"Yes, at last the Homeland Security Department, which runs the Border Patrol, has figured out what threatens our border: it’s not Mexicans or Central Americans crossing illegally to try to better their lots; it’s not terrorists bent on acts of destruction; no, it’s members of Congress sneaking down to the border to talk to Border Patrol agents without their supervisors present.
According to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman, the filing of Significant Incident Reports on congressional visits is necessary for agency leadership to have ‘‘appropriate situational awareness” – whatever that is.
One unnamed Tucson Border Patrol agent was suspended from his job for 10 days without pay for meeting with Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, and giving the congressman a tracking demonstration. His suspension letter said in part, ‘‘You did not have prior supervisory permission to perform these activities while in an on-duty status.”
2006-09-30
08:19:30
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16 answers
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asked by
DAR
7
in
Politics & Government
➔ Immigration
Agents can’t talk to a member of Congress without supervisory permission. They can’t pursue suspected smugglers who cross the border illegally from Mexico without supervisory permission.
Rep. King, who resents having his border moves monitored by the Homeland Security Department, said that on several of his unannounced visits, Border Patrol agents would not speak to him for fear of reprisal. He called the required filing of incident reports a form of intimidation.
‘‘If anyone is going to be punished,” King said, ‘‘then they should be punished for not speaking to a member of Congress, rather than for telling the truth.”
Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, who also has made unannounced visits to the border, agreed with King that agents are being intimidated by their superiors and raised the specter of congressional hearings and subpoenas to investigate the matter."
What do you think is going on here?
http://www.dailybulletin.com/opinions/ci_4407786
2006-09-30
08:20:42 ·
update #1
this all so ridiculous dont you think ? its getting crazy!!
2006-09-30 08:23:20
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answer #1
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answered by hayleylov 6
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The truth about what is really going on will most likely infuriate the American public much the way the protests did back in May. For whatever reason it has, the government does not want the truth to get out. Why else would they be opposed to that? It's not like they are speaking to the Taliban, right? I'd like to hear what the Border Patrol Agents have to say.
2006-09-30 10:54:57
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answer #2
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answered by Mr. Boof 6
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Well, the border patrol group is a police group. They have levels of command just like in the military. It is my appraisal of this situation that the agent was being held to the highest standard of following "military/police" command policies to make and example of him and to others. The border patrol group are in the publics eye big time at the moment and I'm sure the superiors are biting their nails in concern for not wanting anything to get out of hand or out of control. After all they are cops!
That all said, it seems to me that as I have paid close attention to what is going on at the border, the border guys are either not being given the tools to do the job or their is some kind of double speak going on here. Telling the American people one thing and dong the exact opposite.
I have been railing for some time now about how corrupt our government has become/is and that we are being fleeced at every turn, misled and lied to. It's that simple. I rather suspect that the potentates of the border patrol have this awareness and they can't afford to lose control or their heads will roll.
Sad but true.
Unless somethings change dramatically, I'm afraid America is lost to all that most of us hold dear. In this case something as basic a right as to live in a society that conducts/ protects and encourages that which is legal.
It seems to me that this is no longer the case in reality.
2006-09-30 08:57:52
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE!
Let there be a Congressional Investigation...demand it....on the intimidation tactics used by
THOSE SUPERVISORS..
What's their names anyway, Hosea? Pedro? Fire the whole damn bunch and replace them with some Americans....
The Border Patrol Agents need to sue...that's the only way they will get their point across.
2006-09-30 09:03:43
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Someone is trying to hide something, or they are afraid that they will be exposed as incompetent. A light needs to be shown on the Chain of command of the U.S. Border patrol. Lets see what crawls out of the darkness.
2006-09-30 08:34:25
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answer #5
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answered by Stands Alone 2
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Or, maybe, they need to overhaul the border patrol like they did with NASA. Worked for the space program!
2006-09-30 09:04:03
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answer #6
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answered by gokart121 6
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The last line in the link says it far better than I could it says
we have met the enemy and he is us. Or, at least to the Border Patrol, he is our elected representatives.
That's a disgrace to all.
Juan Carlo your post also makes sense,thank you for looking at it from a different view.
2006-09-30 08:47:34
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answer #7
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answered by Yakuza 7
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that's searching like the way ahead for u.s. is popping bleak. no longer allowing our squaddies and regulation enforcement officials to do their jobs without concern of prosecution. This appears a transforming into trend. Punishing those who commit themselves to serve the perfect interests of our united states for doing their jobs. they should be free to proceed their good paintings. Like I say......The enemy interior will be our lack of life.
2016-12-04 01:48:48
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answer #8
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answered by thorpe 4
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I agree, it is about time that our elected officials took an actual interest in something other than their voting for a pay raise for themselves. How can you understand an issue without studying it, and where can you study it better than where it is happening. I commend these congressmen for their actions.
2006-09-30 08:26:01
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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I commend Congressional members on getting inside the issue and finding out what it's really all about instead of voting "yay" or "nay" inside their comfortable Washington D.C. fortress.
2006-09-30 08:22:30
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answer #10
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answered by The Savage Jaw 3
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Amen..."are we there". We need people with a spine there who are willing to do the tough job the freaks will not do. I'm sick of the constant flow...someone needs to dam up those holes!
2006-09-30 08:40:34
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answer #11
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answered by Cinner 7
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