Thread: Drug Cartels Outgun Border Agents

Author: Mike Cutler
Source: The Family Security Foundation, Inc.
Date: March 10, 2007


It’s difficult to imagine just how bad things are for our border patrol agents along the U.S.’s southern border. That’s why, as FSM Contributing Editor Mike Cutler suggests, it’d be a good idea for you to see the documentary film, “Border”. Read about it here.



Drug Cartels Outgun Border Agents



“Violence along the U.S.-Mexico border is undergoing what U.S. law enforcement authorities call ‘an unprecedented surge,’ some of it fueled by weapons and ammunition purchased or stolen in the United States.” So says the Washington Times. Not surprisingly, the ever-increasing violence is directly related to the drug trade in the border regions of the United States.



How can the United States possibly attract and keep those young men and women who sign up for the United States Border Patrol? The weapons carried by these violent and vicious smugglers, the adversaries of our border patrol, are often superior to the weapons carried by our agents. The smugglers routinely violate the southern border of the United States, surreptitiously moving drugs and illegal aliens, including criminals and terrorists, across the border. The Border Patrol agents often find themselves in the line of fire of these extremely violent and well-armed smugglers. If these valiant agents hesitate to defend themselves against these murderous thugs, they know that they may pay for that hesitation with their lives or their partner’s life in that lawless part of our country. If they do open fire or take other actions, they also know that they may pay by being prosecuted, forfeiting their careers, their freedom and their ability to support their families. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place!



Last week I was in Washington to attend a number of meetings and to work on a study about the impact of gangs whose members are predominantly aliens. One of the more interesting events I attended was the screening of a documentary entitled, "Border", at the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill, sponsored by Congressman Virgil Goode (R-VA). This is a truly wonderful film by Chris Burgard that I hope ultimately will come to a theater near you. I was impressed with this very compelling account of the disastrous situation along our southern border and, even though I make a brief "cameo appearance" in this documentary, this is not why I am lavishing praise on it: Chris and company did a really wonderful job! I was happy to see so many people at the screening and one guy in particular was a real pleasure to meet, and he turned out to be a total surprise. The actor, Robert Duvall, showed up and we had the opportunity to chat briefly.



Mr. Duvall asked me what I thought about the administration claims that the arrests are down along sections of the Mexican border because the Border Patrol, backed up by members of the National Guard, have intimidated the smugglers. He asked me if I agreed with that assessment. I told him that I have a different take on the situation. I fear that the smugglers have not been as intimidated by our Border Patrol and our often-unarmed National Guard troops as the agents themselves are intimidated by the very government for which they work!



I do not mean this as a slight against the extremely courageous Border Patrol agents, but rather as a condemnation of our own government who does not back up these brave agents. Make no mistake, I do not have any tolerance for rogue law enforcement personnel. I was an INS agent for approximately 30 years and from the day I took my oath and received my badge until the day I left that agency, I always considered that badge to be emblematic of a high trust that the United States government demonstrated in employing me as a federal agent. I believe that law enforcement personnel need to feel the weight of responsibility that the position of a law enforcement professional engenders.



The person who taught that way of thinking was a gentleman by the name of Frank Johnson, who was in charge of the Investigations Branch of the New York District Office where I worked for my thirty years with the INS. He almost invariably ended every meeting with the agents under his command by saying, "As federal agents you must not only not engage in wrongdoing, you must never even give the illusion of doing wrong!" Mr. Johnson, as I referred to him, since he was old enough to be my father, was absolutely correct! (Would that all of our elected officials lived by that code!)



In the case of Ramos and Compean, the recently convicted and imprisoned Border Patrol agents, they and other recently prosecuted agents were treated unfairly. Not only have their lives and the lives of their families been wrecked, their colleagues have to be concerned that when they go on duty each day, they go in harm's way not only because there are criminals who would kill them without a second thought, but because the United States government apparently will side with those criminals should there be any sort of incident. That perception not only endangers those valiant agents, it imperils the citizens of our nation in each and every state who need to have the protection that an effective Border Patrol is responsible for providing to our nation.



With assaults against Border Patrol agents having more than doubled over the past two years, mainly by drug cartels more inclined to use violence as a means of smuggling illegal aliens, criminals, terrorists and drugs, it is so important that all Americans educate themselves about the issues and the facts. I believe that the documentary film "Border" is a wonderful place to begin for those who want to understand just how bad things are for or national – and family – security. I greatly appreciate that Congressman Virgil Goode sponsored that event and continues to demonstrate leadership, especially where the issue of illegal immigration is concerned.



Lead, follow or get out of the way!

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jean Im sorry but when I read "Drug Cartels Outgun Border Agents"

I only come up with one answer and im not allowed t post it. People will use it agianst ali-pac.

Originally Posted by GREGAGREATAMERICAN

jean Im sorry but when I read "Drug Cartels Outgun Border Agents"

I only come up with one answer and im not allowed t post it. People will use it agianst ali-pac.

No need to apologize Greg. Understood!

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