Homeland Security backs off idea of civilian border patrol

Denton Record-Chronicle/AP ^ | 7/21/05 | Jeremiah Marquez/AP

[GhostofWCooper]

Of course they don't want any volunteers to assist the BP.
It might slow down the invasion...

[peyton randolph]

should continue to be done by the highly trained, professional law enforcement officials."

When they START doing it, let me know. Until then, Border Patrol has all the effectiveness of the prison camp guards on Hogan's Heroes.

[afnamvet]

No surprise here.

[etcetera]

The Feds don't trust civilians enough to allow them into Fed turf.

[ImpotentRage]

"...continue..." That's a joke. They just don't want civilians because they would be shown up - big time.

[HiJinx]

The Feds don't trust civilians enough to allow them into Fed turf.

Guess again...check out the US Coast Guard Auxiliary...also a division of the Department of Homeland Security. This is a turf war going on...one that Bonner needs to win. And I'm pretty sure the article is either missing or misstating the facts...Bonner was making his statements again today in LA, where the article made front page news.

[SwinneySwitch]

Oh, the difference a day makes.....24 little hours!

[commonasdirt]

WOW! That did not take them very long at all.

[RoyalsFan]

I'm sure after that border patrol commissioner said that, Bush made some quick phone calls. Heaven forbid that illegal immigration slows down even a trickle.

[Lancelot Jones]

The good news is that all these people are now free to volunteer to patrol the streets of their towns and cities and rid themselves of drug dealers, thieves, pimps, prostitutes, and murderers.

Beauseant!

[GAB-1955]

I would agree. The Coast Guard values the contribution of its Auxiliarists very much. I have been welcomed wherever I serve and I'm proud to do it.

I don't see a problem with a BP auxiliary, but I suspect the opposition is from cops who don't like auxiliarists; they tend to get the less-dangerous jobs while the cops feel they get the shaft.

[B4Ranch]

Take a close look at 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClubs profile page and you will see one guy who has gained much well deserved respect on FR from working with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

And which one of the many good benefits of such a civilian patrol do they NOT want?

I'm flabbergasted.

[Spirited]

Cops shaft others, too.

[ozarkgirl]

DLN said: And which one of the many good benefits of such a civilian patrol do they NOT want?

Wacko said: I'm sure after that border patrol commissioner said that, Bush made some quick phone calls. Heaven forbid that illegal immigration slows down even a trickle

They know it will work and someone (hmmm, wonder who...) put a stop to it. At least that's what I think. I hope I'm wrong.

[usurper]

Looks like Bonner just got the official smack down.

[Black Tooth]

There are currently no plans by the Department of Homeland Security to use civilian volunteers to patrol the border," spokesman Brian J. Roehrkasse said. "That job should continue to be done by the highly trained, professional law enforcement officials."

You've got to question a government that alleges that one needs to be "Highly trained" to stop and apprehend individuals that cross our borders illegally.

They are talking about border patrol, not flying 747s or heart surgery.

[janetgreen]

"That job should continue to be done by the highly trained, professional law enforcement officials."

If that's true, then why aren't there enough of them to do the job? It has become clear that Washington DOES NOT WANT TO DO THE JOB.

[hoosierham]

All the paid(over-paid?) gov't enforcers see volunteers as a threat to their pay and status. Just as some cops are strongly opposed to "civilian carry",they believe only they are qualified to use force.

We need to root out false elitism from our society.