By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection wants to open a new Border Patrol station in Pima County along SR 86.
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The 87-acre site would be on West Ajo Highway, roughly five miles east of the existing CBP station in Three Points.
CBP said it is one of several projects in the works along the southwest border.
The plan has drawn mixed reaction from the community.
Business owner supports project
Danny Flores has operated F&F Feeds in Three Points for decades.
For the last eight years, the CBP Border Patrol station has been the view outside his window.
“Before Border Patrol became a presence out here like they are right now, I would see people getting smuggled right behind my property of my feed store into the desert,” Flores said.
Flores said he has since seen fewer people cross through his backyard and feels safer as a result.
“There’s a lot of stories that this desert has that isn’t told in mainstream media or mainstream news, nobody wants to hear it, but it’s here. And these guys put their lives on the line all the time, and they do it for us,” Flores said.
Flores said that is why he welcomes the addition of a new Border Patrol station.
Environmental assessment underway
According to a letter obtained by 13 News, CBP is preparing an environmental assessment on the land, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The purpose of the new station is to accommodate the addition of new agents, increase arrests of those entering the country illegally, and stop human and drug trafficking.
Flores said he has mixed feelings about the immigration process but believes additional law enforcement could help discourage criminal activity and keep Three Points safer for residents.
“It gives a sense of security to the community; maybe the more (agents) will be out here, you’ll see more law cruising around…I think it’s a good thing,” Flores said.
Landowner raises concerns
Not all community members feel the same.
Rosie Crocker recently bought land in Three Points to build a garden but said the news has put a damper on her plans.
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“We are constantly followed and harassed by Border Patrol already, and just having more of them, more stations, more Border Patrol vehicles seems completely unnecessary to me,” Crocker said, referencing her experience while hiking near the border.
Crocker said building the station over natural desert makes the situation worse.
“There’s a lot going on on our borderlands and near Tucson that is just decimating desert and not really caring about the environment or the people that live there,” Crocker said.
Rural area lacks local law enforcement
Flores said that in a rural community without a local sheriff or police presence, residents need some form of authority to keep people in check and prevent dangerous situations from getting out of hand.
“That’s why we’re paying our taxes, that’s why we have representation, we need representation out here, and I think Border Patrol’s a step in the right direction,” Flores said.
13 News reached out to CBP for comment about the project. Their full response is below.
“Funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill will allow CBP to make long-overdue improvements to border security infrastructure. We are in the early planning stages for new and modernized Border Patrol stations and checkpoints across the Southwest border. These investments will replace aging facilities, strengthen operations in key locations, and give our agents the resources they need to stop human and drug smugglers. As potential locations are evaluated, CBP will seek input from local communities before projects move forward.”
They were unable to provide additional information about the project’s costs, construction timeline, or proximity to the existing station.
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