Posted on 09/06/2004 3:04:45 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
MCALLEN - A late-night tip led U.S. Border Patrol agents to five rooms at the Matador Motor Inn, where human smugglers had abandoned 22 men from China.
Although the Chinese nationals were economic migrants, their discovery Aug. 16 in downtown McAllen left many with an uneasy feeling. If a large group of men seeking work could be moved across the Rio Grande undetected, why not a squad of terrorists?
''It sure does worry me," said Estella Castillera, whose in-laws own the motel. Although she considers it unlikely terrorists could cross the Texas border, she carefully adds, ''Let's hope not."
The flood of illegal migrants also concerns veteran federal agents stationed on the border, who know local smugglers don't care who, or what, they ferry across the shallow river.
''It's so easy to get yourself across from Mexico, you just use the same routes as the dope traffickers," said one federal agent in McAllen who asked not to be identified. "And where's the money to be made — bringing in a pound of marijuana or one Middle Easterner who'll pay $25,000?
''That's the worry, people are seeing there is a lot of money to be made."
The potential threat from hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants, as well as millions of legal border crossers, is one that has federal agencies on alert.
Border inspectors at international bridges are asking more questions, making more extensive checks of cars and trucks with X-ray machines and trained dogs, while Border Patrol agents are watching the border from trucks, boats, planes, all-terrain vehicles and from horseback.
Customs and Border Patrol were combined into U.S. Customs and Border Protection as a unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security.
Stepping up patrols
At the Hidalgo-Pharr port of entry, the third largest on the border with 25 million passenger crossings annually, bridge inspectors have tightened up procedures, said assistant port Director Doug Ahern, a supervisor with Customs and Border Protection. ''We've increased inspections in both the cargo and passenger environments," Ahern said.
Security of the port facilities themselves has been enhanced, Ahern said.
Gloria Chavez, a representative at Border Patrol headquarters in Washington said the agency has responded to reports that terrorists will infiltrate the Southwest border, reportedly part of an effort to disrupt the national elections in November with other terror attacks.
''We have been preparing for the possibility and are taking appropriate action to better secure our border against the terrorists, such as increased personnel, technology, infrastructure and equipment," Chavez said.
'Web of enforcement'
There are 9,800 U.S. Border Patrol agents stationed on the southern border — the bulk of the agency's 11,200 agents — and they have erected ''a web of enforcement," Chavez said.
But critics contend little has changed on the border since the 2001 terror attacks.
T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents 6,500 agents, said the government needs to bring additional personnel, equipment and training on line to secure the vast border region. The union official claimed no agents have been hired since March, and next year's budget cuts $19 million from the agency and moves $75 million from operations to technology.
''It's only a matter of time before we are attacked again because, incredibly, nothing has changed. We are doing business on the border as usual," said Bonner, a Border Patrol agent who is stationed near San Diego, Calif.
Agency officials denied the budget was reduced, and said 50 agents are in training at the agency's academy.
Post-9/11 tactics
The challenge of securing the vast, 2,000-mile Southwest border is evident in Texas, where miles of the Rio Grande are not only remote and inaccessible, but screened by thickets of brush.
Longtime agents on the border, including the Laredo Sector's Chief John Montoya, said the post-9/11 tactics include a growing array of high-tech equipment and intelligence-sharing with other branches within the Department of Homeland Security.
"We cannot have a Border Patrol agent stand on every square inch we cover, so we augment that with equipment — infrared cameras, remote surveillance systems, aircraft surveillance, electronic sensors," said Montoya. ''We have implemented and deployed much more technology to augment the inspectors who have the immediate responsibility of protecting the border."
But according to Montoya, as well as other agents, there are no guarantees that determined terrorists won't slip by.
"It would be very difficult, but again, there is no foolproof method to prevent someone from coming in if they happened to hit all the right strokes of luck," he said.
A challenge
Last week, Democratic U.S. Reps. Solomon Ortiz of Corpus Christi and Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston toured the 838-bed immigration detention camp near Port Isabel.
Because of a lack of space in that and other detention centers, immigration officials have released thousands of non-Mexican migrants — 23,222 of the 57,633 detained this year — on their own recognizance after obtaining a promise to appear before an immigration judge.
More than 70 percent fail to show up for their court dates, agency officials have confirmed.
Ortiz, who fears terrorists can mingle with economic migrants, has demanded the government halt these releases but he acknowledged it will add ''billions " to the detention budget. He said the camp contained undocumented migrants from Iraq, Egypt, Pakistan, Jordan, India, Panama and Sri Lanka.
Girl, you and the rest of America needs to wake up and smell the coffee. You just had that Farina woman with terrorists ties arrested at your very own airport just last month. Hello, she claims to have crossed the border over 250 times.
And where's the money to be made — bringing in a pound of marijuana or one Middle Easterner who'll pay $25,000?
And what percent is Vincenty getting?
The union official claimed no agents have been hired since March, and next year's budget cuts $19 million from the agency
And there you have it. The borders can't open any wider. Come one, come all!
said 50 agents are in training at the agency's academy
Ok, so how many were in training Sept. 10, 2001?
We cannot have a Border Patrol agent stand on every square inch we cover
So, build a wall and shoot anything that dares look over it.
there are no guarantees that determined terrorists won't slip by.
Even the most undetermined terrorist can dance across the border at high noon.
Democratic U.S. Reps. Solomon Ortiz of Corpus Christi and Sheila Jackson Lee
Barf-a-rama. Could have gone all day without those two.
immigration officials have released thousands of non-Mexican migrants — 23,222 of the 57,633 detained this year — on their own recognizance after obtaining a promise to appear before an immigration judge. More than 70 percent fail to show up for their court dates, agency officials have confirmed.
Hello! What's the operative word here, folks? No, not "released". No, not "thousands". No, not "no shows". The word we all need to be aware of is "NON-MEXICAN" which is PC for MIDDLE EASTERN TERRORISTS.
IMO, the only way Bush can lose is if two things happen:
1. Another attack
AND --
2. It is determined that the perps crossed the border illegally..
#1 alone would only help him IMO.
...and other stories you may have missed:
Along the (North) border, a new eye on security
Retail giant acknowledges settlement talks in illegal workers case
Latino Activist: "Immigration study tells slanted story" [BARF ALERT]
Parties targeting 12 million (legal) immigrant citizens of voting age (assimilation not encouraged)
Law aids (illegal) immigrants who are victims of abuse
Houston Thinks Small to Tackle Big Dropout Problem (guess who)
Squad? I would suppose they are up to at least Battalion level by now, maybe even Brigade. And if you count the Muslims living in the US who will provide support and funds to them, you may already be at Crops or Army level.
Thank you for the ping!
I pray for all the brave American citizens that are protecting this country. They are doing for themselves and this country what the government should be doing: SEALING OUR BORDERS.
May God wake up the rest of this Nation and our government.
Crops? I spell checked and everything ... I meant 'Corps'.
BTTT
Shiite
Thanks for the ping and links.
Do you believe that anyone really understands/comprehends what you've just stated?
I'm very disappointed that the GOP is so negligent in protecting the mainland...
I know where the RATS stand, but you see both support the FTAA, the precursor to the United States of the Americas.
A condensed patchwork of regional currencies and European Union type orgs carefully 'regulated' by world governing bodies.
Does ANYONE in elected office take their OATH to heart?
Gee, ya think? Haven't those horrible Paleocons been sounding that same alarm since BEFORE 9/11?
Insurgent Islam and American Collaboration by James George Jatras, from the February 1999 issue of Chronicles
Gee, ya think? Haven't those horrible Paleocons been sounding that same alarm since BEFORE 9/11?
Insurgent Islam and American Collaboration by James George Jatras, from the February 1999 issue of Chronicles
We entered the surreal quite a long time ago with the vast majority of Americans and way too many of those who vote...
Are "economic migrants" certified or something? How the heck does anybody know that they are "economic migrants"?
...while Border Patrol agents are watching the border from trucks, boats, planes, all-terrain vehicles and from horseback.
Less watching and more shooting, if you please.
Gloria Chavez, a representative at Border Patrol headquarters in Washington said the agency has responded to reports that terrorists will infiltrate have already infiltrated the Southwest border,
"We have been preparing for the possibility and are taking appropriate action to better secure our border against the terrorists,
Secure the border against anything or anybody that tries to cross.
But critics contend little has changed on the border since the 2001 terror attacks.
Nothing much has changed on the border, period!
But according to Montoya, as well as other agents, there are no guarantees that determined terrorists won't slip by.
"It would be very difficult, but again, there is no foolproof method to prevent someone from coming in if they happened to hit all the right strokes of luck," he said.
It is not at all difficult to cross that damn border.
Because of a lack of space in that and other detention centers, immigration officials have released thousands of non-Mexican migrants — 23,222 of the 57,633 detained this year — on their own recognizance after obtaining a promise to appear before an immigration judge.
More than 70 percent fail to show up for their court dates, agency officials have confirmed.
And yet, they keep on releasing them!!!!
There are alot of military people here who will understand it in terms of the relative sizes of the various groups. Most people know that a squad is the smallest size and an Army is the biggest ... the rest are somewhere between.
Regarding the FTAA, it is just the latest by the corporate one worlders designed to erase the borders and turn us all into "Citizens of the World" ... it will be painted in glowing terms by both Repubs and Dems.
Oops, wrong border, wrong people
I now agree the President is right on one recent proposal: The need for nationwide mental health screenings. There's obviously a mass delusion of confidence in the government's ability to protect us running rampant through the population, even on this forum among people who should know better.
And yet, they keep on releasing them!!!!
Catch and release is an EPA program, it shouldn't be in Immigration Control.
Installment three of why I'm not voting this year (or, with Republicans like this, who needs Deomcrats). This is the crowning disaster of airhead Bush's reign - his immigration policy (or lack thereof).
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