I applied for the border patrol INS back in 1988. I did not pass the interview. Probably just as well. However, now that my wife is a legal immigrant I have some questions about the INS for you experts here. My only knowledge of the INS has to do with filling out forms for my wife and what I read. My impression is that it is a really weak government agency? Point by point my anaylsis?

1. INS always says "...we don't have enough manpower"... Is this true and if so how many do they really need to be effective? Heck, every fast food joint in Denver has Spanish speakers. INS agents must know where to look? I have joked lined up INS buses at all Catholic masses in Spanish and ask for papers as they leave. I am joking but you get my point!

2. INS employees make less money than similar jobs at other government agencies. I read where many INS officials left the INS to take Airport security management jobs? Why is this so if true?

3. Why is the maximum age for joining the border patrol age 37 and why does not Tancredo introduce legislation to change this?

4. Somebody re-explain what happened in El Paso several years ago when somebody in the INS decided to kick a lot of INS officials out of their 9 to 5 desk jobs and put them on the border with Juarez because the people of El Paso were angry about crime and theft due to Mexican illegals? Crime went down like %40 I heard?

5. I have read where this Texas Congressman, Silvestre Reyes, D Texas
wants amnesty yet he was once the Western Region head of the INS. Was it not his job to keep illegals out? Now he turns the other way?

6. I understand that %40 of the employees of the INS are Hispanic? Is this true and why? because they are already Spanish speaking and minority so they get double consideration in hiring? I don't know somebody tell me the truth on this?