Posted on 07/20/2005 6:58:22 PM PDT by CedarDave
LOS ANGELES -- The top U.S. border enforcement official said Wednesday that his agency is exploring ways to involve citizen volunteers in creating "something akin to a Border Patrol auxiliary" _ a significant shift in rhetoric that comes after a high-profile civilian campaign this spring along the Arizona-Mexico border.
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner told The Associated Press that his agency has focused on involving citizens after noting the willingness of volunteers to help federal agents catch illegal immigrants.
"It is actually as a result of seeing that there is the possibility in local border communities, and maybe even beyond, of having citizens that would be willing to volunteer to help the Border Patrol," Bonner said.
Volunteers would need training and be organized "in a way that would be something akin to a Border Patrol auxiliary," he said. "We value having eyes and ears of citizens and I think that would be one of the things we are looking at is how you better organize, let's say, a citizen effort."
Bonner characterized the idea as "an area we're looking at." Questions such as what kind of authority volunteers would be given _ would they be deputized to make arrests or carry guns _ haven't been answered.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I really like this idea. How does this affect the California Border Police initiative? www.calborderpolice.com
Surprise, surprise. The Minutemen are bringing some refreshing statements from the bureaucrats. Lets see if any of this translates into action.
I guess this would work as well as the policy to train and arm airline pilots after 9-11-2001. (distract and delay)
I like the idea too, it will foster respect and cooperation between the BP and the Minutemen. It will also make the BP more responsive when and if the MM asks for assistance. I am talking about all the threats that had been made against the MM and border watchers recently.
It is a public relations move on their (the govt.) part. When and if the problem or the publicity die down they will no doubt change their tune again.
Ping
This is such a tragedy to watch -- Washington continues to fiddle while America burns....disgusting.
I am wondering if Chris Simcox and Jim Gilchrist are being consulted for their views?
"All proposals are being considered, including clerical work by volunteers that would free up more agents to secure our borders," (CBP Spokeswoman Kristi) Clemens said.
Last sentence. Should be all you need to know. Oh, and that Secretary Chertoff has not been part of these discussions.
Bookmarking.
Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist said he liked the idea but doubted it would happen.
Migrants' advocate Enrique Morones of Border Angels ("Educating citizens and government dignitaries on the status of weather related deaths and racial-discrimination crime deaths is crucial in gaining support in the volunteer, donation and jurisdiction areas. Border Angels are proud supporters of Equal Rights.") , a San Diego group that gives water to immigrants who cross the California-Mexico border, called it "a recipe for disaster."
"You'll have all of these unqualified yahoos being given license to promote hate," he said.
Bonner said the agency would examine how other auxiliaries operate to come up with a possible model. The Coast Guard Auxiliary, for example, has 30,000 members trained to help with such non-law enforcement programs as public education, vessel safety checks and safety patrols.
Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman Kristi Clemens said Homeland Security officials would be briefed on the idea once the agency came up with a proposal.
"All proposals are being considered, including clerical work by volunteers that would free up more agents to secure our borders," she said.
Please put a round through my cranium if I ever sound like these lame weenies. Seriously, right between the eyes. Crying about poor unfortunate people foolishly sneaking through the desert to get on the gravy train on the backs of pissed off Americans who're finding their representatives can't spend any time or effort on their problems or needs because they're too busy lapping up to the mucho generous *ssholes hiring all these wageslaves who happen to be driving all the blue collars out of the market by sheer numbers. There it is.
And the Brown Berets are....?
Somebody really needs to get the message out to the people about exactly who these radical open-border groups are. I guarantee 99% of the country does not know what MECHA is, or has ever heard some of the outrageous quotes from some of these college professors and group leaders out there.
And a reasonable person might conclude that there's a reason for that! Like, a conspiracy of silence, lest the uncomfortable and shocking truth get spoken.
Which is why I'm sure that it'll get the deep 6 treatment from the the rest of the D.C. folks.
"Unqualified yahoos"? Is he referring to persons other than the Officially-Trained-Types Border Patrol personnel? Like his group?
BTTT
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