Posted on 03/03/2003 10:22:51 PM PST by Marine Inspector
Today was my first day on the job as an officer/agent/who knows what of the new Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP).
The purpose of this thread is to give everyone a glimpse inside the BCBP. I will post to this thread daily and create a new thread weekly.
Feel free to ask me anything you wish about what is going on, but understand that I will not compromise myself or national security. I will give you insight that will not be provided by the media and answer what questions I can.
As expected, not much has changed. I’m still wearing my old INS Inspector uniform, and performing the exact same duties as before.
At our Port of Entry (POE), the top US Customs supervisor has been named as the Port Director (PD) or Port Coordinator (PC). My upper chain of command has changed drastically, but that does really effect me, as my immediate supervisor is still the same.
The PD/PC reports to his same boss at the regional Customs office. Our INS district office and it’s service personnel went to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. That is good, in my opinion.
Currently, my supervisor and the PD/PC have decided that there will be no operational changes in the way the port is run. Agriculture will conduct their business, Customs will conduct their business and INS will conduct our business.
Since Customs does not micro manage as much as INS did, some of our reports have been eliminated. They were never needed, but INS management wanted reports on everything to cover their butts. So there is a little less paperwork at the end of the day for us and our supervisor.
The biggest change came in the form of radiation beepers. We have been issued radiation beepers to carry, while inspecting passengers. The idea is to hopefully detect any radioactive material entering the country.
Unfortunately, in the Governments move for good PR, the beepers have to be worn by us at the front of the inspection area. While that may sound correct, the passengers do not have their luggage when us former INS officers inspect them. Once we are done, they collect their luggage end report to Customs and Agriculture.
This is were you want the pagers. More than likely, the smuggler will have the material in his luggage as opposed to on his person. Typical Government move. We sent a message to HQ explaining this, but we’re sure it will fall on deaf ears.
That’s about it for day one, I’ll report back tomorrow.
Today started out bad. On the way to work, the engine in my truck blew up. $2,600.00 in damage. Ouch.
Once I got to the office, I found out that the local news would be down in the Federal Inspection Service (FIS) area. Apparently they saw a report out of JFK on the radiation beepers and wanted their own local take on it.
It turned into a dog and pony show. We have 8 beepers, of which only 5 currently work. The other 3 are in for repairs. So to make it look like everyone had a beeper, our supervisors only put 5 inspectors on primary to clear the flight. Normally, all 8 inspectors would be working the flight, but she had 3 of us stay in Secondary, so the news would see everyone with a beeper. Pure BS.
Not much happened. We did a lot of speculating on what may or may not happen. There will be a lot of meetings with the middle managers this week and information will be slow to trickle down.
That's it for day two. See you tomorrow.
What happens, if the 5 you still have break before the 3 that are in for repair come back?
If I understand you correctly, there's no radiation detection equipment being used to screen the luggage?
Please put me on your list, MI. Stay safe.
These radiation beepers cost somewhere around $2,500 each, right? The mainstream media has effectively advertised the fact that they are actively in use at all ports of entry. If someone wanted to smuggle in a dirty bomb at this stage in the game, wouldn't they just cut some barbed-wire and circumvent the beepers?
Sounds like an expensive farce to me. If they had managed to distribute and use the beepers without all of the publicity, they might have actually been worth something. Am I way off here or is that pretty much the reality of the situation?
Support your local Border Patrol
Thanks for fighting for us on the front lines. If it was possible, I would fight along next to you. God bless you and keep you safe.
$1,300. Yes, it is doubtful that someone would be dumb enough to bring the device or material through a POE, since the borders are wide open.
Sounds like an expensive farce to me. If they had managed to distribute and use the beepers without all of the publicity, they might have actually been worth something. Am I way off here or is that pretty much the reality of the situation?
No your not way off, unless I'm way off also. I think it's a big farce also.
Please keep me (or add me) on your ping list. I can not promise to always behave but I will try. I for one would feel a whole lot more comfortable if every piece of baggage was screened for radiation. Further, I also have memories of the Japanese terrorists who shot up an airport when their checked baggae was unloaded. This was in Isreal. I do hope procedures are in place to handle this possible eventuality.
As far as we know, Border Patrol will not be touched in any way.
They are set really low (sensitive), so I would assume they would.
Nothing to report.
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