(quote)

Illegal Invasion: The Battle At The Border
by B. Jay Johnson

The U.S. Border Patrol was out in full force this Labor Day Weekend along the Mexican border. I know it for a fact because I saw it with my own eyes.

As I made plans for my trip to southern California, I considered heading in a northerly direction, but at the last minute I decided it was best to travel south. I took Interstate 20 from Birmingham all the way to far western Texas where I-20 becomes I-10. It was when I traveled on I-10 that I started to notice the border agents. I saw them riding in their vehicles with the words "Border Patrol" painted across the side in giant letters.



They drove parellel to the interstate on backroads. I also saw them parked on the grassy median of the highway. At times they were traveling at a normal rate of speed - at other times, at a fast rate of speed. My imagination started running wild. I wanted to follow them so badly, but I knew I couldn't. For one, they probably would tell me to back off -- and secondly, it would put be behind on my travel schedule.

I also had a one-on-one encounter with a Border Patrol agent as I entered New Mexico from Texas. Signs were up warning travelers to slow down and that they were entering an "inspection station." Yes, every single vehicle that entered New Mexico along I-10 had to stop and check in with the Border Patrol. Admittedly, I was driving well beyond the speed limit before I saw the orange cones at the entrance of the "inspection station." When I came to a stop, the agent smiled at me then asked, "Why are you in such a hurry? You need to slow down." I couldn't argue with him. All I could do was say I was sorry and that the "inspection station" had caught me off guard.

To my amazement, the Border Patrol agent asked me whether I was a legal citizen. Can you believe that? I mean, I'm glad he did. I hope he asks every traveler the same question, but you have to put it all in perspective. As I have been reporting in this special series of reports, judges in the court system apparently are not required to ask a suspected illegal alien whether he or she is a legal citizen when they arrive in court to face charges. You remember the Otis Eaton case, right? The suspect in that case was driving a car that tore through Mr. Eaton's fence, turning it into a mangled mess of metal. He clearly was in Bradley County illegally, but not once was he questioned about his citizenship status. Then you have this here reporter, a legal citizen of the United States, being asked whether he is legal or not. I must laugh at it all. But again, I'm certainly in favor of the Border Patrol doing everything they can to protect our borders.

Having seen the Border Patrol in action, it prompted me to do some research on this special national agency. I will share with you now what I found.

The first thing I discovered is that the Border Patrol has actually been renamed. It is now called the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). CBP combined the inspectional workforces and broad border authorities of U.S. Customs, U.S. Immigration, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the entire U.S. Border Patrol.

CBP includes more than 41,000 employees working to manage, control and protect the Nation's borders, at and between the official ports of entry. "U.S. Customs and Border Protection has accomplished a lot to secure our borders, but there is much more we are doing. We understand that as America's frontline, the security of a nation rests on our shoulders. We have learned the lessons of 9/11 and are working day and night to make America safer and more secure," stated Commissioner Robert C. Bonner.

"For the first time in our nation's history, one agency has the lone responsibility of protecting our borders. As the single, unified border agency, CBP's mission is vitally important to the protection of America and the American people. CBP's priority mission is preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States, while also facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel," continued Commissioner Bonner.

CBP uses multiple strategies and employs the latest in technology to accomplish its dual goals. CBP's initiatives are designed to protect the homeland from acts of terrorism, and reduce the vulnerability to the threat of terrorists through a multi-level inspection process.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection assess all passengers flying into the U.S. from abroad for terrorist risk. We are able to better identify people who may pose a risk through initiatives such as: the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indication Technology (US-VISIT), and the Student and Exchange Visitor System (SEVIS). CBP regularly refuses entry to people who may pose a threat to the security of our country. This was not a focus prior to 9/11, but a shift in priorities and the formation of U.S. Customs and Border Protection has made this the top priority of the agency - keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country.

In addition, CBP uses advance information from the Automated Targeting System (ATS), Automated Export System (AES), and the Trade Act of 2002 Advance Electronic Information Regulations to identify cargo that may pose a threat. CBP's Office of Intelligence and the National Targeting Center (NTC) enhance these initiatives by synthesizing information to provide tactical targeting. Using risk management techniques, they evaluate people and goods to identify a suspicious individual or container before it can reach our shores.

The Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) has made electronic risk management far more effective. The ACE Secure Data Portal provides a single, centralized on-line access point to connect CBP and the trade community. CBP's modernization efforts enhance border security while optimizing the ever-increasing flow of legitimate trade.

CBP also screens high-risk imported food shipments in order to prevent bio-terrorism/agro-terrorism. For the first time, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CBP personnel are working side by side at the NTC to protect the U.S. food supply by taking action, implementing provisions of the Bioterrorism Act of 2002. CBP and FDA are able to react quickly to threats of bio-terrorist attacks on the U.S. food supply or to other food related emergencies.

Furthermore, CBP has established working groups with our foreign counterparts to establish ties, improve security and facilitate the flow of legitimate trade and travel. CBP has established the Container Security Initiative (CSI). Under CSI, CBP pushes the border outward by working jointly with host nation counterparts to identify and pre-screen containers that pose a risk at the foreign port of departure before they are loaded on board vessels bound for the U.S. With the addition of the Port of Piraeus, Greece this week, CSI is now implemented in 20 of the largest ports in terms of container shipments to the U.S.

CBP has implemented joint initiatives with our bordering countries, Canada and Mexico: The Smart Border Declaration and associated 30-Point Action Plan with Canada and The Smart Border Accord with Mexico. The Secure Electronic Network for Travelers' Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) allows pre-screened, low-risk travelers from Mexico to be processed in an expeditious manner through dedicated lanes. Similarly, on our northern border with Canada, we are engaging in NEXUS to identify and facilitate low-risk travelers. Along both borders, CBP has implemented the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program. The FAST program utilizes transponder technology and pre-arrival shipment information to process participating trucks as they arrive at the border, expediting trade while better securing our borders.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection's top priority is to keep terrorists and their weapons from entering the United States. While welcoming all legitimate travelers and trade, CBP officers and agents enforce all applicable U.S. laws. CBP prevents narcotics, agricultural pests and smuggled goods from entering the country and also identifies and arrests those with outstanding criminal warrants. On a typical day last year, CBP officers welcomed 1.2 million people at the nation's 314 land, air and sea ports while denying entry to more than 3,000 inadmissible visitors.

You can learn much more about how the "Border Patrol" or CBP operates by going to their website: www.cbp.gov.

(quote)

http://www.bradleyweekly.com/news.cfm?id=5495