Web Posted: 12/23/2008 12:00 CST
Praise, criticism meet Border Patrol growth
By Hernán Rozemberg - Express-News

The country's national border-protection force now stands at more than 18,000 agents — a milestone for the agency that started out in El Paso in 1924 with 450 officers on horseback.

The beef-up was part of a recruitment effort mandated by President George W. Bush two years ago when he announced the Border Patrol would hire 6,000 new agents by the end of 2008. The goal was a total of 18,319.

As of Dec. 6, the most recent count available, the work force stood at 18,160 agents — technically still short of the mandate, but officials are confident the official tally will be reached.

“We've been on track all year to meet and exceed the goal,â€