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Homeland Security: Civilian Border Patrol Unlikley | |
2005-07-22 | |
LOS ANGELES — The Department of Homeland Security announced today it has no plans to enlist citizen volunteers to help patrol U.S. borders, one day after its top border enforcement official said he was exploring such an idea. On Wednesday, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner told The Associated Press that his agency was considering the training of volunteers to create "something akin to a Border Patrol auxiliary." But a Homeland Security spokesman issued a statement today backing off Bonner's controversial suggestion. Cue the bureacrats: "There are currently no plans by the Department of Homeland Security to use civilian volunteers to patrol the border," Brian J. Roehrkasse said. "That job should continue to be done by the highly trained, professional law enforcement officials." The few, the proud, the understaffed... Roehrkasse added that Bonner, whose agency is part of Homeland Security, had not told department officials "any specific details of the idea." Bonner's comments had marked a significant shift. Before a high-profile civilian campaign along the Arizona-Mexico border in April, Bonner had urged citizens not to interfere with his agents' work, saying "ordinary Americans" weren't qualified for what can be a dangerous task.
Better to co-opt than be embrassed, eh? "It is actually as a result of seeing that there is the possibility in local border communities, and maybe even beyond, of having citizens that would be willing to volunteer to help the Border Patrol," Bonner said in an interview Wednesday. "But with some training and being organized in a way that would be something akin to a Border Patrol auxiliary." Bonner said Wednesday that the idea was conceptual and that details such as whether citizens would be deputized to enforce federal immigration law hadn't been worked out. A spokeswoman said that a range of proposals were being considered, including having volunteers do clerical work so more agents could work in the field. Immediate reaction to Bonner's idea was generally skeptical. A representative with the Border Patrol agents' union called it irresponsible, immigrant friendly groups panned it and one organizer of the Minuteman Project said it was well-intentioned but not likely to become reality. Gee, unions and special interests. What were the odds they'd like it? | |
Posted by:Pappy |
#4 What they really mean is: "Homeland Security: Official Civilian Border Patrol Unlikely" We'll do what we have to to protect ourselves and there's not a damn thing they can do about it. This ain't England. Thank goodness for our 2nd Amendment. And our independent spirit. Somehow, I think they're related. |
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2005-07-22 23:47 |
#3 Where and when Mojo? |
Posted by: Shipman 2005-07-22 14:42 |
#2 Hey, if I want to sit on a hilltop with an umberella, a cooler of beer, a pair of binoculars and a cell phone, what's it to ya? |
Posted by: mojo 2005-07-22 12:12 |
#1 Gads, I can't spell worth a damn tonight. |
Posted by: Pappy 2005-07-22 00:41 |