[mikestew]

Their entire job function is to prevent illegal entry, toll violations etc.

To me, one of the key elements of the story is this: getting from Yuma, AZ to Las Vegas, NV does not involve crossing an international border. So this level of harassment a few hours drive from an actual border seems a bit uncalled for.

[SamReidHughes]

It's a lot easier to have checkpoints at the chokepoints outside of the metro region, because all the illegals and smugglers have to pass through them at some point. There's too much surface area to defend in Yuma proper.

[stickfigure]

It's "a lot easier" to set up video surveillance in everyone's home, but we don't let the state do that either.

[SamReidHughes]

I'd say there's a trade off to be made. If we didn't have any illegal immigration or smuggling, obviously it would be unreasonable. On the other hand, if we had a million professional gang members entering each year via various tunnels into Yuma, it would be reasonable to put checkpoints on the outside of the city to help curb the problem. Or evacuate the city and nuke it from orbit.

[Asooka]

Technically, airports are borders, so if he did drive close to an airport, he was in the border zone.