New $17M Border Patrol Station Breaks Ground In Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) Border patrol agents and others gathered to break ground for a new $17 million facility on East Jefferson near Conner in Detroit.

It's meant to make it easier for United States and Canadian officials to work both sides of the border and reduce the likelihood of terrorists crossing the border.

Serge Cote, the officer in charge of the Windsor Royal Canadian Mounted Police, was on hand for the groundbreaking.

"We share intelligence, anything that's got a nexus to the border and through the sharing of this intelligence we're not working in silos so can coordinate efforts and basically maximize operations (and) security as a result of that," Cote said

This new facility will allow for more parking, office space and holding areas -- while providing new training facilities and a short stay kennel for the dogs that search for contraband.

About 100 officers will operate out of the new facility.

"Border patrol does not own the corner market when it comes to protecting this country against those who would do harm to us. We do that in an integrated fashion with federal, state, local and tribal communities recognizing that we need to pool our resources together," said chief Michael Fisher, adding, "The public should feel very safe that we're out there doing this each and every day."