San Miguel Gate Update
Lorenzo OrtizAssistant Area Operations Manager, USIBWC Southeast Arizona Citizens Forum
March 17, 2017
A steel rolling gate frequently used by members of the Tohono O’odham Nation residing in Mexico.
The gate is located on the U.S.‐Mexico border southeast of Sells. It is not an official Port of Entry, but Border Patrol
has a presence at the gate.
SAN MIGUEL GATE
At the SE Citizens Forum meeting on March 31, 2016, David Garcia (Tohono O'Odham tribal member) pointed out that the rancher on the Mexico side has installed a new gate south of the existing San Miguel gate preventing Tohono O'Odham tribal members in Mexico from accessing medical care in the U.S. Indian Reservation.
On April 27, 2017, USIBWC and CILA staff, along with Mr. Garcia visited the San Miguel gate site and confirmed the presence of a new gate immediately south of the old gate.
It was agreed then that a survey was needed to determine the location of the new gate in relation to the international boundary line.
On Feb. 13, 2017, the USIBWC survey crew demarcated the International Boundary adjacent to the gate and it is evident that aside from a small tie down, the new gate installed by the property owner in Mexico is outside the U.S., on the Mexican side of the boundary line.