Thread: New Agents Would Push Border Patrol to Its Limits, Officials

May 24, 2005

New Agents Would Push Border Patrol to Its Limits, Officials Say
By Lara Jakes Jordan
Associated Press Writer
This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBG3F49E.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - Hiring 2,000 new agents next year could push the U.S. Border Patrol to its limits in training and managing its ranks, Bush administration officials testified Tuesday.
Previously, Homeland Security Department officials have questioned whether the Border Patrol could handle the new agents, as Congress mandated in an intelligence reform law last year and re-approved last week by the House.

On Tuesday, training officials said it is possible - but warned that the new hires would not come without added costs.

The 2,000 new agents would come close to making out what the Border Patrol could hire "without significantly going on the other side of risk management," said Thomas J. Walters, assistant commissioner of training and development at Customs and Border Protection.

"But we can do it," Walters testified at a House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing.

The White House has asked for funding to hire 210 new agents in the 2006 fiscal year. Additionally, President Bush earlier this month signed an $82 billion Iraq spending bill that would pay for 500 more agents.

About 11,000 agents patrol the nation's 8,000 miles of land and coastal borders. The Border Patrol stopped 1.1 million illegal immigrants from entering the United States last year, but critics have estimated that as many as 2 million more slipped past agents whose numbers were stretched too thin to stop them.

A study released Tuesday by Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, indicates the Border Patrol is not only vastly understaffed, but lacks needed technology. Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Judd Gregg, chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the department's funding, called on Homeland Secretary Michael Chertoff in a May 19 letter to quickly develop a border security strategy.

T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council union, reminded lawmakers that the 2,000 would mark only the first step in hiring 10,000 new agents over the next five years, as Congress mandated.

"I really think that's a minimum figure if we want to secure our borders," Bonner testified. Getting the new agents trained and on the ground could take between a year and 18 months, and would cost up to $179,000 per agent, Walters said.
Moreover, the Border Patrol's training facility in Artesia, N.M. would need dramatic renovations - for dormitory and sewage capacity - to house the new agents, said Director Connie L. Patrick.

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On the Net:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection: http://www.cbp.gov

AP-ES-05-24-05 1800EDT

Sixx says: Obviously the white house is not concerned about our safety.
The 2006 election is going to be a turning point in the history of this nation . I am sure William and the others that monitor canidates will advise us on who we endorse. This will be the chance for us to stand as a team, in each and every state, to take care of business. We will be heard.
We must be heard if are to stand as a nation. I am afraid it is going to take another 9/11 to really and truly wake up the great unwashed. God knows I do not want to see it, but we will have to be hit between the eyes with a 2x4 to get our fellow citizens in the proper mind set.

I agree Sixx. And its not just in Washington, it seems like nobody anywhere remembers 9/11 unless they were involved somehow or lost someone.

On Tuesday, training officials said it is possible - but warned that the new hires would not come without added costs.

Funny I've never heard Jorge Bush complain one time about the cost of giving free education, health care and social services to illegal aliens. He sure didn't think twice about giving away 1 billion dollars of our tax money to fund illegal alien/MS-13 health care. Now this bum cares about spending when it comes to our national security? Gee all this coming from a guy who said last year that he'd move heaven and earth to protect the homeland.

I mean come on, we are already trillions of dollars in debt. What's a few billion more? Oh yeah, but we really need a 540 billion dollar prescription drug bill that gives free viagra to sex offenders:

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/ ... 7072c.html

Nice going Shrub. That is so compassionate of you.

The 2,000 new agents would come close to making out what the Border Patrol could hire "without significantly going on the other side of risk management," said Thomas J. Walters, assistant commissioner of training and development at Customs and Border Protection.

What are you talking about? Going on the other side of risk management? You can tell this clown is from inside the beltway. How's this for risk management jerkwad? During 9-11 over 3,000 Americans dead, economy loses trillions of dollars, tens of thousands lose their jobs. Next 9-11 could involve a dirty nuke, anthrax, bubonic plague, etc. How's that for risk assessment? How about gangs outnumbering cops? Oh that has already happened. Oh but those extra 2,000 agents are really costly. Please, they are fraction of the cost California alone pays for illegal alien health care on a yearly basis. Don't talk to me about cost and risk factors. We are already at crisis level physically, emotionally and economically as a nation.

The White House has asked for funding to hire 210 new agents in the 2006 fiscal year. Additionally, President Bush earlier this month signed an $82 billion Iraq spending bill that would pay for 500 more agents.

Typically Jorge Bush putting a band aide on a gaping knife wound. This just shows once again that he is not and never will be serious about securing our borders. We spend more money on illegal alien benefits then we do keeping them out. Yet we'll put hundreds of thousands of troops on the borders of a foreign country that doesn't even want us in there in the first place. It's an absolute disgrace. It's a travesty that we have to put up with this idiot for 3 plus years probably to only end up having another crappy 2 party choice like we did in 04. Watch it end up being Condi vs Hillary as your two picks in 08.

About 11,000 agents patrol the nation's 8,000 miles of land and coastal borders. The Border Patrol stopped 1.1 million illegal immigrants from entering the United States last year, but critics have estimated that as many as 2 million more slipped past agents whose numbers were stretched too thin to stop them.

Yet Jorge Bush thinks that only adding a couple hundred more is necessary as long as we have enough cameras.

"I really think that's a minimum figure if we want to secure our borders," Bonner testified. Getting the new agents trained and on the ground could take between a year and 18 months, and would cost up to $179,000 per agent, Walters said.
Moreover, the Border Patrol's training facility in Artesia, N.M. would need dramatic renovations - for dormitory and sewage capacity - to house the new agents, said Director Connie L. Patrick.

So overall that would cost us 358 million dollars to get all 2,000 agents trained and on the ground by the end of the year. That's still 642 million dollars less than what we paid for in illegal alien/MS-13 health care in Jorge Bush's 1 billion dollar tax payer bailout for hospitals across America (most of which will be going to that filthhole in Los Angeles). I just don't see what the problem is. To train all 10,000 agents in five years the cost would be 1.79 billion dollars. That's barely more than what Bush made us pay for his illegal alien/MS-13 health care bail out for hospitals across America. So if he's willing to have us shovel out 1 billion for illegal alien/MS-13 health care then what's the big deal about doing that for a few more warm bodies on the border? I'd like to know what the total cost is per year for corporate welfare, illegal alien benefits, pork spending handouts, etc. If your so concerned about saving money all of a sudden then I suggest you spend your energy Jorge in cutting down on the frivilous unconstitutional spending that you sign onto when you put your John Hancock on one of those atrocious omnibus spending bills you twit.

You say you would do anything to protect the homeland then put your money where your mouth is and stop making ridiculous excuses, stop trying to pass the buck, stop listening to what these corporate fat cats are telling you and act like a real president for once in your miserable, stupid life.

Oh what's the use?