Border Agents Assail Bush's Plan

The Los Angeles Times ^ | January 23, 2004 | Scott Gold and H.G. Reza

[Delta-Tango]

HOUSTON — U.S. Border Patrol agents, charged with enforcing the nation's border laws, are furious about President Bush's proposal to create a guest worker program for millions of illegal immigrants, union leaders say.

In interviews this week, nearly three dozen current and former agents across the nation called Bush's proposal an insult to the thousands of men and women who have devoted their careers to fighting illegal immigration, including wave after wave along the California-Mexico border.

The agents — many of whom otherwise support the White House — savaged the Bush proposal as a grab for Latino votes and a favor to the business community, factions of which rely on cheap immigrant labor. And they say they are bracing for a rush of people trying to sneak into the United States.

"We get rocks thrown at us. We get shot at. We get spit on," said James Stack, a representative of the agents' union and a 16-year veteran who patrols the border near El Paso.

[Delta-Tango]

Straight talk from heroes on the *other* front line.

[South40]

Excellent article. Unfortunately, it will be dismissed by those who think the ILLEGAL immigration problem is due to the inadaquacies of the BP.

Bush's faulty policy is a slap in the face to all the hard working men and women who put their lives on the line each day protecting our borders.

[Thorin]

Bush's policy is actually treasonous, and it's a slap in the face to all Americans, including the Border Patrol agents who risk their lives to defend our borders.

[South40]

I agree. But there are some here who have been harrassing me for days because I say I'll still vote for him. Seems they think if I'm opposed to Bush's faulty proposal I should not support him for president. Like I'm going to vote for a democRAT.

[Land of the Free 04]

nearly three dozen current and former agents across the nation called Bush's proposal an insult to the thousands of men and women who have devoted their careers to fighting illegal immigration

With all due respect for their work, and speaking as a throw-em-all-out advocate, this is like saying that ending Prohibition was an insult to the men who devoted their careers to fighting rumrunning.

[Jotmo]

I don't know if I'd go so far as "treasonous", but it darn close.

[Land of the Free 04]

Like I'm going to vote for a democRAT.

You could vote for the Constitution Party candidate.

[Mamzelle]

Poor guys. Looks like unwilling administration support of willing border agents.

[onedoug]

Does the Border Patrol have a general view on H1B visas? Just curious.

[Land of the Free 04]

"throw-em-all-out": the illegals, that is

[South40]

You could vote for the Constitution Party candidate.

And I could also be one of the 0.37% who vote Libertarian. But I'd rather my vote count and be effective in defeating liberalism. Notice my tagline.

[South40]

Does the Border Patrol have a general view on H1B visas? Just curious.

The H-1B visa program has no serious safeguards to protect American workers from being replaced and is abused to provide cheap foreign labor.

[onedoug]

What sort of "protection" does the Border Patrol feel American workers need? And don't they subscribe to supply and demand economics?

Thank you.

[Dr. Marten]

"Bush's policy is actually treasonous, and it's a slap in the face to all Americans, including the Border Patrol agents who risk their lives to defend our borders."

Agreed! And let's not forget the slap in the face to those wishing to come here who do so legally while incurring great expenses in time and money.

[Dr. Marten]

This policy really pisses me off. Try being a legal citizen of this country and then marrying someone of another nationality. The expenses one must go through with the Federal Government just to bring their spouse here are completely rediculous. Perhaps I should just consider bringing my wife here via Mexico. After all, that is what this encourages.

[South40]

What sort of "protection" does the Border Patrol feel American workers need?

I can only speak for myself. But, with over 9 million Americans currently out of work we don't need to import labor.

And don't they subscribe to supply and demand economics?

The supply is already here, which is exactly why H-1Bs are unnecessary.

You're welcome.

[Thorin]

Of course, as you say, the Bush amnesty scheme is also a slap in the face to those who came here legally or have tried to do so.

[primeval patriot]

Immigration experts, however, said the agents' lobbying effort likely will have little effect on the debate.

They're affecting the debate to such a degree that the LA Times has to run a story to tell us they're doomed to failure.

"The business community, AFL-CIO and the immigrant community are the political forces that are going to determine whether the president's proposal passes"

Are we supposed to believe there's no other opposition besides the Border Patrol?

[Delta-Tango]

Are we supposed to believe there's no other opposition besides the Border Patrol?

Well, the Times didn't interview *me* and I am highly insulted! Actually, I'm surprised they even printed the Border Patrol position at all. At this point I will take what I can get.

[Viking2002]

I hope this whole thing is a cleverly veiled scheme of Dubya's, and he's planning on it to tank. He's got a serious portion of his base PO'd at him.