How can a make a complaint about border patrol?

Question

Last week I was waiting for a friend to enter the US on vacation. He had to wait in a line with his visa and passport to get some special "permission slip" to go beyond the border city. There were 10 people in this line, and we waited for over 2 hours while at least 5 border officers drank coffee, talked on personal cell phones, played on the computer, ate snacks, and talked about their weekends. Eventually everyone in line was told they did not have the right paperwork (even with passport and valid visa) and had to go home. Upsetting, but my real issue is...I am a tax paying citizen of the US, and when I saw the border officers lounging around like it was a Sunday brunch....I was upset!! I got the feeling they didn't have US citizens in their offices very often, and were not used to dealing with people who have actual RIGHTS. I want to know who I can contact to report abuse of taxpayer dollars. I don't pay taxes so people can sit around on their butts all day.

Ok....missing my point here. I don't like wasting my tax dollars, period. Got it? There is an efficient way to do things, and a nonefficient way. And let me tell you, I am proud of the US and our spirit of diversity. I want all LEGAL visitors welcomed with the proper procedures and a smile. I know the way it works "Mr. I used to work there" guy, I was trying to simplify because you can't write your life story on this thing. Both my friend and I have clear records, and there was no record running, or computers. A valid question here is....if LEGAL visitors can't come over without getting harrassed, and ILLEGAL immigrants hear these types of stories....it doesn't provide them a lot of incentive for doing it the right way...does it?? If the US makes the rules, we must be firm, and play by them...and HONOR those who played correctly.

And what I said IS totally accurate....I did leave out some of the other insults and laughing that the officers were directing towards those in line. I have not overstated the even in any way, trust me. And I'm not asking for anything more than what was clearly posted on a sign in the office I was standing in (A friendly greeting, clear understanding of the rules, right to request a suporvisor, etc...) I heard these stories before as well, and I refused to believe them. I thought it came from the mouthes of jealous people who were just impatient, and didn't want to do things the right way...but I found out differently. I was ashamed, and embarassed at that moment, for being totally ignorant to what was going on in my own country. I'm not saying it happens to everyone, or everyday. I can only say what I saw on that day.

Answer 1

Next time call ahead. Tell them you are coming in with the "60 Minute" crew.You will not believe how fast they move then.

Answer 2

Ok, first... those are not border patrol agents. The Border Patrol is something different from what you described here. BP Agents work between the ports of entry on foot, in 4X4 patrol SUV's, patrol cars, horses, ATV's, boats and almost anything else. They are federal police, not port inspectors. What you described is a group of port officers, which bear the job title of Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officer, not border patrol...different.

Now, with that in mind…. If you have your heart set on making a complaint you need to contact the port of entry you were visiting. Oh, when making your complaint you need to keep in mind that part of the inspection process involves running records checks. Like any government computer system this means that it runs real slow. So, while checks are being conducted people have one of two options, stare at the screen or find something to distract themselves with until the paperwork clears. The more people that have incorrect paperwork, the more errors there are in the paperwork, the longer it takes to get it all done.

Oh, there are sections of federal law that are written to prevent certain people from entering even if they have a valid passport and visa. The idea is to protect the U.S. population. If your friend, or anyone else for that matter, had a valid passport, a valid visa and hasn't violated one of the clauses defined by law that prohibit someone from visiting then they would be allowed to enter. If your friend can't get that correct then he/she isn't coming in, THAT is what the officers are paid for.

The "permission slip" as you call it is a Form I-94 and is required to document the travel of a non-immigrant alien beyond 25 miles of the border area or a stay in excess of 72 hours. If you don't like the "permission slip" write your congressman. They're the ones that wrote the law, not the officers that have to enforce it.

Finally, those guys work in a booth or at a counter for the most part. I'd expect they have to sit on the butts all day. We could ask them to stand for the 8 to 10 hours they're working, but that wouldn't be very nice.

Answer 3

Well, there are two sides to every story and I don't actually know what happened in your case so what I would do if I was you is contact the border patrol office in the county you had the problem with. Explain the situation honestly and as completely as you can remember. Include the date and time you went through and the names of the agents if you got them. If that doesn't work I would get in contact with the main agency.

Answer 4

I am 100 % behind the ICE , The Border Patrol ,Customs..etc
They are not at your command.They are for all the people and for the good of this nation.I don't think all that you said is completely accurate.But then again I don't care how long it takes anyone to enter into the USA.
My tax payer dollars goes to the illegal aliens that sneak across the border every day.I don't see you complaining about that.Only
thing you seem to care about is the time you had to wait for someone.Get a grip.There are far more important things in this world than a couple of hours of your time.Protest about whats really wrong .......... illegal aliens in this nation.

Answer 5

I hope you can find out who to complain to about this. In fact, I liked the person's answer here who said you should phone ahead next time and tell them you are coming with a news crew. I bet you will b be guaranteed better service! However, you should still try to find out who to complain to in future and next time, if this should happen again, have the info with you of who to complain to and share it with all the other people in that line with you. Perhaps take a video camera and take footage of the goings on, however, I would do this kinda on the sly so that it is not obvious what you are doing, and then present it with your complaint.

Answer 6

You should write a letter to the supreme court justice and ask him. His name is John Roberts. Contact INS also and tell them we have LAZY workers who are NOT doing their jobs, and are turning away valid visa and passport holders. That is dumb, they are supposed to turn away illegals, not the legals. The whole point is for us to keep ILLEGALS out who dont take an oath to our country and our people.You can also right to the president and their are also border minutemen that you can talk to about it.

Answer 7

I can completely sympathize! The same thing happened to me on my way home in August. I waited in that freaking line for I don't know how long! ARGGGG! But, I was able to cross just by showing my ID and telling him what I was out of the country for. You can contact the department of homeland security to complain. But, just like any other government agency, I really don't think they give a HOOT!

Answer 8

You could tell the INS. However, with an anti-hispanic current running through some of our country, it's possible that no one will care. I, for one, will not lose sleep over some guys sipping coffee and refusing passage to ten people.

Answer 9

Dude you sound like a fascist. The USA always does whats best. Our Great leader G W Bush is behind our border patrol so deal with it. GW is busy reading "My Pet Goat."

Answer 10

Good luck... incompetence, arrogance and general laziness are characteristics of every municipal, state and federal government employee I've ever encountered.