Posted on 09/01/2005 2:16:14 PM PDT by wagglebee
U.S. Border Patrol officers are being shifted away from their posts guarding the U.S.-Mexico border to aid in the Katrina Hurricane disaster, leaving the country vulnerable to illegals and terrorists attempting to enter the U.S., NewsMax has learned.
The Bush administration ordered the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the federal agency charged with securing the border, to provide manpower, assets, and humanitarian support to Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, which has some border state residents nervous that the thin red line of protection from the plague of illegals, drug smugglers and gang members will be stretched even thinner.
CBP is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that, post-9/11, combined the inspection workforces and broad border authorities of Customs, Immigration, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the entire Border Patrol.
CBP includes more than 41,000 employees to manage, control and protect the Nation's long and unfortified borders, at and between the official ports of entry. Recently, the U.S. Senate voted against fulfilling its pledge from last year to hire 2,000 more Border Patrol agents and fund 8,000 new detention beds for illegal aliens in fiscal 2006.
According to CBP, however, plenty of its scarce resources are now committed to rescue and law enforcement support in the multi-state areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
Its fixed wing aircraft are being used for transportation and for surveillance/reconnaissance efforts to identify anyone in peril. CBP helicopters are also being used in transport and in search and rescue efforts.
The air support efforts are being coordinated through an airborne command center, which includes airborne radar and traffic management capabilities. Marine support is also providing transportation and rescue assistance. And CBP is sending over one hundred Border Patrol agents to provide law enforcement support to the impacted area.
As CBP pointed out to NewsMax, its relief teams in the New Orleans areas are not by any means gratuitous. The proliferation of ports-of-entry in the area means that the agency has a large number of CBP personnel regularly on the ground. Many of these CBP personnel were hit by the storm and are in need of relief.
In other words, the agency to some measure is riding to the relief of its own troops.
Indeed, an agency relief team has been established and is working to provide food, shelter and funds to CBP personnel displaced by the hurricane. Furthermore, an 800 number has been established to provide information on the status of recovery efforts and to serve as a support line for CBP personnel, their relatives, and other members of the DHS family. The number is 1.888.546.3727.
CBP says it is also working in coordination with several other government agencies to bring relief to the devastated area. CBP has staff on the DHS Interagency Incident Management Group (IIMG) Command Center, the FEMA National Command Center, and the on-scene Emergency Operations Center. In addition, a CBP senior manager is serving as the FEMA Regional Air Coordinator.
The agency also emphasized its twin goals: "CBP's priority mission is preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States, while also facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel."
With regard to that latter goal, CBP points out the large number of key ports in the hurricane zone: Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Gulfport, Pascagoula, Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, Gramercy, Morgan City, New Orleans, Lake Charles, and Shreveport.
Some of these ports above have been 100 percent knocked out in the wake of Katrina.
ping
Wow, and all this time I was convinced President Bush was not even aware we HAVE a border patrol...there may yet be hope.
Perhaps they could post the location of the areas they won't be at so we could all know what's vulnerable.
I'm sure it's a golden opportunity. But I think we should round up all the gang banger looters, teach them how to hold a hammer, and make them do some honest work for once in their so-far worthless lives. Employing them means fewer jobs that Americans won't take - and sadly, the looters are Americans.
What is is about Journalism majors that make them write Headlines that imply something refuted by the story? Where are the numbers and the facts? How many agents? Where from? How many "assest"? T
Habitat for Homeboys
Grrrrrr.
This is NOT what the Border Patrol is for!
This is exactly the wrong thing to be doing right now. In a time of disaster we need to strengthen the border, not weaken it. This is a perfect opportunity for terrorists to cross the border. By withdrawing the Border Patrol from the border, we will be playing right into the hands of any enemy who wishes to get into the country. When it comes to national security, Bush is an utter and complete moron.
I don't like this one bit. Why cant they use police officers from some other states? No need to remove what little border protection we have.
The few BP agents we have, we can not afford to loose to this effort. Katrina was horrible, granted. But...Where are the other States? Where are the other States besides Border States that can help with police, etc..??
Now, I'm thinking BUsh will use this disaster to have his own way at the border..this is NOT right. While our BP agents are helping because of Thuggery in NO..TERRORISTS will freely cross this border.
Big Mistake. BIG MISTAKE.
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Support our Minutemen Patriots!
Be Ever Vigilant ~ Bump!
I'm shocked, I tell you! Shocked!
But hey... why not get the border patrol to head on up to New Orleans? And don't forget to bring the beebers, OK?
Quite a lot of looters need to get stuned!
As for me..I purchase additional ammo..TONIGHT. Maybe I need tinfoil, but it looks like anarchy is on its way.
Border Patrol Beeber Ping
Still better than Kerry or Gore.
Oh, I don't know. All the illegals crossing it don't seem to be afraid. /sarc
Sort of ot, but on one of the hurricane threads freepers were asking "Where are the other nations offering their help for the U.S."?
Somebody replied "Mexico has offered to help. They are sending 100,000 people".
I am still LMAO on that one.
BUMP, is ever a golden opportunity existed to attack the usa and do serious, really serious dange it is now. Imagine two New Orleans, this is an insane move.
No tinfoil necessary, at least not in my opinion. I always keep a minimum of 2,000 rounds, and 30 days food. I hike a lot, and have two water filters if needed. I live in Seattle. We don't get hurricanes, but we do get the occasional earthquake.
SEND THE MINUTEMEN TO THE BORDERS IN FULL FORCE!!!
I agree. This is unconscionable.
Yep. It absolutely scares the hell out of me that the President can't see this obvious danger.
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