By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
Enhancements at a San Diego park have caused an unusual rift between the Border Patrol union and city park officials.
NBC San Diego reports that wooden bollards were placed around the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park in 2013 to prevent cars from driving into the park.
But those roadblocks are now impeding border protection, the union claims, because law enforcement officials can’t get around them.
“It looks to me the design is there in the middle of the roads to keep the Border Patrol agents off those roads where we ordinarily patrol,” said Border Patrol Union Representative Gabe Pacheco.
Now Border Patrol worries that illegal immigrants will use the barriers to their advantage.
But park officials said the bollards are important.
“Bollards are used for 2 main reasons: (1) Public Safety- Protect trail users from vehicular traffic; (2) Stewardship of Public Lands- Protect areas that are environmentally or culturally sensitive,” park’s department spokeswoman Shannon Singler told NBC.
