Fewer Border Patrol Agents on the border?
by Hugh Holub on May. 29, 2011, under border issues, border patrol, border patrol tucson sector, politicsA very interesting article from Homeland Security Today by Anthony L. Kimery
DHS: An Acceptable Level of Illegal Migration; a Downsized Border Patrol?
May 26, 2011
By: Anthony Kimery
A variety of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials on the US border with Mexico interviewed by Homeland Security Today offered a candidly astonishing revelation. They said because of the decrease in apprehensions of illegals and the increase in seizures of narcotics trying to be smuggled into the country, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leaders in Washington, DC are mulling over the notion of whether, as a matter of official policy, there’s an acceptable level of illegal migration into the United States – and whether the CBP workforce needs to be slashed as a result.
The officials said the decrease in apprehensions has caused some officials to believe that some Border Patrol stations and outposts and CBP operations along the southern border are “over-manned” and not as busy as they’d been in recent years. Some of the officials even said “things” have had to be “found … to [keep some agents] busy.”
But officials and former officials said the notion that there’s an acceptable level of illegal migration fails to take into account the lack of sufficient numbers of CBP agents at land Ports of Entry (PoEs); not enough Border Patrol agents on patrol in the most inhospitable areas of the northern border; and Border Patrol’s insufficient policing of federally owned lands on both borders because Border Patrol agents aren’t allowed to routinely patrol these lands without first “jumping through all sorts of environmental and other hoops,” as an agent complained.
Consequently, according to senior Border Patrol agents and officials Homeland Security Today interviewed, there are significant stretches of land along both the US/Mexico and US/Canadian border that aren’t adequately patrolled by boots on the ground.
Not enough boots on the ground?
Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) that represents the entire 24,000-employee CBP workforce, told Homeland Security Today in a statement that “the reality on the ground is that Customs and Border Protection staffing at ports of entry all along the US southwestern border is insufficient. Incidents of employees having to work forced overtime and double-shifting are all too commonplace.”
“Moreover,” Kelley said, “it is a situation that appears likely to worsen, rather than improve, particular in heavily-trafficked ports where CBP has plans to expand the number of open travel lanes without a corresponding increase in staffing. For example, the number of inspection booths in the San Ysidro port of entry will increase from 24 to 63 in the near future. All of this puts enormous pressure on CBP employees.”
Continuing, Kelley said “CBP and Congress should be addressing the critical staffing shortages along the US southwestern border. The men and women of CBP deserve the staffing and resources they need to perform their vital homeland security and trade facilitation duties.”
…..Separately, the House Committee on Appropriations approved its version of the fiscal 2012 homeland security appropriations measure that provides for a total of 21,186 CBP Officers.
But, Kelley said, CBP “is continuing to increase the number of supervisors when a much greater need exists for new frontline hires.”
…
“Kelley nailed it nicely on shortages at the POE’s, which include air and sea ports,” said former veteran Border Patrol agent, G. Alan Ferguson, vice chairman of the National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers.
…..
And “as for agents having nothing to do, that is pure BS,” Ferguson said, pointing out that “I’m in touch with agents all along the Arizona border several times a day, both by phone and online, and I quote one here: ‘the entire Arizona border, with the exception of Yuma, is out of control.’”
Other boots on the ground Border Patrol agents Homeland Security Today interviewed expressed identical sentiments.
“Any concept of an acceptable level [of illegal migration] is bogus on its face when false numbers are being used,” Ferguson declared, saying “DHS has painted a lie that the border is secure, that there are fewer coming [across the border] and that there are few physically in the US. They use a figure of 12 million, when it is closer to 25 million at the least. And they keep coming … A prime example are the two trucks in Mexico carrying over 513 [illegals] headed here just reported in the news. How many trucks and trains carrying numbers like that are not caught before getting here?”
Comment: I can’t imagine shrinking the Border Patrol anytime soon. There are major areas on both the Arizona and Texas borders that are not secured.
There is a growing issue about Border Patrol deployment…why are they running around up to 100 miles from the border when major areas at the border are still wide open?
Where is the border with Mexico? At the official border or 100 miles inland?
And if we ever do get immigration law reform and open up legal entry for guest workers … while that would obviously cut the flow of illegal entry outside of the ports of entry… we will still have the drug smugglers to deal with out in the back country.
As noted by a border rancher…while the number of illegal aliens crossing his ranch has declined… it has gotten a lot more dangerous on the ranch because of the drug cartel activity.
Life Along The U.S. Mexico Border Gets More Dangerous, Ranchers Say
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May 29th, 2011 on 7:31 am
I don’t hear the leaders of the BP union complaining about these “easier” deployments. I hear no union official, crying, “For God’s sakes! Put us along the south flank of the Atascosas Mountains where the action is. We must do more foot patrols there!”
Having been a loyal member and local officer of a union, it was common practice for us to work hand-in-hand with management to create cushy positions which we used to reward our members. (Or to punish by withholding a better job assignment, as the case may be.)
Heck, if I were stationed along the border in rugged, dangerous territory, I’d kiss ass to move up to the Checkpoint on I-19 at Amado!
May 29th, 2011 on 7:08 pm
Hugh:
Great article. Its what I have been commenting about. They cook the books on just how crime there is, how many come across etc. Then they state that there will be “acceptable” illegals. Thay are traitors. I will say that again. Traitors.
Looks a lot like the Westmoreland” miscount. CBS News and CIA Sam Adams were right. That means that every soldier who died after that decision was made died for no reason. Westmoreland said that there were only about 350,000 Commie Viet Cong and NVA Regular troops. There were over 600,000 there. We knew because of a thing called the Tet Offensive. President Johnson refused to run again. Westmoreland sued CBS News. He was wrong. And he knew it. I still consider a spineless, gutless worm.
The same thing for Nappy and Obama. They know what the real figures. But this time all of those illegal alien peon mexicans are flooding into the USA. Isnt that nice. Just who we need here.
I can almost think there will be another revolution. But you folks who just love the idea of Baja Arizona better wake the f**k up. Our problem isnt in Phoenix its right here SOUTH of the border. For the first time in my life I have actually considered buying a gun. (to protect my house). My niece in Phoenix area had a Cartel hit team shoot 23 rounds into her house trying to take out some drug runner/or whoever works for them. He ran to hide from them under my nieces truck. The rounds sprayed all over their house, missing them by inches. Just another “present” from our little friends in Mexico…along with the druggie dumbshits who think its “cool” to take drugs. They also are responsible for the 35,000 deaths in Mexico. (if they are Drug Cartels members then thats Ok, send them all to hell). And all of the dead cops and innocents who have died. Not counting the crime the druggies commit. Don’t get me started on the Hispanic crime problems. % wise not a good ratio folks. Watch the news and see who is on the screen and read the newspapers, who is listed. A lot of this is from the drug problem and illegal alien peons.
We are being led by traitors. All they want is to have 13 million illegals made citizens. So they can vote for the Democratic Party. Do they think we are that stupid?
Wake up America. I know I will get a flurry of comments from the liberals who think that the word “Immigration Reform” is a real thing. There is no such thing. Secure the Border, protect the border. Enforce the existing laws.
May 29th, 2011 on 7:10 pm
Sorry about the three typos!
May 30th, 2011 on 9:50 am
Here’s something else to consider, fraser:
“The Police Executive Research Forum polled 233 local law enforcement agencies in 2009, and found that the link between poverty and crime was inextricable. A prolonged recession would only make matters worse, the research showed. After reviewing the data, PERF Executive Director Chuck Wexler told Reuters, “We are not saying there is going to be a crime wave, but we are saying this is a wake-up call and we anticipate the situation will continue to deteriorate.”
May 30th, 2011 on 9:13 am
Hey Hugh: Didn’t you hear? Big Sis has declared the Border secure now. All is well. We are safe. the troops and the B.P. can go home now. POTUS Obama has won another victory and the system has worked again. Nothing to see here anymore, folks. You can all go home now. God bless America and our government, especially TSA, which is coming to your loval bus stations as soon as POTUS can get it through congress. But, if he didn’t go through congress and the War Powers Act to start bombing Lybia, he won’t need to do that either, will he? — Yer pal, Ferrari Bubba
May 30th, 2011 on 9:53 am
Sorry Ferrari; it looks like crime has come to Arkansas. Little Rock is #7 on the crime and poverty hit list.
May 30th, 2011 on 11:39 am
Good Job OBAMA! He gets it. Way too many employees sitting around. Less is MORE!
June 4th, 2011 on 1:46 pm
Mr. Holub-
I live a mile east of the San Pedro River in Cochise county; my southern boundary is Mexico. Flat statement: There are fewer agents actually patroling the border now than any timein the past ten years. The EIS team (National Guard) that was a half mile north of me left last week