2,000 new border agents aren't part of budget, [Bush] says

USA Today ^ | Jan. 25, 2005 | Mimi Hall

[citizen]

2,000 new border agents aren't part of budget, Ridge says

President Bush (news - web sites) will not ask Congress for enough money to add 2,000 agents to patrol the nation's borders in his 2006 budget, even though he signed a bill last month authorizing the increase.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Monday that Bush's new budget, to be released in early February, will propose a "good incremental increase" in the number of agents. But he made it clear the number would not approach 2,000. The new agents were to be the first hires toward doubling the size of the force over five years.

As part of a sweeping intelligence bill passed in December, Congress called for nearly doubling the size of the Border Patrol by adding 10,000 agents over five years. The agency has about 11,000 agents; 90% work along the southern border with Mexico.

But in an interview with USA TODAY, Ridge scoffed at the notion of adding so many agents and said it would be an inefficient use of precious homeland security dollars.

"The notion that you're going to have 10,000 is sort of a fool's gold," Ridge said. "It's nice to say you're going to have 10,000 more Border Patrol agents in five years, but what other part of Homeland Security do you want to take the money from?"

[A Navy Vet]

"...but what other part of Homeland Security do you want to take the money from?"

Here's an idea...re-direct the 3 billion Bush is going to throw down the African toilet for AIDS this year.

[Marine Inspector]

That won't work, as those idiots will not help protect the country.

Just fire them and hire people who do want to help protect the country.

[servantboy777]

2,000 new border agents aren't part of budget, Ridge says

Oh man! here we go. Don't get me started again on this illegal thing.

Ok- just for a minute. Bush doesn't want to restrict the illegals. Why? You guess is as good as mine, but we are losing our national sovereignty. Pappa and baby are both globalist.

[texastoo]

Anyone know how border security was handled in WWII

US citizens rode horses and secured the borders in this area. Old timers love to talk about this. They took turns day and night riding the border.

[Plutarch]

The National Restaurant Association is pleased.

[JustAnotherSavage]

"We already have 5 guards per mile on the southern border


Reference?? Try to remember they don't work 24 hour shifts.

[texastoo]

The hospitals in this area can't survive without the handout of medicare. Their handout increased with the Medicare Bill in which a billion is used to fund the border hospitals. Over 75% of the total cost of health care on this part of the border is paid for by you taxpayers in other parts of the country.

[Marine Inspector]

We already have 5 guards per mile on the southern border

You just cna't stop lying, can you. You can get medical help for that condition.

There are less then 10,000 Border Patrol Agents.

Approximately 1,000 work the northern border and another 1,000 work in coastal areas and interior.

That leaves approximately 8,000 for the 2,000 miles of the southern border.

That leaves approximately 4 per mile, except not all Agents are on duty at one time. At one time, approximately ¼ of the staff is working as the others of off, sick, on leave or on detail.

That leaves approximately 2,000 Agents on duty at one time. Not all Agents patrol the border, as there are other duties that must be performed.

So, in reality, there is less then 1 Agent per mile at any one time.

Reality is what were are talking about bayourod, not some delusional fantasy you live in.

[texastoo]

That several hundred million dollars would have to come from somewhere.

If you remember, the first week after the Bush election, Bush sent Powell, and every department head to Mexico. This group of arrogant clowns promised Mexico mucho American taxpayer dollars. IIRC, $600 million will be used to fund small business in Mexico. This is precisely where the money should come from. There is a thread on this stating the amount of taxpayers dollars promised to Mexico. It will shock you. This is the money that should be used for our border protection.

[ApesForEvolution]

Son of a Bit...

[investigateworld]

I think that was one area that FDR forced Wm Donovan and Hoover to work together? I wonder how much manpower was lost to friction.

[bayourod]

Didn't you read the article? "The agency has about 11,000 agents; 90% work along the southern border with Mexico. "That's roughly 5 agents per mile on the southern border.

If you want to decrease the workload, enact President Bush's guest laborer plan.

When employers can hire legal laborers they won't risk hiring illegal ones. When laborers can cross the border legally and work legally in the U.S. there won't be any incentive for them to cross illegally.

By the way, are you a member of a border agent's union? I've never seen a public employees union that didn't exaggerate their need for more public employees.

[JustAnotherSavage]

Two other programs concerning the border and illegals are being cut. the unmanned ariel drones and a survey of migrant workers:

---

PILGRIM: One of the most successful border protection programs will be suspended as of January 30th, and that's the busiest time of year for illegal border crossings. A federal contract for unmanned aerial vehicles that patrol the Arizona-Mexico border will expire, and as of now, there are no replacement programs confirmed. Officials say the program is being suspended to evaluate its effectiveness. In the first six months of the program, unmanned aerial vehicles helped catch over 1,200 illegal aliens, and they also helped track down nearly 3,000 pounds of marijuana.

Another successful program is also about to be suspended. The Department of Labor is threatening to end funding for the only survey which tracks the migrant worker population in this country. More than half of those workers are illegal aliens. Bill Tucker reports.
BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The typical farm worker is a 31-year-old male, Hispanic, most likely married with a child and earning less than $12,000 a year from farm work. Just over half of all farm workers are also here illegally. Nearly 80 percent of the workers are from Mexico, very few of whom speak or read English.

We know all of this for only one reason. The National Agricultural Workers Survey, or NAWS.

GREGORY SCHELL, FLORIDA LEGAL SERVICES: This is the only set of data that provides us with a rich demographic view of who the immigrants are, and it gives us a basis to make some informed decisions with respect to immigration. Everything else is anecdotal.

TUCKER: The survey is also the basis on which roughly a billion dollars in education, health and social aid program money is distributed. So why would we stop collecting such useful information? Budget. The Department of Labor says it cannot afford to continue funding this survey, which cost it about $2 million a year. To that end, the department is talking with other agencies about taking over responsibility for the survey.

VERONICA STIVDENT, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: We plan to continue our discussions with agencies to find the best home for the NAWS survey and to make sure that we continue the NAWS survey in the best way possible, to maximize its utility to its users.

TUCKER: But as of yet, no other agency has agreed to take on the responsibility.


TUCKER: Now, this survey is the only one of its type. It's ironic that its future would seem in doubt just at a time when we are beginning a national debate on the immigration reform and policy, Kitty.

PILGRIM: Bill, who's in favor of discontinuing this, and why?

TUCKER: Well, ironically, nobody is in favor of discontinuing it. People on both sides of the immigration issue say we need this study because it gives us a factual basis on which to base future policy and decisions. So you can go to the either side of the immigration debate, and you'll find fierce defenders, people saying we cannot quit doing this.

The Department of Labor, in its defense, its discretionary spending is at a premium. We can't afford it. Somebody else needs to pick up the tab. Cut of the budget.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0501/24/ldt.01.html

[newzjunkey]

That scoundrelly, lying son of a b*tch!

[reelfoot]

Let's hope Tancredo/Sensenbrenner et al. can come up with enough other congressmen with backbones to defeat the president on this issue.

Mr. Bush is no conservative on this issue and his nonchalance about the porous condition of our southern border is outrageous.

[newzjunkey]

Bush is not advocating for any funds for these border agents. He's using it as a political talking point to try to pacify and confuse the real scandals of his open border policies.

No wonder he and Clinton get along; they're cut from the same political cloth.

[adam_az]

NON SEQUITER

On what basis do you believe that a "guest worker program" will in any way curb illegal crossings?

[blackie]

Perfect! :)

[e5man_r_u?]

We can only hope as more stories come out about Chinese illegals and others coming in over the southern border, the President will be forced to cut somewhere to fund the 2,000 promised. The problem of unguarded borders even made the local (NYC) new last night.

[texastoo]

Thanks for the post. Do you or anyone else remember our department heads going with Powell to Mexico the week after Bush was elected? Someone pasted a thread to another thread regarding the promise of taxpayer money going to Mexico. These are huge amounts going to the corrupt Mexico. Can anyone pull this thread up? I have looked but can't find it.