Border agency's roving patrol tactics questioned

AUSTIN, TX -- The Border Patrol's practice of deploying agents and stations as far as 100 or more miles from the border is yielding fewer arrests each year, but the agency's practice is still questioned by immigrants, lawyers and judges.

The Austin American-Statesman reports that unlike in other agencies, Border Patrol agents can stop and search vehicles without a warrant while they are near 100 miles from the border.

But judges are throwing out some of the arrests made far from the border by Border Patrol agents because the reasons cited for stopping the suspects are as vague as "not waving" or "not making eye contact."

Roving agents made 1,459 arrests last year, down from 4,448 in 2010 and 9,234 in 2005.