUh, a check point between Nogales Arizona and Tucson? Anyone?
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 12:31pmIf you have never been to Nogales, it is hard to understand why there is a further check in the US. I went to Nogales on business. Very quickly you will understand.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 8:20amSo the harrasment of the Feds against those from AZ continues apace. No suprise at all.
Report Post »Blazebanned
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 8:36amSnow, you may be correct, but radiation is a huge concern,though maybe the border patrol overreacted a bit.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 8:44amOMG, will you stop VALIDATING each other’s RIDICULOUS posts. His stop had NOTHING to do with him being HISPANIC. Comprehension problem, much? AND why is this NEWS, anyway? Don’t hear about the illegal aliens, who rape and murder EVERY day, like this?
Report Post »Wool-Free Vision
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:13amEqual, she said “The Feds harassing Arizonans,” which you, apparently, took to mean “Arizonans harassing Hispanics.”
I believe her point is “why the hell is there a border checkpoint between Nogales, Arizona and Tuscon, Arizona? Shouldn‘t they be guarding the actual BORDER and not harassing American citizens who aren’t even crossing it?”
Report Post »brntout
Posted on July 6, 2012 at 10:47am@ WOOL-FREEVISION, The only check point is on the border of Mexico Nogales and the supposed extention of Nogales into Arizona. You get stopped by Mexican border patrol and scrutinized more than you do upon your return than you do on return by US guards.
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