An unidentified man driving a car with Texas plates is dead today after Border Patrol agents pursued the driver for failing to stop at an east San Diego County CBP checkpoint.
Authorities said the driver came under suspicion when Border Patrol agents observed the car travelling down the road in the wrong direction. Agents were able to stop the vehicle using a spike strip that deflated the fleeing car’s tires.
However, when Border Patrol attempted to question the driver, the suspect locked the car doors preventing agents from questioning the man.
Once the vehicle came to a stop, one Border Patrol agent attempted to break the car’s window, when the vehicle burst into flames killing the driver and injuring the agent.
As a result of the explosion, an unnamed Border Patrol agent was airlifted to an area hospital and treated for lacerations and burns.
A CBP statement said, “Agents had stopped a car that was reported to have been driving on the wrong side of Interstate 8."
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The vehicle ignited while the agent was standing near the driver side door. The driver of the car died at the scene. The agent was transported to the hospital and is being treated for non-life threatening injuries,” said Jenny Burke.
CBP authorities said they were working with the San Diego Sheriff's Department to investigate the early morning car explosion.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/kimberly-dvorak
© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Continue reading on Examiner.com CBP chase leaves one suspect dead and sends an agent to the hospital - San Diego County Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/cbp-chase-leaves-one-suspect-dead-and-sends-an-agent-to-the-hospital#ixzz1pEgRlgF6
Showing posts with label CBP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CBP. Show all posts
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
DHS promises US-VISIT biometric data program will slow illegal entry
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the implementation of US-VISIT, a biometric program that will monitor entry/exit patterns for international travelers. The program will keep tabs on foreign visitors and curtail visa over-stayers.
US-VISIT's use of biometrics streamlines the U.S. entry process and DHS officials say it virtually eliminates fraud. The biometrics program collects unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints, that provide port-of-entry agents with automated recognition. This tamper-proof identification service is reliable, convenient and virtually impossible to forge.
“US-VISIT supports the Department of Homeland Security's mission to protect our nation by providing biometric identification services to federal, state and local government decision makers to help them accurately identify the people they encounter and determine whether those people pose a risk to the United States,” a DHS statement said. “US-VISIT's most visible service is the collection of biometrics—digital fingerprints and a photograph—from international travelers at U.S. visa-issuing posts and ports of entry. Collecting this information helps immigration officers determine whether a person is eligible to receive a visa or enter the United States. The biometric collection process is simple, convenient and secure.”
The new program provides port-of-entry decision makers with the reliable information they need to prevent identity fraud. The innovative use of biometrics also deprives criminals and immigration violators’ access to the United States. DHS also claims they will be able to track international travelers who remain in the country beyond their period of admission using this biometric data.
“Since 911 we’ve gotten better at the check-in counter, but have not had a reliable method of knowing who is checking-out,” said Bob Dane, Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).“The new plan for a biometric system of tracking exits is long overdue and will reduce the incidence of people overstaying their visas, the risk of terrorism and illegal immigration overall.”
However, secure border activists’ groups argue that ports of entry may provide a higher level of scrutiny, but much of the U.S./Mexico border remains unfenced. Border Patrol agents are charged with protecting the nation’s rural border, however, slower response times due to rugged terrain, limit the number of illegal immigrants, terrorists and drug smuggler apprehensions. Also this new program will do nothing to the country's porious border. Even when Border Patrol responds to an incursion, agents face danger. Last year an illegal drug smuggler inside American borders murdered Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
How Biometrics Assure Identity
Biometrics collected by US-VISIT and linked to specific biographic information enable a person's identity to be established, then verified, by the U.S. government. With each encounter, from applying for a visa to seeking immigration benefits to entering the United States, US-VISIT:
Checks a person’s biometrics against a watch list of known or suspected terrorists, criminals and immigration violators
Checks against the entire database of all of the fingerprints the Department of Homeland Security has collected since US-VISIT began to determine if a person is using an alias and attempting to use fraudulent identification.
Checks a person’s biometrics against those associated with the identification document presented to ensure that the document belongs to the person presenting it and not someone else.
These services help prevent identity fraud and deprive criminals and immigration violators of the ability to cross U.S. borders. Based on biometrics alone, US-VISIT has helped stop thousands of people who were ineligible to enter the United States.
To view the step-by-step video that explains the process click here; http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/editorial_0525.shtm
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/kimberly-dvorak
© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
US-VISIT's use of biometrics streamlines the U.S. entry process and DHS officials say it virtually eliminates fraud. The biometrics program collects unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints, that provide port-of-entry agents with automated recognition. This tamper-proof identification service is reliable, convenient and virtually impossible to forge.
“US-VISIT supports the Department of Homeland Security's mission to protect our nation by providing biometric identification services to federal, state and local government decision makers to help them accurately identify the people they encounter and determine whether those people pose a risk to the United States,” a DHS statement said. “US-VISIT's most visible service is the collection of biometrics—digital fingerprints and a photograph—from international travelers at U.S. visa-issuing posts and ports of entry. Collecting this information helps immigration officers determine whether a person is eligible to receive a visa or enter the United States. The biometric collection process is simple, convenient and secure.”
The new program provides port-of-entry decision makers with the reliable information they need to prevent identity fraud. The innovative use of biometrics also deprives criminals and immigration violators’ access to the United States. DHS also claims they will be able to track international travelers who remain in the country beyond their period of admission using this biometric data.
“Since 911 we’ve gotten better at the check-in counter, but have not had a reliable method of knowing who is checking-out,” said Bob Dane, Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).“The new plan for a biometric system of tracking exits is long overdue and will reduce the incidence of people overstaying their visas, the risk of terrorism and illegal immigration overall.”
However, secure border activists’ groups argue that ports of entry may provide a higher level of scrutiny, but much of the U.S./Mexico border remains unfenced. Border Patrol agents are charged with protecting the nation’s rural border, however, slower response times due to rugged terrain, limit the number of illegal immigrants, terrorists and drug smuggler apprehensions. Also this new program will do nothing to the country's porious border. Even when Border Patrol responds to an incursion, agents face danger. Last year an illegal drug smuggler inside American borders murdered Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
How Biometrics Assure Identity
Biometrics collected by US-VISIT and linked to specific biographic information enable a person's identity to be established, then verified, by the U.S. government. With each encounter, from applying for a visa to seeking immigration benefits to entering the United States, US-VISIT:
Checks a person’s biometrics against a watch list of known or suspected terrorists, criminals and immigration violators
Checks against the entire database of all of the fingerprints the Department of Homeland Security has collected since US-VISIT began to determine if a person is using an alias and attempting to use fraudulent identification.
Checks a person’s biometrics against those associated with the identification document presented to ensure that the document belongs to the person presenting it and not someone else.
These services help prevent identity fraud and deprive criminals and immigration violators of the ability to cross U.S. borders. Based on biometrics alone, US-VISIT has helped stop thousands of people who were ineligible to enter the United States.
To view the step-by-step video that explains the process click here; http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/editorial_0525.shtm
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/kimberly-dvorak
© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
CBP Agents seize Mexican-panga boat in Malibu loaded with pot
CBP agents apprehended illegal drug smugglers when they attempted to come ashore in the upscale community of Malibu. Officers immediately arrested three Mexican nationals following the interdiction when agents spotted numerous bales of marijuana.
The weekend bust made by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confiscated approximately one-and-a-half tons of weed wrapped in cellophane.
CBP stated that they were working with the California National Guard when they spotted the panga-like vessel cruising slowly along the coastline. The National Guard unit alerted Border Patrol agents and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs, who responded to the Point Dume State Beach after midnight.
According to agents on the scene, the three men who illegally entered the U.S. were arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and will face multiple charges. The weight of the marijuana totaled 2,575 pounds and an estimated street value of $1, 287, 500.
“The Department of Homeland Security has increased coastal-border security in Southern California (as) transnational criminal organizations have shifted their smuggling tactics further north into Los Angeles and Ventura Counties,” Scott E. Simon,U.S. Border Patrol Agent for the San Diego Sector Information and Communication Division said. “As a result, CBP and its partners have intensified efforts to target the illegal activity, expanding the use of marine patrols, land-based surveillance, and collaboration with the Government of Mexico.”
These multi-agency task forces are a key component to interdict maritime drug smugglers along California’s 840-mile coastline.
The CBP logged 26 unauthorized maritime smuggling attempts during fiscal year 2011 in the Los Angeles/Ventura area. So far this year, 2012, the multi-agency CBP task force has recorded 14 maritime incidents along the southern California beaches, including three in Ventura County and one in Santa Barbara County.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/kimberly-dvorak
© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
The weekend bust made by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confiscated approximately one-and-a-half tons of weed wrapped in cellophane.
CBP stated that they were working with the California National Guard when they spotted the panga-like vessel cruising slowly along the coastline. The National Guard unit alerted Border Patrol agents and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs, who responded to the Point Dume State Beach after midnight.
According to agents on the scene, the three men who illegally entered the U.S. were arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and will face multiple charges. The weight of the marijuana totaled 2,575 pounds and an estimated street value of $1, 287, 500.
“The Department of Homeland Security has increased coastal-border security in Southern California (as) transnational criminal organizations have shifted their smuggling tactics further north into Los Angeles and Ventura Counties,” Scott E. Simon,U.S. Border Patrol Agent for the San Diego Sector Information and Communication Division said. “As a result, CBP and its partners have intensified efforts to target the illegal activity, expanding the use of marine patrols, land-based surveillance, and collaboration with the Government of Mexico.”
These multi-agency task forces are a key component to interdict maritime drug smugglers along California’s 840-mile coastline.
The CBP logged 26 unauthorized maritime smuggling attempts during fiscal year 2011 in the Los Angeles/Ventura area. So far this year, 2012, the multi-agency CBP task force has recorded 14 maritime incidents along the southern California beaches, including three in Ventura County and one in Santa Barbara County.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/kimberly-dvorak
© Copyright 2012 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Man toting fake gun shot by CBP agents in San Diego
The nation’s busiest international port of entry in San Diego was shut down last night after a pedestrian unexpectedly waved a fake gun prompting Custom Border Protection (CBP) agents to shoot the man as he fled into the U.S.
The shooting incident happened at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, at the pedestrian crossing area, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency spokeswoman Jackie Wasiluk said.
Wasiluk told reporters that the agency temporarily suspended processing of all northbound pedestrian travelers. Authorities continued to investigate the incident, but have not released the name or the nationality of the man who was shot.
CBP agents did not explain what led to the shooting of the man, but those at the scene described the weapon a starter-type gun (used in track events).
The San Diego Police Department released a statement regarding the event. The unnamed man "approached a pedestrian booth and attempted to walk through without being fully screened" by CBP border agents.
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The man was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to survive.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/
© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
The shooting incident happened at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, at the pedestrian crossing area, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency spokeswoman Jackie Wasiluk said.
Wasiluk told reporters that the agency temporarily suspended processing of all northbound pedestrian travelers. Authorities continued to investigate the incident, but have not released the name or the nationality of the man who was shot.
CBP agents did not explain what led to the shooting of the man, but those at the scene described the weapon a starter-type gun (used in track events).
The San Diego Police Department released a statement regarding the event. The unnamed man "approached a pedestrian booth and attempted to walk through without being fully screened" by CBP border agents.
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The man was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to survive.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/
© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Friday, September 16, 2011
$4 million worth of drugs snagged by San Diego Border Patrol
San Diego Border Patrol agents arrested a legal resident for smuggling more than 330 pounds of cocaine inside a tractor trailer at the Interstate 8 checkpoint.
Agents encountered the 46-year-old male Mexican national at the checkpoint driving a bright red Freightliner tractor trailer. During the inspection process, Border Patrol became suspicious of the driver’s nervous demeanor and sent him to the secondary inspection station.
“A Border Patrol K-9 team performed a cursory inspection of the tractor trailer resulting in a positive alert. Further inspection revealed two non-factory compartments inside the fuel tanks,” said Scott Simon, Border Patrol AgentSan Diego Sector Information and Communication Division. “Agents discovered 130 bundles of cocaine with a total weight of more than 334 pounds and an estimated street value of $3,346,600 inside the compartments.”
In a separate apprehension, Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Interstate 15 checkpoint nabbed a 21-year-old male U.S. citizen for smuggling 78 bundles of marijuana in the rear seat and trunk of his vehicle. “The total weight of the drugs was more than 416 pounds with an estimated street value of nearly $250, 000,” Simon said.
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Border Patrol said the suspected smugglers and illicit narcotics were taken into custody and respectively turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Border Patrol Agents seized all the vehicles.
Since October 1, 2010, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents have seized more than 2,100 pounds of cocaine, 473 pounds of methamphetamine, and 68,550 pounds of marijuana.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/
© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Continue reading on Examiner.com $4 million worth of drugs snagged by San Diego Border Patrol - San Diego County Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/4-million-worth-of-drugs-snagged-by-san-diego-border-patrol#ixzz1Y9geva23
Agents encountered the 46-year-old male Mexican national at the checkpoint driving a bright red Freightliner tractor trailer. During the inspection process, Border Patrol became suspicious of the driver’s nervous demeanor and sent him to the secondary inspection station.
“A Border Patrol K-9 team performed a cursory inspection of the tractor trailer resulting in a positive alert. Further inspection revealed two non-factory compartments inside the fuel tanks,” said Scott Simon, Border Patrol AgentSan Diego Sector Information and Communication Division. “Agents discovered 130 bundles of cocaine with a total weight of more than 334 pounds and an estimated street value of $3,346,600 inside the compartments.”
In a separate apprehension, Border Patrol Agents assigned to the Interstate 15 checkpoint nabbed a 21-year-old male U.S. citizen for smuggling 78 bundles of marijuana in the rear seat and trunk of his vehicle. “The total weight of the drugs was more than 416 pounds with an estimated street value of nearly $250, 000,” Simon said.
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Border Patrol said the suspected smugglers and illicit narcotics were taken into custody and respectively turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Border Patrol Agents seized all the vehicles.
Since October 1, 2010, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents have seized more than 2,100 pounds of cocaine, 473 pounds of methamphetamine, and 68,550 pounds of marijuana.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/
© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Continue reading on Examiner.com $4 million worth of drugs snagged by San Diego Border Patrol - San Diego County Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/4-million-worth-of-drugs-snagged-by-san-diego-border-patrol#ixzz1Y9geva23
Thursday, July 21, 2011
San Diego Border Patrol agents seize nearly 1 million dollars in illicit drugs
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Pine Valley checkpoint just east of San Diego, spoiled several smuggling efforts yesterday that resulted in the seizure of roughly three quarters of a million dollars of crystal methamphetamine.
Border Patrol agents pulled over a 23-year-old male American citizen driving a gold 1999 Chevrolet Lumina at the San Diego checkpoint.
“During inspection, agents became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor and referred him for a secondary inspection,” said CBP Agent Kurtis Woods.
“Agents noticed anomalies around the engine of the vehicle,” Woods explained. On further review agents “discovered numerous plastic bags of crystal methamphetamine hidden inside of the engine compartment totaling 5.82 pounds with an estimated street value of $104,760.”
In other freeway checkpoint stops, Border Patrol agents seized marijuana from drug smugglers valued at nearly $160,000.
“The second seizure took place at 9 a.m., when agents assigned to the checkpoint encountered the driver of a gold Chrysler 300. Agents noticed the driver, a 22-year-old male United States citizen, appeared nervous and referred him for a secondary inspection,” he explained.
A Border Patrol K-9 team inspected the Chrysler and found the marijuana inside the trunk and rear bumper.
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“Agents searched the vehicle and discovered an access door to a non-factory compartment near the spare tire containing a total of 30 cellophane-wrapped bundles of crystal methamphetamine,” Woods said. “A total of 35.05 pounds was discovered with an estimated street value of $630,900.”
In yet another bust at the I-8 checkpoint agents seized 146.7 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $88,000. “The marijuana was discovered after a Border Patrol K-9 team alerted to an auxiliary fuel tank in the bed of a white 2003 Ford F-150,” Border Patrol said. “A 29-year-old male U.S. citizen and his 22-year-old Mexican female passenger were arrested as a result of the incident.”
The Drug Enforcement Agency took custody of the suspected drugs and traffickers for further investigation. Border Patrol agents at the Pine Valley checkpoint seized all the vehicles.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/kimberly-dvorak
© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Continue reading on Examiner.com San Diego Border Patrol agents seize nearly 1 million dollars in drugs - San Diego County Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/san-diego-border-patrol-agents-seize-nearly-1-million-dollars-illicit-drugs#ixzz1SnHCGeGm
Border Patrol agents pulled over a 23-year-old male American citizen driving a gold 1999 Chevrolet Lumina at the San Diego checkpoint.
“During inspection, agents became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor and referred him for a secondary inspection,” said CBP Agent Kurtis Woods.
“Agents noticed anomalies around the engine of the vehicle,” Woods explained. On further review agents “discovered numerous plastic bags of crystal methamphetamine hidden inside of the engine compartment totaling 5.82 pounds with an estimated street value of $104,760.”
In other freeway checkpoint stops, Border Patrol agents seized marijuana from drug smugglers valued at nearly $160,000.
“The second seizure took place at 9 a.m., when agents assigned to the checkpoint encountered the driver of a gold Chrysler 300. Agents noticed the driver, a 22-year-old male United States citizen, appeared nervous and referred him for a secondary inspection,” he explained.
A Border Patrol K-9 team inspected the Chrysler and found the marijuana inside the trunk and rear bumper.
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Click here to find out more!
“Agents searched the vehicle and discovered an access door to a non-factory compartment near the spare tire containing a total of 30 cellophane-wrapped bundles of crystal methamphetamine,” Woods said. “A total of 35.05 pounds was discovered with an estimated street value of $630,900.”
In yet another bust at the I-8 checkpoint agents seized 146.7 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $88,000. “The marijuana was discovered after a Border Patrol K-9 team alerted to an auxiliary fuel tank in the bed of a white 2003 Ford F-150,” Border Patrol said. “A 29-year-old male U.S. citizen and his 22-year-old Mexican female passenger were arrested as a result of the incident.”
The Drug Enforcement Agency took custody of the suspected drugs and traffickers for further investigation. Border Patrol agents at the Pine Valley checkpoint seized all the vehicles.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/kimberly-dvorak
© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Continue reading on Examiner.com San Diego Border Patrol agents seize nearly 1 million dollars in drugs - San Diego County Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/san-diego-border-patrol-agents-seize-nearly-1-million-dollars-illicit-drugs#ixzz1SnHCGeGm
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Federal agents snag a $29,000 bra at U.S. border- not exactly Victoria Secret
Normally a $29,000 bra conjures up thoughts of scantily-clad women sashaying down a rose-pedal runway, however, in San Diego the padded bra contained drugs.
Federal agents at the San Ysidro Port of Entry snagged a 22-year-old Mexican female who tried to enter the U.S. with nearly a pound-and-a-half of methamphetamine lined inside her bra.
The young women tried to enter the country through the pedestrian entrance during the busy 5 p.m. rush hour.
Agents busted the would-be drug smuggler when they noticed “discrepancies under the woman's clothing near her chest,” according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agents.
CBP Officers sent the young women to a secondary inspection station where agents found the drugs, according to CBP.
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The brassiere contained six plastic packages filled with methamphetamine. CBP Authorities said the drugs had an estimated street value of $29,000.
Federal Agents took the suspect into custody to face drug-smuggling charges.
Customs and Border Protection did not release the suspect’s name.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/kimberly-dvorak
© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Continue reading on Examiner.com Federal agents snag a $29,000 bra at U.S. border- not exactly Victoria Secret - San Diego County Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/federal-agents-snag-a-29-000-bra-at-u-s-border-not-exactly-victoria-secret#ixzz1SZ9ek4DP
Federal agents at the San Ysidro Port of Entry snagged a 22-year-old Mexican female who tried to enter the U.S. with nearly a pound-and-a-half of methamphetamine lined inside her bra.
The young women tried to enter the country through the pedestrian entrance during the busy 5 p.m. rush hour.
Agents busted the would-be drug smuggler when they noticed “discrepancies under the woman's clothing near her chest,” according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agents.
CBP Officers sent the young women to a secondary inspection station where agents found the drugs, according to CBP.
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Click here to find out more!
The brassiere contained six plastic packages filled with methamphetamine. CBP Authorities said the drugs had an estimated street value of $29,000.
Federal Agents took the suspect into custody to face drug-smuggling charges.
Customs and Border Protection did not release the suspect’s name.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/homeland-security-in-national/kimberly-dvorak
© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Continue reading on Examiner.com Federal agents snag a $29,000 bra at U.S. border- not exactly Victoria Secret - San Diego County Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/federal-agents-snag-a-29-000-bra-at-u-s-border-not-exactly-victoria-secret#ixzz1SZ9ek4DP
Monday, June 13, 2011
San Diego Border Patrol nets $1 million worth of marijuana on a panga boat
Over the weekend, San Diego Border Patrol agents arrested three Mexican nationals in the early morning hours that were smuggling more than 1,500 pounds of marijuana worth about a million dollars inside a panga-style boat.
It was the National Guardsmen, who were posted by the Obama Administration, that spotted the panga boat with three people aboard roaming the California coastline without navigation lights near Camp Pendleton Marine base. With the support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents (CBP), the Guardsmen monitored the panga boat until it came ashore near San Onofre State Beach approximately an hour later.
Agents met the drug-filled panga boat and arrested all three illegal aliens, as they were unloading 21 cellophane-wrapped bundles of marijuana with a total weight of 1,543.04 pounds and an estimated street value of $925,821.60.
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The men, the narcotics and the boat were turned over to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who will lead the investigation.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agencies maintain a strong enforcement position along the coastal borders to detect and arrest smugglers of humans, drugs and other contraband and are a member agency of the Maritime Unified Command (MUC). The public is encouraged to report any suspicious maritime activity by calling the Joint Harbor Operations Center at 1-800-854-9834.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/kimberly-dvorak
© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Continue reading on Examiner.com San Diego Border Patrol nets $1 million worth of marijuana on a panga boat - San Diego County Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/san-diego-border-patrol-nets-1-million-worth-of-marijuana-on-a-panga-boat#ixzz1PCXnXPk6
It was the National Guardsmen, who were posted by the Obama Administration, that spotted the panga boat with three people aboard roaming the California coastline without navigation lights near Camp Pendleton Marine base. With the support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents (CBP), the Guardsmen monitored the panga boat until it came ashore near San Onofre State Beach approximately an hour later.
Agents met the drug-filled panga boat and arrested all three illegal aliens, as they were unloading 21 cellophane-wrapped bundles of marijuana with a total weight of 1,543.04 pounds and an estimated street value of $925,821.60.
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The men, the narcotics and the boat were turned over to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who will lead the investigation.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agencies maintain a strong enforcement position along the coastal borders to detect and arrest smugglers of humans, drugs and other contraband and are a member agency of the Maritime Unified Command (MUC). The public is encouraged to report any suspicious maritime activity by calling the Joint Harbor Operations Center at 1-800-854-9834.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/kimberly-dvorak
© Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.
Continue reading on Examiner.com San Diego Border Patrol nets $1 million worth of marijuana on a panga boat - San Diego County Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/san-diego-border-patrol-nets-1-million-worth-of-marijuana-on-a-panga-boat#ixzz1PCXnXPk6
Monday, November 22, 2010
DHS admits not all airline cargo checked while TSA gropes passengers
As Americans head into the busiest holiday travel season of the year, they can take comfort in the fact that TSA, CBP and DHS are assuring their fellow passengers are sufficiently groped, poked and prodded. Meanwhile unbeknownst to them hundreds of FedEx/UPS type cargo packages are placed in the belly of airplanes with little-to-no security scrutiny.
Yes, shipping companies routinely use commercial flights to get their packages from point A to B and according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources they rarely look at the suspect cargo, many of which are inbound to America via the Middle East.
One CBP agent who spoke on anonymity for fear of workplace retaliation said, “I’ve seen hundreds of suspicious packages from the Middle East come into the country with little information or any recourse to find the original sender. They can ship any type of contraband they want with little chance of getting caught.”
The agent goes on to explain shipping on commercial planes is big business for the airlines and companies like FedEx and UPS are privileged customers. Oftentimes when cargo inspectors request an examination of a suspect package, they are told express delivery personnel have already taken the parcels in order to ensure an on-time delivery.
The conformation that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) doesn’t screen all air cargo comes from Janet Napolitano who oversees America’s security.
“Ordering 100 percent screening for air cargo is an easy thing to say, but it's probably not the best way to go," Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “Cargo is infinitely more complicated and comes in infinitely more shapes and sizes than passengers.” http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-19/u-s-screening-all-airline-cargo-not-feasible-napolitano-says.html
Napolitano also contends that extending laws to cover all cargo would “require some hundreds of treaties to be negotiated so that foreign governments would allow the screening. We (currently) have one consistent security regime in the aviation environment for the United States,” she told Bloomberg.
It would appear that “regime” is the correct word choice as airline passengers have been groped, fondled and even arrested for refusing to complete the intrusive security process that has expanded to every major airport in the nation.
Both TSA and DHS refused to answer any questions regarding the airplane cargo red herring.
Recent arrestee, Sam Wolanyk of San Diego, was arrested when he refused a TSA pat down and opted to remove his pants and shirt to show TSA he wasn’t hiding any illegal contraband. “While I was arrested for refusing to be groped by TSA, a terrorist can spend 20 bucks and ship a bomb using FedEx without proper screening. It’s ludicrous,” he said.
Indeed the logic behind TSA’s excessive body searches seems overly aggressive if the cargo aboard planes can go unchecked.
CBP agents see the security risks everyday; however they are thwarted by managers and told its business as usual.
“I tried to target FedEx packages for inspection but they would be delivered before I could get field officers to see what was in them. The majority of parcels just fly out of the ports of entry upon arrival. There is so much security and intel lost, but money talks and Political Action Committees (PACs) call Congressmen, Congressmen call DHS Managers and packages are released without scrutiny, it's all about money,” a CBP Agent explained.
The reason for this increased physical intrusion of passengers stems from the recent printer cartridges that were discovered on board commercial airliners bound for the United States as well as the Christmas Day underwear bomber.
A Yemen-based al Qaeda network has now reported their new strategy regarding their quest to eliminate Americans is to force them to go broke.
The strategy involves several smaller attacks in an effort to hurt the U.S. economy and to create a security phobia that blankets the entire country. Al Qaeda dubbed the new mission “Operation Hemorrhage” and hoped to weaken America’s economy by adding security costs to the country’s budget.
According to the CBP agent there's no proactive operations to detect future events, it’s just a media “dog and pony show” and more “knee jerk reactions.”
“DHS Officials look like a ‘deer in the headlights’ whenever I see them on TV after another attempted terror attack. The real problem will start when these terror plots become administered by talented radicals hell bent on hurting the U.S. - at the moment we have inept emotionally disturbed losers trying to attack America.”
Another area law enforcement agencies will need to explore is the “practice makes perfect” terrorist who will continue to skirt homeland security in search of weak regulations.
“When we have more terrorists surviving they are more likely to strike again. It's when these non- suicide missions start that we are going to start paying a heavy, heavy price. Meanwhile, federal officers like myself working out in the field are forced to clam up, or lose our jobs and our ability to provide for our families, while federal bureaucrats who run DHS and CBP continue to mismanage our national security,” he finished.
Customs and Border Protection’s explanation
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website an “officer’s border search authority is derived from federal statutes and regulations, including 19 C.F.R. 162.6, which states that, ‘All persons, baggage and merchandise arriving in the Customs territory of the United States from places outside thereof are liable to inspection by a CBP officer.’ Unless exempt by diplomatic status, all persons entering the United States, including U.S. citizens, are subject to examination and search by CBP officers.”
DHS ensures that CBP inspection procedures are designed to facilitate the entry of U.S. citizens and aliens who can readily establish their admissibility. Unfortunately, this process may inconvenience law-abiding citizens in order to detect those involved in illicit activities. “We are especially aware of how inconvenient and stressful the inspection process may be to those selected for inspection. In such cases we rely heavily on the patience, understanding, and cooperation of the traveler,” the CBP website stated.
Meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) announced more stringent security standards for global air cargo last week, including "more extensive screening of cargo, mail and other goods prior to placing them onboard an aircraft."
The Middle East connection
In an attempt to work with the United States after the most recent thwarted terrorist attempts, countries like Yemen have opted to cooperate with developed nations to improve security measures in their country.
“We are working closely with international partners – including the U.S. – on the incident,” Mohammed Albasha told the Christan Science Monitor (CSM), adding that no UPS cargo planes land or take off from Yemeni airports. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2010/1029/Suspicious-UPS-FedEx-packages-raise-new-concerns-about-Al-Qaeda-in-Yemen
However CSM reported that an airport employee in Sanaa, Yemen, who remained anonymous, established that there are private airline flights from Sanaa to the United Kingdom that may leave a gapping hole in international security.
“The UPS store in Sanaa was staffed with one employee and one guard Friday evening and the employee refused to talk to the media,” CSM reported.
Border Security expert Andy Ramirez has testified to Congress on a number of occasions and admits the cargo issue has been around forever. “I was told unless the host government gives permission to search cargo, nothing can be checked. We have the technology and equipment overseas but if hosts nix it, it’s purely worthless and I hear many countries do refuse permission. My sources are customs cargo inspectors and I have information addressing this very issue on my website, AndyRamirez.com. In my report "Unjustifiable & Impeachable,” which outlines a live ordinance (missiles) with launchers as well as bombs that were never inspected when they entered the U.S. The cargo was later traced and found in Arkansas even though it should have been inspected in Houston, which was the reported final destination,” Ramirez said.
Expect the security to continue
Airport security hoopla shows no signs of waning as Napolitano and the TSA Administrator John S. Pistole have released statements, ensuring the aggressive security tactics will remain in place through the holiday season.
“We welcome feedback and comments on the screening procedures from the traveling public, and we will work to make them as minimally invasive as possible while still providing the security that the American people want and deserve. We are constantly evaluating and adapting our security measures, and as we have said from the beginning, we are seeking to strike the right balance between privacy and security. In all such security programs, especially those that are applied nation-wide, there is a continual process of refinement and adjustment to ensure that best practices are applied and that feedback and comment from the traveling public is taken into account. This has always been viewed as an evolving program that will be adapted as conditions warrant, and we greatly appreciate the cooperation and understanding of the American people,” TSA’s statement read.
The Sunday news shows also reported on the heavy handedness of the TSA and said the stepped-up security is a direct result of the Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, or the Christmas Day bomber. While America may have had an efficient system, television commentators concluded the U.S. now has an inefficient system despite all the money and technology available to the country.
Cargo Security Clearances
“Pre-shipment inspections (PSI) are required when mandated by the government of the importing country. Governments assert that pre-shipment inspections ensure that the price charged by the exporter reflects the true value of the goods, prevent substandard goods from entering their country, and mitigate attempts to avoid the payment of customs duties,” according to export.gov.
Even the wealthy country of Dubai sees the need to ramp-up security for all aspects of air travel. They have setup hi-tech equipment to clear cargo quickly and effectively. Salma Hareb, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Zones World, and Chairman of the Board, Dubai Logistics Corridor said their ambitious program creates the regions largest and best logistics hub in the Middle East.
At a FedEx hub, international shipments are sorted, scanned and loaded onto international flights. However, most foreign countries do not have access to a FedEx hub.
Nevertheless at FedEx overseas hubs “vital shipment information is keyed into a worldwide manifest database that is linked to computer systems operated by brokers and Customs officials in many countries. Even before the plane has taken off, or while it is in the air, Customs agents and brokers at the destination airport of entry can begin examining shipping manifests, query air waybill data if they need more details, assess duties and taxes, and select which shipments they wish to examine. By the time the plane arrives at its destination, many packages have already been cleared by Customs,” according to the FedEx website.
New legislation could offer a solution
The printer cartridge terror attempts lead a Democrat Congressman to push for more thorough screening of all cargo entering the United States.
“Al Qaeda continues to put aviation at the top of its terrorist target list, and our nation must close the cargo loophole that continues to put lives and our economy at risk. While we now require screening of 100 percent of air cargo transported on passenger planes, the thwarted Yemen bombing plot demonstrates that Al Qaeda is turning its attention to less protected all-cargo aircraft. Accordingly, we must respond through strengthened security measures,” Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) said.
“On September 11, 2001, al Qaeda used box cutters; today, they are using boxes on all-cargo planes. We ignore this warning at our great peril,” Markey concluded.
In conclusion
While there may be many ways to address the cargo and passenger-related security process, for now it appears that the terrorists have won. Americans are furious when they witness, young children, senior citizens and seemingly innocent nuns being aggressively searched and DHS basically says “deal with it.”
A seasoned Border Patrol Agent just returned from a trip to Africa and explained the rest of the Westernized countries are not over reacting.
“I just returned from Africa via Amsterdam and didn't experience any extensive pat down or x-ray screening. The folks from the ‘duty free’ shop have the run of the concourse gates. They deliver the stuff and I saw no x-ray being done of the packages. They deliver the duty free items fully wrapped, enclosed in duty free logo bags. They are delivered to the bursar at the jet-way ramp. I sure didn't observe any x-ray capability along the jet way and I sure looked for it,” said the 30 year Border Patrol veteran.
Airline passengers can expect big delays at the airline terminals this week as well as read about TSA agents overstepping their boundaries on unsuspecting travelers, but will the flights really be as safe as they could be?
If TSA and DHS refuse to screen all the cargo placed in the belly of commercial airliners, then all the aggressive passenger searches will be for naught, as a ticking explosion from the planes underbelly will render TSA security checks moot.
To help Sam with his legal defense; samwolanyk.com
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/tsa-airport-screeners-gone-wild-san-diego-again
Yes, shipping companies routinely use commercial flights to get their packages from point A to B and according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources they rarely look at the suspect cargo, many of which are inbound to America via the Middle East.
One CBP agent who spoke on anonymity for fear of workplace retaliation said, “I’ve seen hundreds of suspicious packages from the Middle East come into the country with little information or any recourse to find the original sender. They can ship any type of contraband they want with little chance of getting caught.”
The agent goes on to explain shipping on commercial planes is big business for the airlines and companies like FedEx and UPS are privileged customers. Oftentimes when cargo inspectors request an examination of a suspect package, they are told express delivery personnel have already taken the parcels in order to ensure an on-time delivery.
The conformation that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) doesn’t screen all air cargo comes from Janet Napolitano who oversees America’s security.
“Ordering 100 percent screening for air cargo is an easy thing to say, but it's probably not the best way to go," Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “Cargo is infinitely more complicated and comes in infinitely more shapes and sizes than passengers.” http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-19/u-s-screening-all-airline-cargo-not-feasible-napolitano-says.html
Napolitano also contends that extending laws to cover all cargo would “require some hundreds of treaties to be negotiated so that foreign governments would allow the screening. We (currently) have one consistent security regime in the aviation environment for the United States,” she told Bloomberg.
It would appear that “regime” is the correct word choice as airline passengers have been groped, fondled and even arrested for refusing to complete the intrusive security process that has expanded to every major airport in the nation.
Both TSA and DHS refused to answer any questions regarding the airplane cargo red herring.
Recent arrestee, Sam Wolanyk of San Diego, was arrested when he refused a TSA pat down and opted to remove his pants and shirt to show TSA he wasn’t hiding any illegal contraband. “While I was arrested for refusing to be groped by TSA, a terrorist can spend 20 bucks and ship a bomb using FedEx without proper screening. It’s ludicrous,” he said.
Indeed the logic behind TSA’s excessive body searches seems overly aggressive if the cargo aboard planes can go unchecked.
CBP agents see the security risks everyday; however they are thwarted by managers and told its business as usual.
“I tried to target FedEx packages for inspection but they would be delivered before I could get field officers to see what was in them. The majority of parcels just fly out of the ports of entry upon arrival. There is so much security and intel lost, but money talks and Political Action Committees (PACs) call Congressmen, Congressmen call DHS Managers and packages are released without scrutiny, it's all about money,” a CBP Agent explained.
The reason for this increased physical intrusion of passengers stems from the recent printer cartridges that were discovered on board commercial airliners bound for the United States as well as the Christmas Day underwear bomber.
A Yemen-based al Qaeda network has now reported their new strategy regarding their quest to eliminate Americans is to force them to go broke.
The strategy involves several smaller attacks in an effort to hurt the U.S. economy and to create a security phobia that blankets the entire country. Al Qaeda dubbed the new mission “Operation Hemorrhage” and hoped to weaken America’s economy by adding security costs to the country’s budget.
According to the CBP agent there's no proactive operations to detect future events, it’s just a media “dog and pony show” and more “knee jerk reactions.”
“DHS Officials look like a ‘deer in the headlights’ whenever I see them on TV after another attempted terror attack. The real problem will start when these terror plots become administered by talented radicals hell bent on hurting the U.S. - at the moment we have inept emotionally disturbed losers trying to attack America.”
Another area law enforcement agencies will need to explore is the “practice makes perfect” terrorist who will continue to skirt homeland security in search of weak regulations.
“When we have more terrorists surviving they are more likely to strike again. It's when these non- suicide missions start that we are going to start paying a heavy, heavy price. Meanwhile, federal officers like myself working out in the field are forced to clam up, or lose our jobs and our ability to provide for our families, while federal bureaucrats who run DHS and CBP continue to mismanage our national security,” he finished.
Customs and Border Protection’s explanation
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website an “officer’s border search authority is derived from federal statutes and regulations, including 19 C.F.R. 162.6, which states that, ‘All persons, baggage and merchandise arriving in the Customs territory of the United States from places outside thereof are liable to inspection by a CBP officer.’ Unless exempt by diplomatic status, all persons entering the United States, including U.S. citizens, are subject to examination and search by CBP officers.”
DHS ensures that CBP inspection procedures are designed to facilitate the entry of U.S. citizens and aliens who can readily establish their admissibility. Unfortunately, this process may inconvenience law-abiding citizens in order to detect those involved in illicit activities. “We are especially aware of how inconvenient and stressful the inspection process may be to those selected for inspection. In such cases we rely heavily on the patience, understanding, and cooperation of the traveler,” the CBP website stated.
Meanwhile, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) announced more stringent security standards for global air cargo last week, including "more extensive screening of cargo, mail and other goods prior to placing them onboard an aircraft."
The Middle East connection
In an attempt to work with the United States after the most recent thwarted terrorist attempts, countries like Yemen have opted to cooperate with developed nations to improve security measures in their country.
“We are working closely with international partners – including the U.S. – on the incident,” Mohammed Albasha told the Christan Science Monitor (CSM), adding that no UPS cargo planes land or take off from Yemeni airports. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2010/1029/Suspicious-UPS-FedEx-packages-raise-new-concerns-about-Al-Qaeda-in-Yemen
However CSM reported that an airport employee in Sanaa, Yemen, who remained anonymous, established that there are private airline flights from Sanaa to the United Kingdom that may leave a gapping hole in international security.
“The UPS store in Sanaa was staffed with one employee and one guard Friday evening and the employee refused to talk to the media,” CSM reported.
Border Security expert Andy Ramirez has testified to Congress on a number of occasions and admits the cargo issue has been around forever. “I was told unless the host government gives permission to search cargo, nothing can be checked. We have the technology and equipment overseas but if hosts nix it, it’s purely worthless and I hear many countries do refuse permission. My sources are customs cargo inspectors and I have information addressing this very issue on my website, AndyRamirez.com. In my report "Unjustifiable & Impeachable,” which outlines a live ordinance (missiles) with launchers as well as bombs that were never inspected when they entered the U.S. The cargo was later traced and found in Arkansas even though it should have been inspected in Houston, which was the reported final destination,” Ramirez said.
Expect the security to continue
Airport security hoopla shows no signs of waning as Napolitano and the TSA Administrator John S. Pistole have released statements, ensuring the aggressive security tactics will remain in place through the holiday season.
“We welcome feedback and comments on the screening procedures from the traveling public, and we will work to make them as minimally invasive as possible while still providing the security that the American people want and deserve. We are constantly evaluating and adapting our security measures, and as we have said from the beginning, we are seeking to strike the right balance between privacy and security. In all such security programs, especially those that are applied nation-wide, there is a continual process of refinement and adjustment to ensure that best practices are applied and that feedback and comment from the traveling public is taken into account. This has always been viewed as an evolving program that will be adapted as conditions warrant, and we greatly appreciate the cooperation and understanding of the American people,” TSA’s statement read.
The Sunday news shows also reported on the heavy handedness of the TSA and said the stepped-up security is a direct result of the Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, or the Christmas Day bomber. While America may have had an efficient system, television commentators concluded the U.S. now has an inefficient system despite all the money and technology available to the country.
Cargo Security Clearances
“Pre-shipment inspections (PSI) are required when mandated by the government of the importing country. Governments assert that pre-shipment inspections ensure that the price charged by the exporter reflects the true value of the goods, prevent substandard goods from entering their country, and mitigate attempts to avoid the payment of customs duties,” according to export.gov.
Even the wealthy country of Dubai sees the need to ramp-up security for all aspects of air travel. They have setup hi-tech equipment to clear cargo quickly and effectively. Salma Hareb, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Zones World, and Chairman of the Board, Dubai Logistics Corridor said their ambitious program creates the regions largest and best logistics hub in the Middle East.
At a FedEx hub, international shipments are sorted, scanned and loaded onto international flights. However, most foreign countries do not have access to a FedEx hub.
Nevertheless at FedEx overseas hubs “vital shipment information is keyed into a worldwide manifest database that is linked to computer systems operated by brokers and Customs officials in many countries. Even before the plane has taken off, or while it is in the air, Customs agents and brokers at the destination airport of entry can begin examining shipping manifests, query air waybill data if they need more details, assess duties and taxes, and select which shipments they wish to examine. By the time the plane arrives at its destination, many packages have already been cleared by Customs,” according to the FedEx website.
New legislation could offer a solution
The printer cartridge terror attempts lead a Democrat Congressman to push for more thorough screening of all cargo entering the United States.
“Al Qaeda continues to put aviation at the top of its terrorist target list, and our nation must close the cargo loophole that continues to put lives and our economy at risk. While we now require screening of 100 percent of air cargo transported on passenger planes, the thwarted Yemen bombing plot demonstrates that Al Qaeda is turning its attention to less protected all-cargo aircraft. Accordingly, we must respond through strengthened security measures,” Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) said.
“On September 11, 2001, al Qaeda used box cutters; today, they are using boxes on all-cargo planes. We ignore this warning at our great peril,” Markey concluded.
In conclusion
While there may be many ways to address the cargo and passenger-related security process, for now it appears that the terrorists have won. Americans are furious when they witness, young children, senior citizens and seemingly innocent nuns being aggressively searched and DHS basically says “deal with it.”
A seasoned Border Patrol Agent just returned from a trip to Africa and explained the rest of the Westernized countries are not over reacting.
“I just returned from Africa via Amsterdam and didn't experience any extensive pat down or x-ray screening. The folks from the ‘duty free’ shop have the run of the concourse gates. They deliver the stuff and I saw no x-ray being done of the packages. They deliver the duty free items fully wrapped, enclosed in duty free logo bags. They are delivered to the bursar at the jet-way ramp. I sure didn't observe any x-ray capability along the jet way and I sure looked for it,” said the 30 year Border Patrol veteran.
Airline passengers can expect big delays at the airline terminals this week as well as read about TSA agents overstepping their boundaries on unsuspecting travelers, but will the flights really be as safe as they could be?
If TSA and DHS refuse to screen all the cargo placed in the belly of commercial airliners, then all the aggressive passenger searches will be for naught, as a ticking explosion from the planes underbelly will render TSA security checks moot.
To help Sam with his legal defense; samwolanyk.com
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/tsa-airport-screeners-gone-wild-san-diego-again
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Open borders and amnesty on the way with DHS-CBP's Napolitano and Bersin
It looks like an immigration “paradigm shift” is on the horizon for Americans according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin. He wants citizens to rethink their views regarding the U.S.-Mexico border by adding a new twist on border security.
Bersin said during a speech at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., that he expects Congress to include a “road to citizenship” for illegal immigrants and the best way to secure the border is to open up the job market to all Mexicans. This would create “a legitimate labor market between the United States and Mexico,” Bersin explained.
That statement created so much heat for Bersin his office back tracked the “jobs for all Mexicans in the U.S.” remark and said he meant to say a “temporary worker program.”
Not many Americans agree with the CBP Commissioners theory about offering jobs to lawbreakers, especially when double-digit unemployment plagues the country.
Bersin was appointed by President Barack Obama to takeover U.S. border security. Much like the president, Bersin is a career scholar with little to no business experience who was the secretary of education for the state of California and was chairman of the San Diego Regional Airport Authority before he was the border Czar.
During the speech Bersin referred to the meeting between President Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon earlier this year which “articulated the vision for this new era—the creation of a 21st Century border, one that enhances our security and mutual economic competitiveness in an increasingly globalized world.”
“Underlying this new vision is a paradigm shift—a change in how people view the border,” the CBP Commissioner explained. “Historically, governments have approached border management as, essentially, ‘holding the line.’ But the border isn’t an isolated place disconnected from the interiors of the United States and Mexico. What we do at the border has effects that are felt far away from the jurisdictional line—especially in an era of international trade and global supply chains. Although policing the line will remain a key element of any border management approach, we must shift our thinking and take a more holistic view of border management, one that is based on securing the flows of trade and travel.”
Bersin, asked and answered is own question regarding the necessity for open borders employment as a way to secure the U.S. and said he did not consider this pathway a “mass amnesty” or “mass deportations.” In essence he called for a “long road to citizenship” for illegal immigrants as well as repeated the mantra of jobs for all.
The speech included a possible method for those in America illegally to follow if they decide to be Americans. “There is a responsibility from those who are here illegally, so that they can register, admit to having broken the law, pay a fine, pay back taxes, get right with the law, and learn English before they can get on that long road toward citizenship if they chose to pursue it,” Bersin explained.
The bottom line for the Obama administration is amnesty and this is where the majority of Americans part company with the president and those inside Department of Homeland Security. But Bersin continues to push.
“Absent comprehensive immigration reform people will attempt to enter this country illegally, drawn by the job market,” he said. “It is our job to stop them, and we will do our best to do that. We are doing better than ever before. But this is not about real estate; it’s about flows of people and securing the border by deterring and preventing illegal immigration. The best way to do that is to have a legitimate labor market between the United States and Mexico.”
Looking at that statement Americans may be confused because most believe deterrence of illegal immigration and border security means preventing aliens from crossing illegally into the country. The way Bersin sees it, the open borders will quell illegal border crossings because once they are here they will be able to legally procure employment (under DHS’s ideal world) and contribute to American society. Really, why have borders?
As if to follow-up Bersin’s speech with details sure to strike the hearts of liberals was DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. At her stump speech in San Diego the secretary was armed with all sorts of facts.
“We have devoted unprecedented amounts of manpower, infrastructure and technology to the Southwest border under this administration,” said Napolitano. “Over the past two years, our seizures of illegal drugs, currency and weapons have increased significantly—helping to make the southwest border more secure than ever before.”
DHS reported that fiscal years 2009 and 2010, the CBP seized more than $104 million in southbound illegal currency—an increase of approximately $28 million compared to 2007-2008 (Another fact to keep in mind is the drug cartels are raking in billions of dollars in illicit trade profit per year).
CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also seized more than $282 million in illegal currency, more than 7 million pounds of drugs, and more than 6,800 weapons in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 along the southwest border—increases of more than $73 million, more than 1 million pounds of drugs and more than 1,500 weapons compared to 2007-2008.
Secretary Napolitano also highlighted the 36 percent decrease in Border Patrol apprehensions from nearly 724,000 in fiscal year 2008 to approximately 463,000 in fiscal year 2010. However, many factors can be attributed to the downturn in apprehensions, the sour economy, fewer people are getting caught or agents are simply not arresting as many illegal aliens.
Napolitano also made time to speak with the editorial board of The San Diego Union Tribune to discuss the immigration hot-button issue. “The former Arizona governor and state attorney general said strengthening immigration rules also could lead to more high-tech resources that authorities would use to make sure visitors to the United States don't overstay their visas,” Napolitano told the Union Tribune. “There are areas in terms of visas and visa overstays, again, that should be addressed legally through an immigration reform bill. We need a new legislative framework from which to act. It’s the 21st century. We need a bill that builds for that.”
While she did not provide specific details how a comprehensive immigration bill would be tailored, the DHS secretary has been a long time supporter of amnesty setting up her agency for battle with the voters when the comprehensive immigration reform discussion finally makes it way to Congress.
For more stories;
http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/kimberly-dvorak
Bersin said during a speech at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., that he expects Congress to include a “road to citizenship” for illegal immigrants and the best way to secure the border is to open up the job market to all Mexicans. This would create “a legitimate labor market between the United States and Mexico,” Bersin explained.
That statement created so much heat for Bersin his office back tracked the “jobs for all Mexicans in the U.S.” remark and said he meant to say a “temporary worker program.”
Not many Americans agree with the CBP Commissioners theory about offering jobs to lawbreakers, especially when double-digit unemployment plagues the country.
Bersin was appointed by President Barack Obama to takeover U.S. border security. Much like the president, Bersin is a career scholar with little to no business experience who was the secretary of education for the state of California and was chairman of the San Diego Regional Airport Authority before he was the border Czar.
During the speech Bersin referred to the meeting between President Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon earlier this year which “articulated the vision for this new era—the creation of a 21st Century border, one that enhances our security and mutual economic competitiveness in an increasingly globalized world.”
“Underlying this new vision is a paradigm shift—a change in how people view the border,” the CBP Commissioner explained. “Historically, governments have approached border management as, essentially, ‘holding the line.’ But the border isn’t an isolated place disconnected from the interiors of the United States and Mexico. What we do at the border has effects that are felt far away from the jurisdictional line—especially in an era of international trade and global supply chains. Although policing the line will remain a key element of any border management approach, we must shift our thinking and take a more holistic view of border management, one that is based on securing the flows of trade and travel.”
Bersin, asked and answered is own question regarding the necessity for open borders employment as a way to secure the U.S. and said he did not consider this pathway a “mass amnesty” or “mass deportations.” In essence he called for a “long road to citizenship” for illegal immigrants as well as repeated the mantra of jobs for all.
The speech included a possible method for those in America illegally to follow if they decide to be Americans. “There is a responsibility from those who are here illegally, so that they can register, admit to having broken the law, pay a fine, pay back taxes, get right with the law, and learn English before they can get on that long road toward citizenship if they chose to pursue it,” Bersin explained.
The bottom line for the Obama administration is amnesty and this is where the majority of Americans part company with the president and those inside Department of Homeland Security. But Bersin continues to push.
“Absent comprehensive immigration reform people will attempt to enter this country illegally, drawn by the job market,” he said. “It is our job to stop them, and we will do our best to do that. We are doing better than ever before. But this is not about real estate; it’s about flows of people and securing the border by deterring and preventing illegal immigration. The best way to do that is to have a legitimate labor market between the United States and Mexico.”
Looking at that statement Americans may be confused because most believe deterrence of illegal immigration and border security means preventing aliens from crossing illegally into the country. The way Bersin sees it, the open borders will quell illegal border crossings because once they are here they will be able to legally procure employment (under DHS’s ideal world) and contribute to American society. Really, why have borders?
As if to follow-up Bersin’s speech with details sure to strike the hearts of liberals was DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. At her stump speech in San Diego the secretary was armed with all sorts of facts.
“We have devoted unprecedented amounts of manpower, infrastructure and technology to the Southwest border under this administration,” said Napolitano. “Over the past two years, our seizures of illegal drugs, currency and weapons have increased significantly—helping to make the southwest border more secure than ever before.”
DHS reported that fiscal years 2009 and 2010, the CBP seized more than $104 million in southbound illegal currency—an increase of approximately $28 million compared to 2007-2008 (Another fact to keep in mind is the drug cartels are raking in billions of dollars in illicit trade profit per year).
CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also seized more than $282 million in illegal currency, more than 7 million pounds of drugs, and more than 6,800 weapons in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 along the southwest border—increases of more than $73 million, more than 1 million pounds of drugs and more than 1,500 weapons compared to 2007-2008.
Secretary Napolitano also highlighted the 36 percent decrease in Border Patrol apprehensions from nearly 724,000 in fiscal year 2008 to approximately 463,000 in fiscal year 2010. However, many factors can be attributed to the downturn in apprehensions, the sour economy, fewer people are getting caught or agents are simply not arresting as many illegal aliens.
Napolitano also made time to speak with the editorial board of The San Diego Union Tribune to discuss the immigration hot-button issue. “The former Arizona governor and state attorney general said strengthening immigration rules also could lead to more high-tech resources that authorities would use to make sure visitors to the United States don't overstay their visas,” Napolitano told the Union Tribune. “There are areas in terms of visas and visa overstays, again, that should be addressed legally through an immigration reform bill. We need a new legislative framework from which to act. It’s the 21st century. We need a bill that builds for that.”
While she did not provide specific details how a comprehensive immigration bill would be tailored, the DHS secretary has been a long time supporter of amnesty setting up her agency for battle with the voters when the comprehensive immigration reform discussion finally makes it way to Congress.
For more stories;
http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/kimberly-dvorak
Monday, May 10, 2010
Illegal immigration problems continue to flare both sides of the issue
The newly minted Customs and Border Protection Commissioner (CBP) appointee, Alan Bersin made a stop in San Diego to talk about an issue that is sweeping the country – illegal immigration.
The forum started rather interesting as Bersin added a disclaimer – in discussing this topic we should be focused on the future of immigration and port security not the past. Translation, the U.S. doesn’t want to talk about the drug cartel violence in Mexico, the lack of border security at the border or immigration crisis currently gripping the country.
After the forum Bersin took four questions from the media, three were asked and answered in Spanish while only one was in English. The event was held in a Chapel at Point Loma Nazarene University with approximately 200 college professionals and community business leaders.
Bersin’s speech centered on keeping the lanes moving across the border ports of entry, the implementation or increase of SENTRY program applicants (A fast-track lane used by those who America trusts and have passed background checks) and sharing information with Mexican counterparts.
“We have to pre-clear more of the trucking lines,” Bersin said. “It’s something I call the new bargain. Neither Mexicans or Americans like to share information with their government it’s built into the DNA of our culture…with technology we can change that,” he said.
The CBP head honcho tried to relay a message to the audience that America is lucky to not have the spillover violence, especially since Mexico is in the middle of a narco-war.
“We don’t have the spillover violence like Mexico is facing with the drug cartels...We don’t have that spillover in violence in the streets… so I think people are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the kind of political reaction that can generate a law like the Arizona law based on a couple of incidents that are tragic.”
Bersin took a page from the Obama press conference book and took only a few questions and provided lengthy wandering answers putting many in the audience to sleep.
The crime he talked about was in very general terms and steered cleared of the drug cartel violence that is taking thousands of Mexican lives each year. “We take seriously the crime directed against people in the United States as a result of organized crime,” Bersin quipped.
He also said that American’s have a terrific opportunity to improve trade relations with Mexico.
“The port of the future should have more integrated help with Mexico, “ Bersin claimed. “When it comes to where our department is going I say Si Su Pueda…”
However, Bersin did touch on the danger in “Mexico…aside from my duty to protect American people and my CBP agents upper most thing on my mind is their safety, we notify them of the danger, give them the best equipment, sharing information, we understand the danger.”
While Bersin may have been repeating some of the politically correct highlights voters have come to expect it was clear from the onset Bersin was in lock step with the Obama Administration.
The commissioner promised the attendees a three-legged approach to immigration was forthcoming; securing the border (this has been promised dating back to President Reagan), removing those who have committed crimes and developing secure legal flow of migrant workers.
It is this attitude that has the majority of Americans solidly against amnesty. “We hear promises, promises from political leaders ‘we’ll secure the border and slow those crossing’ each time they repeat it their words have no meaning,” said Sandy Jones. “We want action on the border before we commit to anything going forward.”
A recent Glenn Beck show, pointed out the majority of American’s feel reciprocal immigration laws should apply. When a foreign traveler enters Mexico, according to Mexico’s Population Law (article 67) they must abide by Mexico’s law which states; “Authorities, whether federal, state or municipal are required to demand that foreigners prove their legal presence in the country before attending to any issues.”
Similar laws in the European Union are enforced everyday without the cries of Nazism. “Why the double standard,” Jones says.
There is no doubt immigration reform will be tough due to the many differing opinions on solutions and the Obama Administration seems content with flip flopping on the immigration reform issue day-to-day. Obama has opening criticized Arizona’s new law and then turned around and told Americans he didn’t feel their was a “political appetite” for immigration reform in the middle of tough midterm reelections this year.
Arizona’s Governor Jan Brewer has responded swiftly to the Presidents’ criticism of the new law. At the recent correspondents dinner hosted by the White House for the who’s who in the media world, the President took a big swipe at Arizona by saying, “We all know what happens in Arizona if you don’t have ID, adios amigos.”
Needless to say the Governor doesn’t feel the administrations lack of knowledge and response to the plight of Arizona is a laughing matter. She has told reporters there have been five letters written to the White House and former Arizona Governor and now Secretary of DHS Janet Napolitano – all have gone unanswered. To view the new ad Brewer’s office has placed on the Internet, click on this link and play the ad. (Arizona Governor Jan Brewer new ad)
Attorney General Eric Holder chimed in on the Sunday shows and he doesn’t believe Arizona's law on illegal immigrants is racially motivated, but said it could lead law enforcement to racial profiling. He went on to say the country’s immigration problem couldn’t be fixed in a “state-by-state solution.”
The U.S. Attorney said he understood the frustration in Arizona, but he said on ABC's This Week "we could potentially get on a slippery slope where people will be picked on because of how they look as opposed to what they have done."
However, those on the other side of the issue see things developing differently on the U.S./Mexico border.
Andy Ramirez, founder of the Law Enforcement Officers Advocates Council a nonprofit organization based in Southern California has been investigating and evaluating U.S. Border Security, Homeland Security, and international policies that he says do not benefit U.S. Citizens.
He has testified on a number of occasions before Congressional Committees as well as briefed numerous Members of Congress as to the facts he has uncovered from 2005 through today.
“The Clinton Administration set things in motion with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which put trade and commerce above national security and really got things going,” Ramirez said. “The George W. Bush Administration then paid lip service to Americans by allowing more Border Patrol Agents to be hired, and other improvements to border security with an actual fence, and virtual fence, along with other expensive toys.”
But those were surface improvements, which did nothing but allow the Bush Administration to make claims that were completely disingenuous. “The reality is that not only did W's Administration further compromise U.S. National Security by allowing Mexico to blackmail the U.S. Government due to the House of Death case. Mexico since then has dictated border security, immigration enforcement (and the lack thereof), and trade and economic policies that were only beneficial to Mexico,” Ramirez explained.
“The administration then further sold out U.S. Citizens by giving billions of dollars to Mexico under the Merida initiative. This treaty, which has not been formally approved by the U.S. Senate has allowed the well documented Mexican Government to be given not just cash but also specific training needed, which they have used to secure their southern border with Central America AND used to stage military, narco-terrorist, and human trafficking incursions along the U.S. - Mexico border.”
Keep in mind Bush had to keep one constituency of his stated political party happy, the conservatives, by paying lip service to border security, according to Ramirez. “Bush was unsuccessful to completely implement what I call a North American Union beyond signed but unratified treaties with Mexico and Canada, and unsuccessful in attempts to enact an amnesty under the so-called guise of Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Obama like McCain pandered to the supporters of Comprehensive Immigration Reform like the National Council of La Raza and other known supporters of the Mexican Governments goal of "reconquista" meaning the reconquering of the Southwest for their mythical land of Aztlan.”
However, in evaluating what it taking place by reviewing the structure of Homeland Security as well as the policies of a number of past administrations, it is clear that all that is needed to be in place to pull this off is now there today.
“Obama does not need to give an amnesty since he has cut the budget at the Department of Homeland Security for all aspects of national security except management where we saw an increase of funds. What further helps is that the Customs service, and the Border Patrol have been compromised from within.”
“Managers who disagreed were purged out between 2005 and 2007, and today's managers have gone along to get along and are now in place along the borders and in between the ports of entry,” says Ramirez.
By systematically erasing the border, amnesty is no longer necessary, as the border for the hemisphere will now begin at the Mexican Border with Central America.
“Bersin's recent comments in San Diego completely corroborates what I came to realize some time ago,” he concludes.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
The forum started rather interesting as Bersin added a disclaimer – in discussing this topic we should be focused on the future of immigration and port security not the past. Translation, the U.S. doesn’t want to talk about the drug cartel violence in Mexico, the lack of border security at the border or immigration crisis currently gripping the country.
After the forum Bersin took four questions from the media, three were asked and answered in Spanish while only one was in English. The event was held in a Chapel at Point Loma Nazarene University with approximately 200 college professionals and community business leaders.
Bersin’s speech centered on keeping the lanes moving across the border ports of entry, the implementation or increase of SENTRY program applicants (A fast-track lane used by those who America trusts and have passed background checks) and sharing information with Mexican counterparts.
“We have to pre-clear more of the trucking lines,” Bersin said. “It’s something I call the new bargain. Neither Mexicans or Americans like to share information with their government it’s built into the DNA of our culture…with technology we can change that,” he said.
The CBP head honcho tried to relay a message to the audience that America is lucky to not have the spillover violence, especially since Mexico is in the middle of a narco-war.
“We don’t have the spillover violence like Mexico is facing with the drug cartels...We don’t have that spillover in violence in the streets… so I think people are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the kind of political reaction that can generate a law like the Arizona law based on a couple of incidents that are tragic.”
Bersin took a page from the Obama press conference book and took only a few questions and provided lengthy wandering answers putting many in the audience to sleep.
The crime he talked about was in very general terms and steered cleared of the drug cartel violence that is taking thousands of Mexican lives each year. “We take seriously the crime directed against people in the United States as a result of organized crime,” Bersin quipped.
He also said that American’s have a terrific opportunity to improve trade relations with Mexico.
“The port of the future should have more integrated help with Mexico, “ Bersin claimed. “When it comes to where our department is going I say Si Su Pueda…”
However, Bersin did touch on the danger in “Mexico…aside from my duty to protect American people and my CBP agents upper most thing on my mind is their safety, we notify them of the danger, give them the best equipment, sharing information, we understand the danger.”
While Bersin may have been repeating some of the politically correct highlights voters have come to expect it was clear from the onset Bersin was in lock step with the Obama Administration.
The commissioner promised the attendees a three-legged approach to immigration was forthcoming; securing the border (this has been promised dating back to President Reagan), removing those who have committed crimes and developing secure legal flow of migrant workers.
It is this attitude that has the majority of Americans solidly against amnesty. “We hear promises, promises from political leaders ‘we’ll secure the border and slow those crossing’ each time they repeat it their words have no meaning,” said Sandy Jones. “We want action on the border before we commit to anything going forward.”
A recent Glenn Beck show, pointed out the majority of American’s feel reciprocal immigration laws should apply. When a foreign traveler enters Mexico, according to Mexico’s Population Law (article 67) they must abide by Mexico’s law which states; “Authorities, whether federal, state or municipal are required to demand that foreigners prove their legal presence in the country before attending to any issues.”
Similar laws in the European Union are enforced everyday without the cries of Nazism. “Why the double standard,” Jones says.
There is no doubt immigration reform will be tough due to the many differing opinions on solutions and the Obama Administration seems content with flip flopping on the immigration reform issue day-to-day. Obama has opening criticized Arizona’s new law and then turned around and told Americans he didn’t feel their was a “political appetite” for immigration reform in the middle of tough midterm reelections this year.
Arizona’s Governor Jan Brewer has responded swiftly to the Presidents’ criticism of the new law. At the recent correspondents dinner hosted by the White House for the who’s who in the media world, the President took a big swipe at Arizona by saying, “We all know what happens in Arizona if you don’t have ID, adios amigos.”
Needless to say the Governor doesn’t feel the administrations lack of knowledge and response to the plight of Arizona is a laughing matter. She has told reporters there have been five letters written to the White House and former Arizona Governor and now Secretary of DHS Janet Napolitano – all have gone unanswered. To view the new ad Brewer’s office has placed on the Internet, click on this link and play the ad. (Arizona Governor Jan Brewer new ad)
Attorney General Eric Holder chimed in on the Sunday shows and he doesn’t believe Arizona's law on illegal immigrants is racially motivated, but said it could lead law enforcement to racial profiling. He went on to say the country’s immigration problem couldn’t be fixed in a “state-by-state solution.”
The U.S. Attorney said he understood the frustration in Arizona, but he said on ABC's This Week "we could potentially get on a slippery slope where people will be picked on because of how they look as opposed to what they have done."
However, those on the other side of the issue see things developing differently on the U.S./Mexico border.
Andy Ramirez, founder of the Law Enforcement Officers Advocates Council a nonprofit organization based in Southern California has been investigating and evaluating U.S. Border Security, Homeland Security, and international policies that he says do not benefit U.S. Citizens.
He has testified on a number of occasions before Congressional Committees as well as briefed numerous Members of Congress as to the facts he has uncovered from 2005 through today.
“The Clinton Administration set things in motion with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which put trade and commerce above national security and really got things going,” Ramirez said. “The George W. Bush Administration then paid lip service to Americans by allowing more Border Patrol Agents to be hired, and other improvements to border security with an actual fence, and virtual fence, along with other expensive toys.”
But those were surface improvements, which did nothing but allow the Bush Administration to make claims that were completely disingenuous. “The reality is that not only did W's Administration further compromise U.S. National Security by allowing Mexico to blackmail the U.S. Government due to the House of Death case. Mexico since then has dictated border security, immigration enforcement (and the lack thereof), and trade and economic policies that were only beneficial to Mexico,” Ramirez explained.
“The administration then further sold out U.S. Citizens by giving billions of dollars to Mexico under the Merida initiative. This treaty, which has not been formally approved by the U.S. Senate has allowed the well documented Mexican Government to be given not just cash but also specific training needed, which they have used to secure their southern border with Central America AND used to stage military, narco-terrorist, and human trafficking incursions along the U.S. - Mexico border.”
Keep in mind Bush had to keep one constituency of his stated political party happy, the conservatives, by paying lip service to border security, according to Ramirez. “Bush was unsuccessful to completely implement what I call a North American Union beyond signed but unratified treaties with Mexico and Canada, and unsuccessful in attempts to enact an amnesty under the so-called guise of Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Obama like McCain pandered to the supporters of Comprehensive Immigration Reform like the National Council of La Raza and other known supporters of the Mexican Governments goal of "reconquista" meaning the reconquering of the Southwest for their mythical land of Aztlan.”
However, in evaluating what it taking place by reviewing the structure of Homeland Security as well as the policies of a number of past administrations, it is clear that all that is needed to be in place to pull this off is now there today.
“Obama does not need to give an amnesty since he has cut the budget at the Department of Homeland Security for all aspects of national security except management where we saw an increase of funds. What further helps is that the Customs service, and the Border Patrol have been compromised from within.”
“Managers who disagreed were purged out between 2005 and 2007, and today's managers have gone along to get along and are now in place along the borders and in between the ports of entry,” says Ramirez.
By systematically erasing the border, amnesty is no longer necessary, as the border for the hemisphere will now begin at the Mexican Border with Central America.
“Bersin's recent comments in San Diego completely corroborates what I came to realize some time ago,” he concludes.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Crony politics within DHS agencies hurt'sts America's national security
As a young girl Darlene Fitzgerald bucked the ‘norm’ when it came to the way she envisioned life. Her father encouraged her to be whatever she wanted to be. Fitzgerald’s quest into the world of boys started early, she wanted to play baseball with the boys when it was unthinkable; it would mark the start of her trailblazing ways something that has not fallen by the wayside.
Fitzgerald took on a fight against major corruption, put her life on the line for her country and ran up against a brick wall with Customs and Border Protection. This happened because there was no whistle blower protection for federal government employees and the military - the folks on the front lines of national security. Now she is taking that fight, and my fight against crony campaign financing to Capitol Hill.
Her story with CBP began by following the rules and firmly believing her supervisors would stand by her when she reported any wrong-doing by other CBP agents. Fitzgerald was wrong. In a long line of government cover-ups and corruption Fitzgerald’s no nonsense attitude was put to the test.
The country she loved and protected with everything she had turned on her. Her lamp lighting (whistle blowing) resulted in her career being stripped from her. But like her stubborn childhood tenacity, Fitzgerald picked herself up, wrote a book (BorderGate) and is now running for the United States Senate in Kentucky. Her new mission is to change the way Washington does business. Those who bet against Fitzgerald making it to D.C. don’t know how determined she really is.
The following is her accounting on the CBP, DHS and Washington-style politics, and why these agencies are wrong for America and what exactly has to change.
“Immediately following the terror attempt aboard the aircraft, Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano announced: "The system worked." The suspect was able to bring explosives on board a flight from Europe to the U.S. and only failed in his "mission" because his bomb didn't explode, but "the system worked." Really? This is a clear failure not only of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but also of the entire Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of which TSA is a component.
These agencies have long been suffering from incompetent management. The promotion system in these agencies is the "good old boy" crony club. The '"best and the brightest" are rarely promoted into management positions. When better-qualified agents/inspectors dare to file any type of legitimate complaint or grievance in an attempt to solve this problem, they are immediately silenced- usually with a phony investigation by the Internal Affairs Department (IA). The retaliation for anyone in these federal agencies who dare to speak truth to power is swift and painful. I know this firsthand.
Moreover, if an agent/inspector observes any behavior from his/her superiors that would cause a breach in our national security, they risk their careers if they dare to report their managers, even though DHS regulations and some federal laws require them to do so. There are thousands of government whistle blowers who have repeatedly given spine-shivering testimony about the gaping holes in our national security to both houses of Congress. I have testified before them in Washington myself. The whistle blowers are neutralized and nothing gets fixed. This happens because there is no real whistle blower protection for federal government employees or the military on the front lines of our national security.
Two of the best government watchdog organizations on Capitol Hill are the Government Accountability Project (GAP) and the Project on Government Over-site (POGO). Both have been trying for years to get real whistle blower protection to no avail. Until agencies like DHS and TSA are no longer allowed to investigate themselves and use IA as the "goon squad" on folks who try to file legitimate complaints, we all remain at risk.
I believe these agencies and others do not have the manpower or the assets to really accomplish their missions. We are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on Iraq and Afghanistan trying to fight a tactic -terrorism. You cannot wage a war against a tactic. While we have focused on military plans since 9-11, we are bleeding money away from greater investments in intelligence, improving infrastructure, and law enforcement techniques.
Most of the actual Al Qaeda terrorists who have been caught and brought to justice have been apprehended through the use of interagency intelligence such as Interpol and cooperative law enforcement and not "boots on the ground" military. The regular military (army and marines) were not trained to conduct an intelligence gathering manhunt. They are very good at what they are trained for, but it is not this.
Had our elected officials on Capitol Hill listened to the countless government employee and military whistle blowers over the last 20 years, and had placed into effect even a few of the recommendations from GAP and POGO, maybe 9-11 wouldn't have happened. Hindsight is 20-20, but they're still not listening. Many counterterrorism experts and top military officials agree that we are not making any real progress in our fight against Al Qaeda by escalating the war in Afghanistan.
‘Make wars unprofitable and you make them impossible,’ Franklin D. Roosevelt said. There are a lot of big corporations making tons of money off of these two wars. Not coincidentally, they are also large contributors to the campaigns of our elected officials on Capitol Hill. This places many in government in a terrible bind and it is not unfair to ask if some of our elected officials are voting the interests of the funders of their campaigns in the name of national security. If we don't fix crony campaign financing, none of the above will ever get fixed. It's time the people take back their government from those who own it now.
The legal bribery of lobbying is the disease. The rest (wars, threats to national security, substandard education, substandard healthcare) are merely symptoms that will never be cured until we turn our legislatures back to a system of governing, and not a system of quid pro quo.”
Fitzgerald’s words represent the way many Americans feel today and nowhere was that heard louder than Massachusetts with the election of an Independent/Republican in the heart of a navy-blue state. The citizens of this country are waking up to the issues in front of them and are questioning the elected officials ability to represent “We the People.”
The fact that Fitzgerald’s Senate opponents will no longer debate her says it all- politics as usual won’t cut it any longer. Her platform is simple, get back to basics and clean up Washington D.C. “We need to put the people first,” she said. “We need to protect our whistle blowers so we can root out crony corruption.”
Marthena Cowart, the director of communications for Project on Government Oversight says it best; "The courageous men and woman throughout the federal government who report misconduct and criminality in their workplace are, more often than not, punished instead of rewarded for upholding the oath they take when they join the government. POGO is urging Congress to pass the Whistleblower Protection Act which will, for the first time, grant jury trail access to all federal whistleblowers.”
Sandra Nunn – CBP bullying tactics
In 1988 Sandra Nunn became a Special Agent with the U.S. Customs Service Office of Investigations in the Los Angeles area, like most before her she felt that she was part of an honorable organization with the highest level of integrity. Words like honored and pride were associated with being a Special Agent. During the past 10 years, Nunn served with integrity and professionalism befitting her position as a federal agent, never once shirking or abusing her position.
Nunn investigated international money laundering cases that made national headlines and were featured in TIME and Business Week. “As the case agent I was involved with the illegal smuggling activity via the Southern U.S. border that included tons of illicit narcotics.” As a key undercover operative with this particular investigation, Nunn found more than 1000 fully automatic AK-47’s.
She also served as a diplomatic representative and key investigator with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on two European tours of duty during the UN sanctions against Serbia, casework which included narcotics smuggling, money laundering, espionage, counterterrorism, arms trafficking, and national security.
Nevertheless, beginning in 1997, her career began experiencing retaliation when she chose to step forward and back-up allegations made by a fellow agent of misconduct within the CBP agency by management officials. “My support of fellow agent, Darlene Fitzgerald, by telling the truth in what at the time initially was an EEO related matter, I along with Ms. Fitzgerald, became the unwitting victims of egregious retaliatory acts perpetrated by our management as well as the Office of Internal Affairs in a concerted effort to silence and discredit us,” Nunn explains. Both agents were put under investigation, their work was heavily scrutinized in an effort to intimidate and upset them.
The threats did not end with the two female agents. Another agent who spoke out against the retaliation found two surveillance cameras pointed directly at his personal residence where he along with his family lived.
Despite all the CBP shenanigans, Agent Fitzgerald continued her work with major narcotics trafficking investigation that culminated in the seizure of more than 8,000 pounds of narcotics. Information was developed from this seizure in conjunction with an informant-based situation and it resulted in Fitzgerald locating five railway tanker cars that had entered the country. A fraudulent Customs Manifest tipped Fitzgerald and would lead her to the subsequent weigh-in of each of these respective tanker cars at the Colton Rail Yard demonstrated that these allegedly empty pressurized railway tanker cars were between 25-40 tons overweight illustrating the rail cars were potentially carrying contraband of some kind.
Yet, when both Ms. Fitzgerald and Senior Special Agent Robert Mattivi approached Customs Resident Agent in Charge Gary Pinkava to get permission to perform a simple pressure test at no cost to the Government and no extra manpower, Mr. Pinkava ordered both Fitzgerald and Mattivi not to do their job and not to return to the rail yard. Shortly thereafter, it was learned that the suspect tanker cars had disappeared into the commerce of the United States never to be seen again.
Concerns regarding national security are in play with this incident. To this day the rail cars have not been found and what exactly was in the missing tanker cars. Was it narcotics? Or was it weapons of mass destruction, biological agents, guns, or ammonium nitrate? “We don’t know. We will never know. And the fact that Mr. Pinkava, a high-level management official for the U.S. Customs Service, knowingly and purposefully did this demonstrates the level of explicit misconduct inherent within the U.S. Customs Service,” Nunn said. “What is also disturbing to me is that Mr. Pinkava, even after admitting on the record in federal court that all of this happened exactly as we claimed he has never been investigated, reprimanded or demoted for his illegal conduct.”
This incident becomes a clear example of screw up, move up practices the DHS and CBP continue to employ using their crony-style politics. Instead of punishing Agent Pinkava, he has been allowed to continue in his fully paid full-time position and was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC).
“How many other managers like this are jeopardizing our national security and not being held accountable? One must seriously ponder this question. Because knowing what I know and seeing what I’ve seen, it scares me to death that even one instance of this can happen,” Nunn finished.
But, it doesn’t end there. “I was forced to resign my position in protest due to the ongoing retaliation. I suffered bankruptcy and lost my retirement. Additionally, both Ms. Fitzgerald and I, are both highly educated women, were time and time again denied employment opportunities,” according to Nunn.
Nunn didn’t ask to become a whistle blower. But, when she witnessed what she did, it forced her to make a choice- shut up and look the other way or stand up for what’s right. “I did not shrink back from my duties, but stood up and told the truth as any patriot would.”
A logical question many ask lamp lighters is ‘If you could do everything over again, knowing what would happen to you, would you do it again?’ Her response was; “Absolutely, because it was the right thing to do.”
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Fitzgerald took on a fight against major corruption, put her life on the line for her country and ran up against a brick wall with Customs and Border Protection. This happened because there was no whistle blower protection for federal government employees and the military - the folks on the front lines of national security. Now she is taking that fight, and my fight against crony campaign financing to Capitol Hill.
Her story with CBP began by following the rules and firmly believing her supervisors would stand by her when she reported any wrong-doing by other CBP agents. Fitzgerald was wrong. In a long line of government cover-ups and corruption Fitzgerald’s no nonsense attitude was put to the test.
The country she loved and protected with everything she had turned on her. Her lamp lighting (whistle blowing) resulted in her career being stripped from her. But like her stubborn childhood tenacity, Fitzgerald picked herself up, wrote a book (BorderGate) and is now running for the United States Senate in Kentucky. Her new mission is to change the way Washington does business. Those who bet against Fitzgerald making it to D.C. don’t know how determined she really is.
The following is her accounting on the CBP, DHS and Washington-style politics, and why these agencies are wrong for America and what exactly has to change.
“Immediately following the terror attempt aboard the aircraft, Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano announced: "The system worked." The suspect was able to bring explosives on board a flight from Europe to the U.S. and only failed in his "mission" because his bomb didn't explode, but "the system worked." Really? This is a clear failure not only of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but also of the entire Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of which TSA is a component.
These agencies have long been suffering from incompetent management. The promotion system in these agencies is the "good old boy" crony club. The '"best and the brightest" are rarely promoted into management positions. When better-qualified agents/inspectors dare to file any type of legitimate complaint or grievance in an attempt to solve this problem, they are immediately silenced- usually with a phony investigation by the Internal Affairs Department (IA). The retaliation for anyone in these federal agencies who dare to speak truth to power is swift and painful. I know this firsthand.
Moreover, if an agent/inspector observes any behavior from his/her superiors that would cause a breach in our national security, they risk their careers if they dare to report their managers, even though DHS regulations and some federal laws require them to do so. There are thousands of government whistle blowers who have repeatedly given spine-shivering testimony about the gaping holes in our national security to both houses of Congress. I have testified before them in Washington myself. The whistle blowers are neutralized and nothing gets fixed. This happens because there is no real whistle blower protection for federal government employees or the military on the front lines of our national security.
Two of the best government watchdog organizations on Capitol Hill are the Government Accountability Project (GAP) and the Project on Government Over-site (POGO). Both have been trying for years to get real whistle blower protection to no avail. Until agencies like DHS and TSA are no longer allowed to investigate themselves and use IA as the "goon squad" on folks who try to file legitimate complaints, we all remain at risk.
I believe these agencies and others do not have the manpower or the assets to really accomplish their missions. We are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on Iraq and Afghanistan trying to fight a tactic -terrorism. You cannot wage a war against a tactic. While we have focused on military plans since 9-11, we are bleeding money away from greater investments in intelligence, improving infrastructure, and law enforcement techniques.
Most of the actual Al Qaeda terrorists who have been caught and brought to justice have been apprehended through the use of interagency intelligence such as Interpol and cooperative law enforcement and not "boots on the ground" military. The regular military (army and marines) were not trained to conduct an intelligence gathering manhunt. They are very good at what they are trained for, but it is not this.
Had our elected officials on Capitol Hill listened to the countless government employee and military whistle blowers over the last 20 years, and had placed into effect even a few of the recommendations from GAP and POGO, maybe 9-11 wouldn't have happened. Hindsight is 20-20, but they're still not listening. Many counterterrorism experts and top military officials agree that we are not making any real progress in our fight against Al Qaeda by escalating the war in Afghanistan.
‘Make wars unprofitable and you make them impossible,’ Franklin D. Roosevelt said. There are a lot of big corporations making tons of money off of these two wars. Not coincidentally, they are also large contributors to the campaigns of our elected officials on Capitol Hill. This places many in government in a terrible bind and it is not unfair to ask if some of our elected officials are voting the interests of the funders of their campaigns in the name of national security. If we don't fix crony campaign financing, none of the above will ever get fixed. It's time the people take back their government from those who own it now.
The legal bribery of lobbying is the disease. The rest (wars, threats to national security, substandard education, substandard healthcare) are merely symptoms that will never be cured until we turn our legislatures back to a system of governing, and not a system of quid pro quo.”
Fitzgerald’s words represent the way many Americans feel today and nowhere was that heard louder than Massachusetts with the election of an Independent/Republican in the heart of a navy-blue state. The citizens of this country are waking up to the issues in front of them and are questioning the elected officials ability to represent “We the People.”
The fact that Fitzgerald’s Senate opponents will no longer debate her says it all- politics as usual won’t cut it any longer. Her platform is simple, get back to basics and clean up Washington D.C. “We need to put the people first,” she said. “We need to protect our whistle blowers so we can root out crony corruption.”
Marthena Cowart, the director of communications for Project on Government Oversight says it best; "The courageous men and woman throughout the federal government who report misconduct and criminality in their workplace are, more often than not, punished instead of rewarded for upholding the oath they take when they join the government. POGO is urging Congress to pass the Whistleblower Protection Act which will, for the first time, grant jury trail access to all federal whistleblowers.”
Sandra Nunn – CBP bullying tactics
In 1988 Sandra Nunn became a Special Agent with the U.S. Customs Service Office of Investigations in the Los Angeles area, like most before her she felt that she was part of an honorable organization with the highest level of integrity. Words like honored and pride were associated with being a Special Agent. During the past 10 years, Nunn served with integrity and professionalism befitting her position as a federal agent, never once shirking or abusing her position.
Nunn investigated international money laundering cases that made national headlines and were featured in TIME and Business Week. “As the case agent I was involved with the illegal smuggling activity via the Southern U.S. border that included tons of illicit narcotics.” As a key undercover operative with this particular investigation, Nunn found more than 1000 fully automatic AK-47’s.
She also served as a diplomatic representative and key investigator with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on two European tours of duty during the UN sanctions against Serbia, casework which included narcotics smuggling, money laundering, espionage, counterterrorism, arms trafficking, and national security.
Nevertheless, beginning in 1997, her career began experiencing retaliation when she chose to step forward and back-up allegations made by a fellow agent of misconduct within the CBP agency by management officials. “My support of fellow agent, Darlene Fitzgerald, by telling the truth in what at the time initially was an EEO related matter, I along with Ms. Fitzgerald, became the unwitting victims of egregious retaliatory acts perpetrated by our management as well as the Office of Internal Affairs in a concerted effort to silence and discredit us,” Nunn explains. Both agents were put under investigation, their work was heavily scrutinized in an effort to intimidate and upset them.
The threats did not end with the two female agents. Another agent who spoke out against the retaliation found two surveillance cameras pointed directly at his personal residence where he along with his family lived.
Despite all the CBP shenanigans, Agent Fitzgerald continued her work with major narcotics trafficking investigation that culminated in the seizure of more than 8,000 pounds of narcotics. Information was developed from this seizure in conjunction with an informant-based situation and it resulted in Fitzgerald locating five railway tanker cars that had entered the country. A fraudulent Customs Manifest tipped Fitzgerald and would lead her to the subsequent weigh-in of each of these respective tanker cars at the Colton Rail Yard demonstrated that these allegedly empty pressurized railway tanker cars were between 25-40 tons overweight illustrating the rail cars were potentially carrying contraband of some kind.
Yet, when both Ms. Fitzgerald and Senior Special Agent Robert Mattivi approached Customs Resident Agent in Charge Gary Pinkava to get permission to perform a simple pressure test at no cost to the Government and no extra manpower, Mr. Pinkava ordered both Fitzgerald and Mattivi not to do their job and not to return to the rail yard. Shortly thereafter, it was learned that the suspect tanker cars had disappeared into the commerce of the United States never to be seen again.
Concerns regarding national security are in play with this incident. To this day the rail cars have not been found and what exactly was in the missing tanker cars. Was it narcotics? Or was it weapons of mass destruction, biological agents, guns, or ammonium nitrate? “We don’t know. We will never know. And the fact that Mr. Pinkava, a high-level management official for the U.S. Customs Service, knowingly and purposefully did this demonstrates the level of explicit misconduct inherent within the U.S. Customs Service,” Nunn said. “What is also disturbing to me is that Mr. Pinkava, even after admitting on the record in federal court that all of this happened exactly as we claimed he has never been investigated, reprimanded or demoted for his illegal conduct.”
This incident becomes a clear example of screw up, move up practices the DHS and CBP continue to employ using their crony-style politics. Instead of punishing Agent Pinkava, he has been allowed to continue in his fully paid full-time position and was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC).
“How many other managers like this are jeopardizing our national security and not being held accountable? One must seriously ponder this question. Because knowing what I know and seeing what I’ve seen, it scares me to death that even one instance of this can happen,” Nunn finished.
But, it doesn’t end there. “I was forced to resign my position in protest due to the ongoing retaliation. I suffered bankruptcy and lost my retirement. Additionally, both Ms. Fitzgerald and I, are both highly educated women, were time and time again denied employment opportunities,” according to Nunn.
Nunn didn’t ask to become a whistle blower. But, when she witnessed what she did, it forced her to make a choice- shut up and look the other way or stand up for what’s right. “I did not shrink back from my duties, but stood up and told the truth as any patriot would.”
A logical question many ask lamp lighters is ‘If you could do everything over again, knowing what would happen to you, would you do it again?’ Her response was; “Absolutely, because it was the right thing to do.”
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Thinking about telling on your boss? Whistle blowers face many retaliatory perils
When one thinks of the term whistle blower, most think about Frank Serpico of NYPD fame. Serpico’s tough, gritty persona allowed him to turn the tables on corrupt cops and his no nonsense, take no prisoners attitude forced the NYPD to take a good hard look at the way they conducted police business. His harrowing “Lamp Lighting” story eventually became a Hollywood major motion picture starring Al Pacino, another Hollywood tough guy.
Whistle blowers or “lamp lighters” as Serpico refers to them as often to do not make the big screen, but their stories are just as compelling and very hard to read about. Julia Davis’ experience is one such story; Blackhawk helicopters, sneak and peeks, eaves dropping, multiple agents tailing her every move and finally two false arrests.
It seems unimaginable for someone who emigrated from Communist Ukraine hoping to leave behind the corruption and make a fresh start in America would experience such a plight. Little did she know her journey to the U.S. would be meet with the same Draconian government policies Davis thought she was leaving behind. Davis made the trip to America with the hopes of becoming a special agent in the FBI. After she completed her college education in Russia’s equivalent of the NASA program, Davis packed her bags with stars and stripes in her eyes.
Her enthusiasm wouldn’t last too long, the FBI informed her she would have to get her start in law enforcement with another agency, get a few years under her belt and reapply. She did just that and settled on the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. Meanwhile, she continued prepping for her dream job that would take her to Quantico, Virginia. She attended an accelerated foreign language class in Farsi because after 9/11 the FBI was looking for candidates who spoke the Middle Eastern language. (Davis is fluent in five languages)
Julia Davis’ CBP nightmare
Davis is a former Customs and Border Protection Officer, who was born in Kiev, Ukraine, educated as an Aviation/Spacecraft Engineer with a Masters degree, who speaks several languages fluently. Davis’ inquisitive mind and lifelong interest in the criminal justice system prompted her to apply for federal employment. She scored 100 percent on her tests to become a federal agent with the Department of Homeland Security and received an offer of employment with Department of Homeland Security as a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent.
As an immigrant herself, Davis sought her American dream by striving to serve her new country. In early 2002, Davis graduated with honors from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, receiving an Outstanding Achievement Award. She reported to her duty station at the San Ysidro, CA Port of Entry in San Diego and quickly learned her new job. She built good relationships with coworkers, received outstanding performance reviews and started to move up the ranks within CBP.
But her American dream was shattered when she reported a series of ongoing national security breaches pertaining to deficient processing and subsequent entry of subjects from countries with terrorist ties, into the United States, as well as her concern over the removal of metal detectors and X-ray equipment from the Port inspection areas and the reduction in the security staff.
Davis noted that she found these developments “alarming and disturbing” given the “very high-security level and risk” involved at one of the busiest and largest points of entry into the country. Not wanting to let this go she filed a report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force about another potential security breach at the Port. She noting that an unusually high number of individuals from suspect, or “Special Interest Countries” entered the United States over a ten-hour period on a national holiday, known to be a potential entry time for terrorists.
The memo was given to CBP employees as specific Intelligence alerts that were issued, designating 4th of July a “date to watch,” specifically stating in the intelligence dissemination Muster Agenda: “It has been purported that al-Qaeda leaders may infiltrate the United States borders via Mexico possibly during significant holidays or anniversaries.”
Davis noted that she raised the issue with the Port Director and was told to contact the Intelligence Unit Office. However, in what appeared to be a further breach of security, there was not a single Intelligence officer on duty in the Intelligence Unit despite the heightened risk of entry of terrorists over the summer holiday. This failure and deficiency was pointed out by Davis and directly reflected on the Office of Professional Responsibility within the DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
It would be the same agents that should have been on duty to handle this matter and whose absence was called out by Davis in her report to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, which included ICE/OPR Agents Jeffrey Deal and Herbert Kaufer. Her whistle-blowing activities garnered media attention and embarrassed the DHS. Former CBP Commissioner Robert Bonner was approached by a Los Angeles Times reporter with respect to Davis’ report to the FBI/JTTF.
The Agency responded by subjecting her to multiple investigations (as many as 19 during her employment and over 34 after she involuntarily resigned from the CBP agency), aircraft, land and vehicular surveillance and referred to her as a “Domestic Terrorist,” raided her house with a Blackhawk helicopter and a Special Response Team (with a total of at least 28 armed agents involved in that operation). This caused Davis and her husband, BJ , to be maliciously prosecuted, falsely imprisoned (twice) and actively interfered with her potential employment.
The Davis’ found that these actions were spearheaded by the same ICE/OPR personnel that were embarrassed by Davis’ report to the FBI/JTTF and media scrutiny that followed.
All criminal charges against Davis and her husband were dismissed, including a finding of factual innocence. Additionally, the court ordered the government to return all items taken in the two warrantless searches of the Davis’ residence and office.
To date, the CBP agency has not complied with that court order. The government’s attack on Davis, following her reports of national security lapses at the Port of San Ysidro, was clearly motivated by the government’s desire to chill Davis’ free speech and to incapacitate her at any cost before she could do any more damage to the reputation of her former employer.
It was also undoubtedly meant to improperly deter other officers from coming forward with allegations of discrimination or whistle-blowing disclosures. In light of the years of false allegations the Davis’ brought a lawsuit against the United States, ICE/OPR Agent Kaufer and CBP/OPR Agent Deal for their misconduct, abuse of government resources and selective prosecutions. The trial is currently scheduled to take place in March of 2010.
Past whistle blower laws
In the United States, legal protection for whistle blowers varies depending on the subject matter and the legal jurisdiction. The first U.S. law adopted specifically to protect whistle blowers was the Lloyd-La Follette Act of 1912, which guaranteed the right of federal employees to furnish information to Congress. Victims of whistle blower retaliation have to be aware of the deadlines and means for filing proper complaints. Examples of the deadlines involved are as follows:
10 days - The time limit for Arizona State Employees and Ohio public employees;
30 days – The time limit for environmental whistle blowers to make a written complaint to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA].
45 days – The time limit for federal employees to file a complaint of discrimination, retaliation or other violations of their civil rights laws with their agency's equal employment opportunity (EEO) officer.
90 days – The time limit for airline workers and corporate fraud whistle blowers to make their complaint to OSHA.
180 days – The time limit for nuclear whistle blowers and truck drivers to make complaints to OSHA and for victims of retaliation against union organizing and other concerted activities to improve working conditions to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
According to Project On Government Oversight (POGO), the Whistle blower Protection Act (WPA) has "suffered from a series of crippling judicial rulings [that] have rendered the Act useless, producing a dismal record of failure for whistle blowers and making the law a black hole." Thomas Devine, one of the WPA's key advocates stated: "My baby turned out to be Frankenstein."
During the entire Bush administration, the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) ruled in favor of whistle blowers in only two cases. Since 1994, Federal whistle blowers have lost more than 98.5 percent of cases at the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Government Accountability Project (GAP) offered praise for two MSPB appointments by President Obama. Unlike the Bush administration appointees who compiled a 1-44 track record against whistle blowers, these leaders are seasoned veterans with a proven track record of commitment to the merit system throughout their careers.
Last year, June of 2009, Washington, D.C. issued a MSPB ruling in Robert J. MacLean v. Department of Homeland Security Agency. MacLean blew the whistle on the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Agency (TSA) plan to improperly remove U.S. Air Marshals from long distance flights during a heightened terrorist alert.
MacLean was concerned that the TSA's plan posed a serious threat to public health and safety. After MacLean's internal warnings were ignored, he made a public disclosure that was protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) subsequently fired MacLean in flagrant violation of the law. The MSPB declined to review this retroactive relabeling and upheld MacLean's termination.
Agencies through the country continue to work with whistle blowers or lamp lighters across the country for the brave actions of everyday Americans in reporting wrong doing by governmental or law enforcement agencies. One such group is the Law Enforcement Advocates Council. Davis is determined to help other government whistle blowers and recently joined the Board of Directors for the (LEOAC) as a Vice President.
“I am most humbled that we were able to add former CBPO Julia Davis to our board as a Vice President. Julia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a former law enforcement officer, entrepreneur, writer, producer, and scientist. We share a vision for what needs to be done to improve the security of America, and improve the the protections and civil rights of our law enforcement officers, especially whistle blowers who just want to do their job and protect our nation,” said founder Andy Ramirez.
“I first learned of her case about two years ago, and included it as a key aspect of my report, Unjustifiable & Impeachable, which addressed DOJ, DHS, and the Courts. Anyone who is not familiar with Julia's story needs to take the time to learn her story as her case demonstrates everything wrong with how our government abuses their powers to cover-up their security compromises. Our government failed Julia and has given her their worst. She, being a person of high integrity and honor, has stood tall in the finest traditions of America's best and brightest. In my opinion, her case should be textbook reading for all law enforcement officers who will learn from a heroic and courageous patriot.
Julia brings a fresh perspective to our board, especially given her incredible life story having been born behind the Iron Curtain. She knows what governments can do to a society’s citizens firsthand. I know she will do all she can to help restore the rule of law, a sense of justice, and fair play, which is a hallmark of America. We share the goal of ensuring that officers can do their job without the fear of false charges being brought against a citizen as a form of retaliation and retribution, or political intrigue, or to cover up a crime and gross incompetence,” Ramirez finished.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Whistle blowers or “lamp lighters” as Serpico refers to them as often to do not make the big screen, but their stories are just as compelling and very hard to read about. Julia Davis’ experience is one such story; Blackhawk helicopters, sneak and peeks, eaves dropping, multiple agents tailing her every move and finally two false arrests.
It seems unimaginable for someone who emigrated from Communist Ukraine hoping to leave behind the corruption and make a fresh start in America would experience such a plight. Little did she know her journey to the U.S. would be meet with the same Draconian government policies Davis thought she was leaving behind. Davis made the trip to America with the hopes of becoming a special agent in the FBI. After she completed her college education in Russia’s equivalent of the NASA program, Davis packed her bags with stars and stripes in her eyes.
Her enthusiasm wouldn’t last too long, the FBI informed her she would have to get her start in law enforcement with another agency, get a few years under her belt and reapply. She did just that and settled on the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. Meanwhile, she continued prepping for her dream job that would take her to Quantico, Virginia. She attended an accelerated foreign language class in Farsi because after 9/11 the FBI was looking for candidates who spoke the Middle Eastern language. (Davis is fluent in five languages)
Julia Davis’ CBP nightmare
Davis is a former Customs and Border Protection Officer, who was born in Kiev, Ukraine, educated as an Aviation/Spacecraft Engineer with a Masters degree, who speaks several languages fluently. Davis’ inquisitive mind and lifelong interest in the criminal justice system prompted her to apply for federal employment. She scored 100 percent on her tests to become a federal agent with the Department of Homeland Security and received an offer of employment with Department of Homeland Security as a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent.
As an immigrant herself, Davis sought her American dream by striving to serve her new country. In early 2002, Davis graduated with honors from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, receiving an Outstanding Achievement Award. She reported to her duty station at the San Ysidro, CA Port of Entry in San Diego and quickly learned her new job. She built good relationships with coworkers, received outstanding performance reviews and started to move up the ranks within CBP.
But her American dream was shattered when she reported a series of ongoing national security breaches pertaining to deficient processing and subsequent entry of subjects from countries with terrorist ties, into the United States, as well as her concern over the removal of metal detectors and X-ray equipment from the Port inspection areas and the reduction in the security staff.
Davis noted that she found these developments “alarming and disturbing” given the “very high-security level and risk” involved at one of the busiest and largest points of entry into the country. Not wanting to let this go she filed a report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force about another potential security breach at the Port. She noting that an unusually high number of individuals from suspect, or “Special Interest Countries” entered the United States over a ten-hour period on a national holiday, known to be a potential entry time for terrorists.
The memo was given to CBP employees as specific Intelligence alerts that were issued, designating 4th of July a “date to watch,” specifically stating in the intelligence dissemination Muster Agenda: “It has been purported that al-Qaeda leaders may infiltrate the United States borders via Mexico possibly during significant holidays or anniversaries.”
Davis noted that she raised the issue with the Port Director and was told to contact the Intelligence Unit Office. However, in what appeared to be a further breach of security, there was not a single Intelligence officer on duty in the Intelligence Unit despite the heightened risk of entry of terrorists over the summer holiday. This failure and deficiency was pointed out by Davis and directly reflected on the Office of Professional Responsibility within the DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
It would be the same agents that should have been on duty to handle this matter and whose absence was called out by Davis in her report to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, which included ICE/OPR Agents Jeffrey Deal and Herbert Kaufer. Her whistle-blowing activities garnered media attention and embarrassed the DHS. Former CBP Commissioner Robert Bonner was approached by a Los Angeles Times reporter with respect to Davis’ report to the FBI/JTTF.
The Agency responded by subjecting her to multiple investigations (as many as 19 during her employment and over 34 after she involuntarily resigned from the CBP agency), aircraft, land and vehicular surveillance and referred to her as a “Domestic Terrorist,” raided her house with a Blackhawk helicopter and a Special Response Team (with a total of at least 28 armed agents involved in that operation). This caused Davis and her husband, BJ , to be maliciously prosecuted, falsely imprisoned (twice) and actively interfered with her potential employment.
The Davis’ found that these actions were spearheaded by the same ICE/OPR personnel that were embarrassed by Davis’ report to the FBI/JTTF and media scrutiny that followed.
All criminal charges against Davis and her husband were dismissed, including a finding of factual innocence. Additionally, the court ordered the government to return all items taken in the two warrantless searches of the Davis’ residence and office.
To date, the CBP agency has not complied with that court order. The government’s attack on Davis, following her reports of national security lapses at the Port of San Ysidro, was clearly motivated by the government’s desire to chill Davis’ free speech and to incapacitate her at any cost before she could do any more damage to the reputation of her former employer.
It was also undoubtedly meant to improperly deter other officers from coming forward with allegations of discrimination or whistle-blowing disclosures. In light of the years of false allegations the Davis’ brought a lawsuit against the United States, ICE/OPR Agent Kaufer and CBP/OPR Agent Deal for their misconduct, abuse of government resources and selective prosecutions. The trial is currently scheduled to take place in March of 2010.
Past whistle blower laws
In the United States, legal protection for whistle blowers varies depending on the subject matter and the legal jurisdiction. The first U.S. law adopted specifically to protect whistle blowers was the Lloyd-La Follette Act of 1912, which guaranteed the right of federal employees to furnish information to Congress. Victims of whistle blower retaliation have to be aware of the deadlines and means for filing proper complaints. Examples of the deadlines involved are as follows:
10 days - The time limit for Arizona State Employees and Ohio public employees;
30 days – The time limit for environmental whistle blowers to make a written complaint to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA].
45 days – The time limit for federal employees to file a complaint of discrimination, retaliation or other violations of their civil rights laws with their agency's equal employment opportunity (EEO) officer.
90 days – The time limit for airline workers and corporate fraud whistle blowers to make their complaint to OSHA.
180 days – The time limit for nuclear whistle blowers and truck drivers to make complaints to OSHA and for victims of retaliation against union organizing and other concerted activities to improve working conditions to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
According to Project On Government Oversight (POGO), the Whistle blower Protection Act (WPA) has "suffered from a series of crippling judicial rulings [that] have rendered the Act useless, producing a dismal record of failure for whistle blowers and making the law a black hole." Thomas Devine, one of the WPA's key advocates stated: "My baby turned out to be Frankenstein."
During the entire Bush administration, the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) ruled in favor of whistle blowers in only two cases. Since 1994, Federal whistle blowers have lost more than 98.5 percent of cases at the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Government Accountability Project (GAP) offered praise for two MSPB appointments by President Obama. Unlike the Bush administration appointees who compiled a 1-44 track record against whistle blowers, these leaders are seasoned veterans with a proven track record of commitment to the merit system throughout their careers.
Last year, June of 2009, Washington, D.C. issued a MSPB ruling in Robert J. MacLean v. Department of Homeland Security Agency. MacLean blew the whistle on the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Agency (TSA) plan to improperly remove U.S. Air Marshals from long distance flights during a heightened terrorist alert.
MacLean was concerned that the TSA's plan posed a serious threat to public health and safety. After MacLean's internal warnings were ignored, he made a public disclosure that was protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) subsequently fired MacLean in flagrant violation of the law. The MSPB declined to review this retroactive relabeling and upheld MacLean's termination.
Agencies through the country continue to work with whistle blowers or lamp lighters across the country for the brave actions of everyday Americans in reporting wrong doing by governmental or law enforcement agencies. One such group is the Law Enforcement Advocates Council. Davis is determined to help other government whistle blowers and recently joined the Board of Directors for the (LEOAC) as a Vice President.
“I am most humbled that we were able to add former CBPO Julia Davis to our board as a Vice President. Julia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a former law enforcement officer, entrepreneur, writer, producer, and scientist. We share a vision for what needs to be done to improve the security of America, and improve the the protections and civil rights of our law enforcement officers, especially whistle blowers who just want to do their job and protect our nation,” said founder Andy Ramirez.
“I first learned of her case about two years ago, and included it as a key aspect of my report, Unjustifiable & Impeachable, which addressed DOJ, DHS, and the Courts. Anyone who is not familiar with Julia's story needs to take the time to learn her story as her case demonstrates everything wrong with how our government abuses their powers to cover-up their security compromises. Our government failed Julia and has given her their worst. She, being a person of high integrity and honor, has stood tall in the finest traditions of America's best and brightest. In my opinion, her case should be textbook reading for all law enforcement officers who will learn from a heroic and courageous patriot.
Julia brings a fresh perspective to our board, especially given her incredible life story having been born behind the Iron Curtain. She knows what governments can do to a society’s citizens firsthand. I know she will do all she can to help restore the rule of law, a sense of justice, and fair play, which is a hallmark of America. We share the goal of ensuring that officers can do their job without the fear of false charges being brought against a citizen as a form of retaliation and retribution, or political intrigue, or to cover up a crime and gross incompetence,” Ramirez finished.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Violence in Mexico unabated, entry into U.S. remains inconsistent
As the cycle of violence continues unabated in Mexico and increasing U.S. terror attacks are being thwarted it remains more important than ever to secure our borders. A recent trip across the San Ysidro border found many border “walk across” entrants were allowed into the U.S. by showing identification, but agents were not entering their documents into the computer system.
“One of the Department of Homeland Security's primary missions is to maintain and regularly update the systems that help red-flag applicants for admission with possible terrorist ties, as well as wanted persons and known smugglers. However, even the best state-of-the-art name-check system is only as good as the diligence of law enforcement officers using it,” says Julia Davis former CBP agent at San Ysidro border crossing.
“Thoroughly scanning and verifying the identity documents of every applicant for admission to the United States is of the utmost importance to the national security. The DHS has no more important responsibility than the protection of all Americans and preventing the entry of any elements posing a potential threat. Powerful information technology puts the data at the fingertips of CBP officers in the field in real time. While the systems of checks are not infallible and need continued improvement, they should be diligently utilized by the officers at our ports of entry to combat the threats we face as a nation,” Davis concluded.
To be fair another agent stated sometimes there are circumstances when the computer system “goes down” and it is up to the Customs and Border Patrol agent to use their judgment when letting citizens or Legal Permanent Residence (LPR) card users into the country.
“In many cases if the subject is questionable they should be sent to secondary where another agent can ask questions and determine the admissibility of said individuals,” he said.
In light of the recent Christmas day incident one would hope the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection would operate with the same set of rules, however it has been reported the airports as well as other ports of entry have the ability to set their own port policies.
The recent increase of terror attacks in the nation and around the globe should be a wake-up call to DHS and CBP. Their jobs would be made much easier if there were uniform rules for entry, a universal identification card and managers at the ports of entry who allow agents to fulfill their job duties to the best of their abilities without the threat of keeping the lines moving.
Currently the following documents will get Americans into the country stress-free; U.S. passport or passport card, a birth certificate or naturalization papers, a trusted-traveler document like SENTRI, radio-chip enhancement drivers license (California does not have this), tribal identification and military identification.
As of June of last year ports of entry have required U.S. citizens to bring their passports when they leave the country, even when traveling to Mexico or Canada. Due to this change in identification requirements all ports of entry into the U.S. have seen a spike in arrests at the POEs due to illegal/fraudulent paperwork or misusing documents to gain entry into the U.S., according to the San Diego Union Tribune. “There was a 30 percent increase compared with the same period a year earlier in the number of people who tried to enter illegally by either declaring themselves to be U.S. citizens, posing as citizens using someone else’s documents or using phony ones.”
A spokesperson for the CBP agency Angelica De Cima said, “I think word has gotten around.”
However, as the line snakes around the streets in Tijuana to gain entry into the U.S. the CBP port of entry allows many entrants into the country without swiping passports cards that contain biographical information including possible BOLOs the government issues for those wanted by the law inside the U.S.
The solution seems simple, check everyone’s legal status and for the Department of Homeland Security to create uniform set of rules to be used at all ports of entry throughout the United States.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
“One of the Department of Homeland Security's primary missions is to maintain and regularly update the systems that help red-flag applicants for admission with possible terrorist ties, as well as wanted persons and known smugglers. However, even the best state-of-the-art name-check system is only as good as the diligence of law enforcement officers using it,” says Julia Davis former CBP agent at San Ysidro border crossing.
“Thoroughly scanning and verifying the identity documents of every applicant for admission to the United States is of the utmost importance to the national security. The DHS has no more important responsibility than the protection of all Americans and preventing the entry of any elements posing a potential threat. Powerful information technology puts the data at the fingertips of CBP officers in the field in real time. While the systems of checks are not infallible and need continued improvement, they should be diligently utilized by the officers at our ports of entry to combat the threats we face as a nation,” Davis concluded.
To be fair another agent stated sometimes there are circumstances when the computer system “goes down” and it is up to the Customs and Border Patrol agent to use their judgment when letting citizens or Legal Permanent Residence (LPR) card users into the country.
“In many cases if the subject is questionable they should be sent to secondary where another agent can ask questions and determine the admissibility of said individuals,” he said.
In light of the recent Christmas day incident one would hope the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection would operate with the same set of rules, however it has been reported the airports as well as other ports of entry have the ability to set their own port policies.
The recent increase of terror attacks in the nation and around the globe should be a wake-up call to DHS and CBP. Their jobs would be made much easier if there were uniform rules for entry, a universal identification card and managers at the ports of entry who allow agents to fulfill their job duties to the best of their abilities without the threat of keeping the lines moving.
Currently the following documents will get Americans into the country stress-free; U.S. passport or passport card, a birth certificate or naturalization papers, a trusted-traveler document like SENTRI, radio-chip enhancement drivers license (California does not have this), tribal identification and military identification.
As of June of last year ports of entry have required U.S. citizens to bring their passports when they leave the country, even when traveling to Mexico or Canada. Due to this change in identification requirements all ports of entry into the U.S. have seen a spike in arrests at the POEs due to illegal/fraudulent paperwork or misusing documents to gain entry into the U.S., according to the San Diego Union Tribune. “There was a 30 percent increase compared with the same period a year earlier in the number of people who tried to enter illegally by either declaring themselves to be U.S. citizens, posing as citizens using someone else’s documents or using phony ones.”
A spokesperson for the CBP agency Angelica De Cima said, “I think word has gotten around.”
However, as the line snakes around the streets in Tijuana to gain entry into the U.S. the CBP port of entry allows many entrants into the country without swiping passports cards that contain biographical information including possible BOLOs the government issues for those wanted by the law inside the U.S.
The solution seems simple, check everyone’s legal status and for the Department of Homeland Security to create uniform set of rules to be used at all ports of entry throughout the United States.
For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Thursday, December 24, 2009
San Diego the latest destination for a screw-up move-up border tour
Chris Maston began his colorful career more than twenty years ago in El Paso, Texas as a Border Patrol agent. In true ‘good ole boy’ fashion Maston moved up the ranks and with each questionable indiscretion, his infamous Customs and Border Protection’s career followed the tried and true rule of “screw up and move up.” This dark path to the top has led to Maston’s new post as Port Director of the Customs and Border Patrol’s busiest port of entry in the country, San Ysidro, located in San Diego.
A press release from CBP stated, “Maston brings to the key San Diego position in-depth experience in overseeing large scale passenger and cargo processing programs. He most recently served more than two years as port director at the Miami International Airport, managing more than 1,300 employees at the largest international operation in the U.S. for air cargo and the second largest for international traveler processing.”
“Maston’s recent responsibilities overseeing international traveler inspections, trade enforcement and tactical enforcement operations will provide the tools he needs to manage the busy 24-lane port of San Ysidro and nearby 13-lane Otay Mesa border station where, on average, 63,000 vehicles and 134,000 travelers enter the U.S. each day, CBP DFO Morris said. Maston served from 2004 to 2006 as the assistant director of border security at CBP’s Miami Field Office. In this position, he oversaw border security operations for the Miami, Port Everglades, Key West and West Palm Beach ports of entry.”
Repeated attempts (phone, email and finally showing up at CBP port offices) to interview Maston about his new post in San Diego were all declined. Even when presented with questions regarding new port duties, what challenges he could face and the implementing of his cargo inspection program Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), the new director chose to hide in his office. This begs the question what is he trying to hide?
While mindful of the agency’s important border security mission, Maston said in a press release he will continue to support operations that have proved successful for the field office while striking a working balance between facilitation of legitimate travelers and the need for strong enforcement.
Does this mean Maston will continue his behavior that landed him on the “dontdatehimgirl.com” tell-all web site? The website geared to serial cheaters depicts Maston as a player with multiple work-related affairs. The posting (click here http://www.friendsoftheborderpatrol.com/thereport/CMaston-DontDateHimGirl-Post.pdf) contains a number of postings regarding his time as a top official in Miami.
Can Maston maintain a San Diego CBP Field Office that manages more than 1,800 front-line federal officers at border stations in San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Tecate, Calexico, and Andrade as well as the San Diego seaport and international airports? These ports completed approximately 66 million inspections of people, seized more than 145 tons of illegal narcotics and apprehended more than 42,000 immigration violators during the last fiscal year. One assumes this is a fulltime job requiring an enormous amount of time and concentration.
President Ronald Reagan summed it up as, “Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession, I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.”
CBP’s own Miami Vice includes, guns, badges, drugs and sex-rings
The Miami Herald has reported a number of stories going back over 10 years and instead of thoroughly investigating and firing the participants, then Commissioner of CBP, Ray Kelly’s idea of discipline was to transfer individuals named is wrong doings. Many of these managers from the Miami area now run the Office of Field Operations and serve in many key positions. One such individual, Jayson Ahern, acting Commissioner of CBP was forced into early retirement because there was no place to hide and he was looking to make a clean getaway.
The practice called "screw up move up" takes place inside CBP by exploiting sexual favors with coworkers to work up the chain of command. For example an employee can screw up, not be charged or fired, and move up the chain of command at a later time.
Responding to a surge in agency misbehavior Thomas Winkowski, Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Field Operations (formerly U.S. Customs) wrote a memo (Nov. 16, 2007), which the The Miami Herald obtained and wrote about in March 2008.
“It is our responsibility to uphold the laws, not break the law,” the Winkowski’s memo cites. He explains in the memo that employee arrests involving domestic violence, DUI and drug possession are occurring, however, court records show Customs officers and other DHS employees from South Florida to the Mexican Border States have been charged with dozens of far more serious offenses.
Winkowski called the misconduct “unacceptable,” and told The Miami Herald that while he wrote the memo because of an up tick in employee arrests, he didn’t believe the problem was pervasive. “Are there examples where we fall short? Yes,” said Winkowski.
Of course this is a bit ironic given that numerous Customs sources around the nation have also implicated Winkowski as part of the sex-ring, and his name was included in an infamous CBP internal email, which had the subject of: “Chapter 7, Sex, Lies, and Videotapes”. He was a port director for Customs in Los Angeles, in 1998 when he was transferred to Miami, while Jayson Ahern was transferred to LA by then-Commissioner of Customs Ray Kelly (current NYPD Commissioner).
“It is no use saying 'we are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary,” Winston Churchill said during his reign and these important words could serve the CBP well.
CBP rank and file are honorable public servants
CBP is a great law enforcement agency. There are many dedicated and good people who go the “extra mile” everyday for our Nation, and personally it’s an honor to meet and work with these men and women, says Charles Houser an active CBP agent. “It’s also a privilege for me to speak up for them, besides my own observations, I have reported things fellow officers wanted to report but don’t because they fear of retaliation by upper CBP management,” Houser explained. “I have already faced every hardship and form of retaliation Management could come up with, and I am still here. When I feel concerned about the position I am in by coming forward, I think about something President Harry Truman once said; ‘When even one American -who has done nothing wrong-is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth, then all Americans are in peril.’”
He continues to explain; “America needs the U.S. Congress to take an immediate interest in CBP matters ‘frontline’ CBP Officers has brought to their attention. When I was a NYPD Police Officer I remember at least one Police Commissioner who threw the towel in on ever bringing violent crime under control in NYC and because he gave up, the community suffered desperately, but then along comes another Commissioner who saw things differently and he decided to change things and the result was NYC was and still is one of the safest cities in the world and the community prospers.”
Like the NYPD is to NYC, CBP is to the nation; they enforce federal, state and local laws, as well as regulate trade, commerce and enforce immigration and customs laws. “We can do all of this, but an organization can only be as good as its leadership. Therefore, I call on Congress to investigate my ‘whistle blower’ allegations since CBP management has refused to and conversely has engaged in retaliation and I also ask Congress to investigate other pending allegations and those that may face retaliation as the result of a Congressional inquiry. Congress has the oversight jurisdiction and these actions are necessary to ensure CBP officers and the public we serve have only the best and most qualified people to lead CBP with intelligence and integrity to fulfill our Mission,” said Houser.
It is also worth pointing out that Agent Houser served in the New York Police Department and received several departmental awards for excellent and meritorious duty. He also garnered a written commendation for undercover narcotics duty, but his two most cherished commendations came from the Police Commissioner in which he was cited for acts displaying a high-degree of integrity and faithful service. “It’s unnatural for me to be any other way,” Houser finished.
National security and immigration go hand in hand
Two important issues, illegal immigration and national security, have propelled the Department of Homeland Security into the public eye as it tries to prevent another 9/11-style terrorist attack. The massive size of DHS has done little to protect the country and many believe it has created another layer of bureaucratic go betweens incapable of controlling the higher ups sexual indiscretions therefore causing national security breeches to slip past unnoticed.
Normally it is company policy to keep wrong doings of employees under wraps and present a united agency front. However, in the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport where Maston hails, controversy and legal challenges arose all the time.
For instance, Elizabeth Moran-Toala, allegedly accessed company electronic data bases (Treasury Enforcement Communications System) to pass along information to a Delta Airlines baggage handler. The indictment charged the CBP employee with conspiracy and assisting a well-known drug ring allowing the transport of cocaine and heroin to New York from the Dominican Republic.
Numerous other South Florida cases include, drug and human trafficking, bribery, embezzlement, witness tampering and most notably rape.
The rivalry and cavorting taking place within the ‘old’ Legacy Customs and the ‘new’ CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has fueled an ongoing battle once the agencies were merged forming the Department of Homeland Security. Company moral continues its nosedive and a government survey ranked CBP at the bottom (222) for an employee satisfaction in 2007.
Employees in Miami continue to complain, file lawsuits and yet the contentious work environment fostered within the CBP continues to be treated as “business as usual” practices. Female workers can expect to be molested while working especially if it is their first year of employment as the agency bosses can fire anyone during their first year of employment for no reason. “I was personally groped by Mr. Maston at work. This degrading behavior happens in the workplace daily and it is tolerated. Those who complain can expect to be retaliated against and if you are new you are treated like a piece of meat,” said one female CBP agent in Miami.
Other practices common with the ‘fast-lane’ Miami lifestyle is drinking on the job as a method to release the tension within the agency. Most rank and file officers are sick about the crude behavior displayed in management and believe a cleaning from the top down is in order.
“One of the individuals listed in the document is a real piece of work. The Service Port Director of Miami, Chris Maston, was involved in a workplace sex triangle, leaving work early to meet other employees (some married to other DHS employees) in hotels and public parks in the Davie, Florida area. And these encounters were while he was on official time. This guy is a class act,” says Sarah D, January 02, 2009. “Winkowski was aware of all this and promotes him to an SES position. Then Winkowski puts out a memo on the importance of integrity for CBP employees on and off duty. I guess the memo only applies to the CBP officers...not senior managers or his friends.”
The sexual practices condoned within CBP have a well-documented past and most feel the agency is doing little to change the practice of sexual harassment within the federal government.
In fact one high-ranking CBP Official, David Longoria of El Paso, TX, among others were locally engaging in similar practices as Miami’s and elsewhere. However, it is here where Longoria (who is married), who according to sources was involved with two employees, had the misfortune of impregnating a subordinate, Christina J. Daly, also of El Paso who gave birth to a son. Daly filed with the court seeking to terminate paternity rights between Longoria and their son, which was ordered by Judge Patricia Macias on January 24, 2008. The case was filed in El Paso Court Records as Cause No. 2007-CM-6255, and was published as Exhibit 30 in Andy Ramirez’ Unjustifiable and Impeachable, the FOBP Report on DHS, DOJ, and the Courts (Nov. 11, 2008) link here http://www.advocatescouncil.us/impeachable.htm.
“In a very similar situation to the Miami and Los Angeles transfers of the 90s that The Miami Herald series documented, and that we included in my report, I understand that Longoria’s punishment, if you can call it that, was to be transferred to the El Paso Intel Center (EPIC) where he is now the current Deputy Director. It’s typical of the ‘screw-up move-up’ environment fostered within CBP to ignore this sexual misconduct by the brass. What does DHS do? They reward these degenerates with top promotions, transfer people around and tell them to cool out for awhile, or they install giant glass doors, none of which slows the party and antics,” stated Ramirez.
“Sexual harassment in a workplace is deplorable and should not be tolerated. The Department of Homeland Security’s culture of allowing and covering up instances of sexual harassment endangers female law enforcement officers and poses a potential threat to national security. The agency entrusted with safeguarding our borders should protect its officers from terror within, thereby allowing them to fully concentrate on their important mission. DHS has to put an end to the unacceptable practice of transferring perpetrators to other positions with impunity, while actively retaliating against victims of discrimination and hiding adverse findings against the agency from Congress in a direct violation of the No FEAR Act,” said Julia Davis, former Customs and Border Protection officer and national security whistle blower.
Another brave agent Houser said it this way; in closing, whistle blowing at CBP is Patriotic it’s not comfortable, but it’s important for our Nation’s future, for the resent and for our children, Mark Twain said it this way; “In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a brave and scarce man, hated and scorned. When the cause succeeds, however, the timid join him...for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.”
For more stories;
Screw up; move up in play again in Customs and Border Protection;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m12d16-Screw-up-move-up-in-play-again-in-Customs-and-Border-Protection
National security breeches include discovery of bombs and missiles;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m12d10-Breakdowns-at-US-Port-of-Entry-continue
Acting CBP Commissioner Ayhern retiring, leaves a stained legacy;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m12d8-Acting-CBP-Commissioner--retires-leaves-stained-legacy
Corruption in Juarez connected to bridges;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d24-Crime-part-of-Mexico-strategy-to-undermine-US-corruption-abounds-at-Juarez-bridge
House of Death part one-a dozen murders;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d2-House-of-Death-in-Juarez-prelude-to-a-massive-murder-coverup
House of Death part two-the cover up;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d4-House-of-Death--US-Government-coverup-unveiled
House of Death part three-keys to amnesty;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d19-US-gives-Mexico-keys-to-open-border-and-amnesty
Other stories;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
A press release from CBP stated, “Maston brings to the key San Diego position in-depth experience in overseeing large scale passenger and cargo processing programs. He most recently served more than two years as port director at the Miami International Airport, managing more than 1,300 employees at the largest international operation in the U.S. for air cargo and the second largest for international traveler processing.”
“Maston’s recent responsibilities overseeing international traveler inspections, trade enforcement and tactical enforcement operations will provide the tools he needs to manage the busy 24-lane port of San Ysidro and nearby 13-lane Otay Mesa border station where, on average, 63,000 vehicles and 134,000 travelers enter the U.S. each day, CBP DFO Morris said. Maston served from 2004 to 2006 as the assistant director of border security at CBP’s Miami Field Office. In this position, he oversaw border security operations for the Miami, Port Everglades, Key West and West Palm Beach ports of entry.”
Repeated attempts (phone, email and finally showing up at CBP port offices) to interview Maston about his new post in San Diego were all declined. Even when presented with questions regarding new port duties, what challenges he could face and the implementing of his cargo inspection program Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), the new director chose to hide in his office. This begs the question what is he trying to hide?
While mindful of the agency’s important border security mission, Maston said in a press release he will continue to support operations that have proved successful for the field office while striking a working balance between facilitation of legitimate travelers and the need for strong enforcement.
Does this mean Maston will continue his behavior that landed him on the “dontdatehimgirl.com” tell-all web site? The website geared to serial cheaters depicts Maston as a player with multiple work-related affairs. The posting (click here http://www.friendsoftheborderpatrol.com/thereport/CMaston-DontDateHimGirl-Post.pdf) contains a number of postings regarding his time as a top official in Miami.
Can Maston maintain a San Diego CBP Field Office that manages more than 1,800 front-line federal officers at border stations in San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Tecate, Calexico, and Andrade as well as the San Diego seaport and international airports? These ports completed approximately 66 million inspections of people, seized more than 145 tons of illegal narcotics and apprehended more than 42,000 immigration violators during the last fiscal year. One assumes this is a fulltime job requiring an enormous amount of time and concentration.
President Ronald Reagan summed it up as, “Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession, I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.”
CBP’s own Miami Vice includes, guns, badges, drugs and sex-rings
The Miami Herald has reported a number of stories going back over 10 years and instead of thoroughly investigating and firing the participants, then Commissioner of CBP, Ray Kelly’s idea of discipline was to transfer individuals named is wrong doings. Many of these managers from the Miami area now run the Office of Field Operations and serve in many key positions. One such individual, Jayson Ahern, acting Commissioner of CBP was forced into early retirement because there was no place to hide and he was looking to make a clean getaway.
The practice called "screw up move up" takes place inside CBP by exploiting sexual favors with coworkers to work up the chain of command. For example an employee can screw up, not be charged or fired, and move up the chain of command at a later time.
Responding to a surge in agency misbehavior Thomas Winkowski, Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Field Operations (formerly U.S. Customs) wrote a memo (Nov. 16, 2007), which the The Miami Herald obtained and wrote about in March 2008.
“It is our responsibility to uphold the laws, not break the law,” the Winkowski’s memo cites. He explains in the memo that employee arrests involving domestic violence, DUI and drug possession are occurring, however, court records show Customs officers and other DHS employees from South Florida to the Mexican Border States have been charged with dozens of far more serious offenses.
Winkowski called the misconduct “unacceptable,” and told The Miami Herald that while he wrote the memo because of an up tick in employee arrests, he didn’t believe the problem was pervasive. “Are there examples where we fall short? Yes,” said Winkowski.
Of course this is a bit ironic given that numerous Customs sources around the nation have also implicated Winkowski as part of the sex-ring, and his name was included in an infamous CBP internal email, which had the subject of: “Chapter 7, Sex, Lies, and Videotapes”. He was a port director for Customs in Los Angeles, in 1998 when he was transferred to Miami, while Jayson Ahern was transferred to LA by then-Commissioner of Customs Ray Kelly (current NYPD Commissioner).
“It is no use saying 'we are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary,” Winston Churchill said during his reign and these important words could serve the CBP well.
CBP rank and file are honorable public servants
CBP is a great law enforcement agency. There are many dedicated and good people who go the “extra mile” everyday for our Nation, and personally it’s an honor to meet and work with these men and women, says Charles Houser an active CBP agent. “It’s also a privilege for me to speak up for them, besides my own observations, I have reported things fellow officers wanted to report but don’t because they fear of retaliation by upper CBP management,” Houser explained. “I have already faced every hardship and form of retaliation Management could come up with, and I am still here. When I feel concerned about the position I am in by coming forward, I think about something President Harry Truman once said; ‘When even one American -who has done nothing wrong-is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth, then all Americans are in peril.’”
He continues to explain; “America needs the U.S. Congress to take an immediate interest in CBP matters ‘frontline’ CBP Officers has brought to their attention. When I was a NYPD Police Officer I remember at least one Police Commissioner who threw the towel in on ever bringing violent crime under control in NYC and because he gave up, the community suffered desperately, but then along comes another Commissioner who saw things differently and he decided to change things and the result was NYC was and still is one of the safest cities in the world and the community prospers.”
Like the NYPD is to NYC, CBP is to the nation; they enforce federal, state and local laws, as well as regulate trade, commerce and enforce immigration and customs laws. “We can do all of this, but an organization can only be as good as its leadership. Therefore, I call on Congress to investigate my ‘whistle blower’ allegations since CBP management has refused to and conversely has engaged in retaliation and I also ask Congress to investigate other pending allegations and those that may face retaliation as the result of a Congressional inquiry. Congress has the oversight jurisdiction and these actions are necessary to ensure CBP officers and the public we serve have only the best and most qualified people to lead CBP with intelligence and integrity to fulfill our Mission,” said Houser.
It is also worth pointing out that Agent Houser served in the New York Police Department and received several departmental awards for excellent and meritorious duty. He also garnered a written commendation for undercover narcotics duty, but his two most cherished commendations came from the Police Commissioner in which he was cited for acts displaying a high-degree of integrity and faithful service. “It’s unnatural for me to be any other way,” Houser finished.
National security and immigration go hand in hand
Two important issues, illegal immigration and national security, have propelled the Department of Homeland Security into the public eye as it tries to prevent another 9/11-style terrorist attack. The massive size of DHS has done little to protect the country and many believe it has created another layer of bureaucratic go betweens incapable of controlling the higher ups sexual indiscretions therefore causing national security breeches to slip past unnoticed.
Normally it is company policy to keep wrong doings of employees under wraps and present a united agency front. However, in the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport where Maston hails, controversy and legal challenges arose all the time.
For instance, Elizabeth Moran-Toala, allegedly accessed company electronic data bases (Treasury Enforcement Communications System) to pass along information to a Delta Airlines baggage handler. The indictment charged the CBP employee with conspiracy and assisting a well-known drug ring allowing the transport of cocaine and heroin to New York from the Dominican Republic.
Numerous other South Florida cases include, drug and human trafficking, bribery, embezzlement, witness tampering and most notably rape.
The rivalry and cavorting taking place within the ‘old’ Legacy Customs and the ‘new’ CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has fueled an ongoing battle once the agencies were merged forming the Department of Homeland Security. Company moral continues its nosedive and a government survey ranked CBP at the bottom (222) for an employee satisfaction in 2007.
Employees in Miami continue to complain, file lawsuits and yet the contentious work environment fostered within the CBP continues to be treated as “business as usual” practices. Female workers can expect to be molested while working especially if it is their first year of employment as the agency bosses can fire anyone during their first year of employment for no reason. “I was personally groped by Mr. Maston at work. This degrading behavior happens in the workplace daily and it is tolerated. Those who complain can expect to be retaliated against and if you are new you are treated like a piece of meat,” said one female CBP agent in Miami.
Other practices common with the ‘fast-lane’ Miami lifestyle is drinking on the job as a method to release the tension within the agency. Most rank and file officers are sick about the crude behavior displayed in management and believe a cleaning from the top down is in order.
“One of the individuals listed in the document is a real piece of work. The Service Port Director of Miami, Chris Maston, was involved in a workplace sex triangle, leaving work early to meet other employees (some married to other DHS employees) in hotels and public parks in the Davie, Florida area. And these encounters were while he was on official time. This guy is a class act,” says Sarah D, January 02, 2009. “Winkowski was aware of all this and promotes him to an SES position. Then Winkowski puts out a memo on the importance of integrity for CBP employees on and off duty. I guess the memo only applies to the CBP officers...not senior managers or his friends.”
The sexual practices condoned within CBP have a well-documented past and most feel the agency is doing little to change the practice of sexual harassment within the federal government.
In fact one high-ranking CBP Official, David Longoria of El Paso, TX, among others were locally engaging in similar practices as Miami’s and elsewhere. However, it is here where Longoria (who is married), who according to sources was involved with two employees, had the misfortune of impregnating a subordinate, Christina J. Daly, also of El Paso who gave birth to a son. Daly filed with the court seeking to terminate paternity rights between Longoria and their son, which was ordered by Judge Patricia Macias on January 24, 2008. The case was filed in El Paso Court Records as Cause No. 2007-CM-6255, and was published as Exhibit 30 in Andy Ramirez’ Unjustifiable and Impeachable, the FOBP Report on DHS, DOJ, and the Courts (Nov. 11, 2008) link here http://www.advocatescouncil.us/impeachable.htm.
“In a very similar situation to the Miami and Los Angeles transfers of the 90s that The Miami Herald series documented, and that we included in my report, I understand that Longoria’s punishment, if you can call it that, was to be transferred to the El Paso Intel Center (EPIC) where he is now the current Deputy Director. It’s typical of the ‘screw-up move-up’ environment fostered within CBP to ignore this sexual misconduct by the brass. What does DHS do? They reward these degenerates with top promotions, transfer people around and tell them to cool out for awhile, or they install giant glass doors, none of which slows the party and antics,” stated Ramirez.
“Sexual harassment in a workplace is deplorable and should not be tolerated. The Department of Homeland Security’s culture of allowing and covering up instances of sexual harassment endangers female law enforcement officers and poses a potential threat to national security. The agency entrusted with safeguarding our borders should protect its officers from terror within, thereby allowing them to fully concentrate on their important mission. DHS has to put an end to the unacceptable practice of transferring perpetrators to other positions with impunity, while actively retaliating against victims of discrimination and hiding adverse findings against the agency from Congress in a direct violation of the No FEAR Act,” said Julia Davis, former Customs and Border Protection officer and national security whistle blower.
Another brave agent Houser said it this way; in closing, whistle blowing at CBP is Patriotic it’s not comfortable, but it’s important for our Nation’s future, for the resent and for our children, Mark Twain said it this way; “In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a brave and scarce man, hated and scorned. When the cause succeeds, however, the timid join him...for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.”
For more stories;
Screw up; move up in play again in Customs and Border Protection;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m12d16-Screw-up-move-up-in-play-again-in-Customs-and-Border-Protection
National security breeches include discovery of bombs and missiles;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m12d10-Breakdowns-at-US-Port-of-Entry-continue
Acting CBP Commissioner Ayhern retiring, leaves a stained legacy;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m12d8-Acting-CBP-Commissioner--retires-leaves-stained-legacy
Corruption in Juarez connected to bridges;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d24-Crime-part-of-Mexico-strategy-to-undermine-US-corruption-abounds-at-Juarez-bridge
House of Death part one-a dozen murders;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d2-House-of-Death-in-Juarez-prelude-to-a-massive-murder-coverup
House of Death part two-the cover up;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d4-House-of-Death--US-Government-coverup-unveiled
House of Death part three-keys to amnesty;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d19-US-gives-Mexico-keys-to-open-border-and-amnesty
Other stories;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Screw up; move up in play again in Customs and Border Protection
In another clear screw up move up policy set to purge the Legacy Customs representatives from the agency in order to foster a new ‘Global Patrol’ –CBP moves to appoint a well known insider with liberal leanings regarding amnesty to the top post of Acting Deputy Commissioner of CBP.
David V. Aguilar hails from U.S. Border Patrol where he served under Congressmen Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) and has followed the coattails of ‘friends in high places’ all the way to the CBP Acting Deputy Commissioner slot.
“As Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, David has successfully provided leadership and guidance through a period of unprecedented growth and tremendous change while at the same time strengthened control of our nation’s borders,” says Jayson Ahern outgoing CBP Commissioner. “As Acting Deputy Commissioner, he will bring to the position more than 30 years of border security experience, management, and leadership. He is a tested and proven leader and I have the utmost confidence in his abilities to take on this new role.”
No Confidence
In a memo from Ahern, Aguilar receives high praises for his career in law enforcement. However, Aguilar’s record is rife with controversy, power consolidation, and failures.
First, in February 2007, delegates to the National Border Patrol Council’s biennial convention unanimously endorsed a vote of “No Confidence” in Chief Aguilar.
“The vote was the result of increasing frustration by front line Border Patrol Agents in the decisions of their senior leadership,” T.J. Bonner, NBPC National President, said in a statement. “This lack of leadership has caused morale to plummet, which in turn has accelerated the attrition rate among experienced agents. Unless drastic changes are made soon, the goal of securing our borders will remain as elusive as ever.”
Aguilar again received a “No Confidence” vote from his rank and file agents on February 25, 2009.
According to the representatives of the National Border Patrol Council they unanimously supported a vote of "No Confidence" for Chief Aguilar due to his lack of leadership abilities. Hardly the glowing recommendation Ahern described and another example of the ‘screw up and move up’ policies plaguing the CBP and Department of Homeland Security.
“We at the NPBC are very concerned about this ‘acting appointment’ becoming permanent,” says Shawn Moran, Vice President of the National Border Patrol Council. “Chief Aguilar is the first chief in the history of Border Patrol to ever receive the vote of ‘no confidence’ and he has received it twice.”
The NBPC contends his agenda has resulted in bad management by SES level managers, compromising security for trade, commerce, pro-open border and protect the illegal alien agenda of corporate America which has led to diminished security at the U.S./Mexico borders.
One of the reasons Aguilar has created tension within his rank and file coworkers is the shortening of the training time required to complete the Border Patrol training Academy “Lack of training coupled with late back ground checks” is yet another example of Aguilar’s inexperience or worse negligence with what Border Patrol agents require to perform at the best of their abilities says Moran.
The mission of Border Patrol is to control immigration and secure our borders, yet Aguilar supports amnesty and couches it with the responsibility of catching terrorists. “Our goal is to stop drug cartels and illegal aliens. Terrorist apprehension is secondary and we do that once we’ve done our primary job,” Moran explains. “How can we have a leader that doesn’t even know the mission of Border Patrol?”
“Chief Aguilar has done more damage to moral than anyone. To reward him is ridiculous,” Moran finished.
Moran’s statements are echoed by a number of sources who say that agent morale is the lowest ever and how agents used to talk about how they’d take a bullet for this agent or that agent. Now under Aguilar there is such a fostered mistrust and fear of “monkeyboys,” which are described as those who “kiss asses who go along to get along,” get away with everything and are protected while good agents are sold down the river.
Another issue that keeps coming up about Aguilar’s BP Academy is the violent practice of stacking (or hazing) in which a trainee at the academy goes into a room with a number of PT instructors and once they are finished some trainees have to be transported to medical facilities due to severe injuries.
Project 28, a Controversial Money-Pit
Another failed program that Aguilar attaches to his resume is the “Project 28” virtual border fence fiasco. In February 2008, U.S. Representative Chris Carney, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Management, Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee, said the system “works about 30 percent of the time.” During a visit in January of 2008 to the El Paso region, Carney explained that he witnessed an incident where two illegal immigrants crossed in front of a project camera. Carney then explains, “That a technician tried to electronically reposition the camera to track them (illegal aliens), but the picture was out of focus, the camera moved too slowly and the illegal immigrants got away.”
Project 28 was deemed the “smart” virtual fence that would close the borders without building a physical fence and the early detection would direct Border Patrol agents to illegal border crossers quickly and efficiently, however the system has suffered numerous glitches resulting in lack of apprehensions.
“Project 28 is nothing more than a hair-brain scheme,” says 50-year veteran Chief Border Patrol Agent Bill King, who was Chief of the Border Patrol Academy about 30 years ago and remains active with border issues.
This DHS project includes nine towers complete with radar cameras along a treacherous canyon filled area of the Arizona border region where Chief Aguilar serves. But with a price tag of $800,000 per tower and a thirty-percent effectiveness rate, one questions the wisdom of such a program. Project 28’s so-called virtual fence system is part of the Secure Border Initiative and consists of a multibillion-dollar government contract intended to slow illegal border crossings.
Government officials predict the $7.6 billion price tag is far to low as the program continues to meet with malfunctions and missed deadlines.
The radar cameras attached to the towers are supposed to trigger a beam of high-quality images when movement is detected at the border. At this point agents are able to determine if the incursion is something as simple as lost hikers, drug smugglers or illegal immigrants. However, the response time is much too slow for agents in the field to detain the human trafficking as they are often long gone by the time Border Patrol agents arrive on the scene.
Despite the documented failure of the virtual fence Aguilar contends this $7.6 billion project is worth it. “We are living the dividing line between the old Border Patrol and the new patrol of the future,” he said in an interview with the New York Times. The article continued to dog Aguilar regarding the lack of Border Patrol agents even when a reporter stood at the foot of the towers waiting to see a response time. “No guards were in sight,” they said.
Passing the blame along, Aguilar shrugged it off and stated that the cameras must have been turned off. This begs the question as to why such an expensive program would be “turned off” during high traffic hours.
Experts state that Project 28 is similar to the Secure Border Initiative and the awarding of contracts to Boeing that were extremely secretive, lacking any transparency. They say there were other border monitoring programs available that were vastly more effective like Raytheon’s Project Athena, which gave results that surpassed all expectations when tested along the northern border over 3 years ago.
Retired BP Chief King chimed in on this issue; “Look if we wanted to stop illegal immigration and drug smugglers from coming into this country we could. A virtual fence is certainly not going to do the job here. We need to put the U.S. military along the borders and all traffic would halt.” King also knows this bright idea would never happen as he has been told by Washington D.C. ‘no way.’ “I’m thoroughly disgusted with Democrats and the GOP. They don’t want to stop illegal immigration, the political morass in unbelievable.”
Conduct Unbecoming: The Imperious Ruler Says One Things Does Another
A third area where Chief Aguilar has fallen short is the documented disconnect within the agency, and he clearly says what he pleases while firing employees for significantly less.
There must always be a nexus (connection) between the misconduct (on or off duty) and the efficiently of the service as written by the National Border Patrol Council (BP agents union).
Local 2544 of the National Border Patrol Council (representing Tucson agents) documented a number of infractions by Aguilar during a 2-day muster in June of 2007 held at the Tucson and Nogales (AZ) Stations. The antics reported by the union include; discriminatory behavior including leading agents to pick on a disabled civilian’s physical appearance, disruptive and extremely unprofessional behavior, while lying about his official statements before Congress, the public, and during these meetings misrepresenting the facts before his own employees. These acts are all punishable under the CBP’s Table of Penalties.
Some of the offenses committed as posted by the union fall under the following: Discriminatory Behavior, Disruptive Behavior, Falsification (of information), Integrity, Neglect of Duty (considering his support of amnesty and the discussions of the “new mission of CBP”) Safety/Health (considering how he has compromised his employees and the public’s safety), and Security (given the amount of statements from active and retired agents addressing how Mexico runs the stations).
Of course, it was his former boss Congressman Silvestre Reyes who during an August 2007 Congressional hearing in El Paso stated, “When you pin a badge and gun on, you should be held to a higher standard.” This is clearly something that applies to all but Aguilar and the Tucson Mafia as it is known by agency insiders. Something that has led many CBP employees to comment that the only difference between organized crime and their superiors are the badges and service issued firearms.
It is also of note that when Aguilar has appeared on Capitol Hill to testify before Congress, he has worn his sidearm into the hearing room. One such occasion was when he testified in July 2007 before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing into the Ramos and Compean case, which was prosecuted by former U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton. Several sources felt it was inappropriate for him to be packing heat at the Capitol during an official hearing, and yet another example of arrogance and contempt.
America’s Top Border Agent Supports Amnesty
As the country heads into the national debate regarding amnesty early next year it is important for voters to understand Aguilar’s position on this hot-button issue. During Congressional testimony, Aguilar clearly supported the Bush administration “comprehensive immigration plan” that included amnesty and temporary worker cards.
During his April 2007 testimony to Congress Aguilar said; “To most effectively secure our border, we must reform our immigration system to relieve this pressure. We need comprehensive immigration reform… The Administration is dedicated to comprehensive reform of America’s immigration laws…” He goes on to say that we should be “addressing the millions of illegal immigrants already in the country… The Administration’s plan will bring illegal immigrants out of the shadows without providing amnesty.”
However, Friends of the Border Patrol founder Andy Ramirez, who has investigated border security and testified before a number of Congressional Committees, states, “According to my sources inside the patrol, David Aguilar has made misinforming the public as well as destroying the agency internally a top priority. Everything he says or does is staged and clearly is at odds with my own testimony before the same House Committees. He is well known for being soft on incidents involving Mexico, and has previously ordered subordinates to pretty much let the Mexican Consulates run the stations. I’ve long contended that as our statements so completely contradict each other, Congress has long needed to swear him both in, as I was sworn in by Sensenbrenner when he was Chairman, and ask him questions under oath while referring to my testimony. Of course we won’t get a hearing without Silvestre Reyes, Aguilar’s pro-amnesty former boss in McAllen Sector (South Texas), running interference for him as usual.”
As Chief of the Border Patrol, Aguilar explains his agents are not just immigration officers and as such they shouldn’t focus on illegal immigration, but focus on terrorists, criminals and dope smugglers. However, once you cross the border illegally a law has been broken and the illegals have now committed a crime. This is the first crime in a string that continues when they work illegally in the U.S.
Such statements are personified by sycophants who have bought into the philosophy and been rapidly promoted to high ranking positions, including many Sector Chiefs who were appointed during a purge that began in 2006. The purge involved a number of Chiefs and other high-ranking agents who were not pro-amnesty, and retired well ahead of the mandatory age retirement of 57. Many of the new chiefs were graduates of the elite BORTAC (Border Patrol tactical unit) program. Two such fast-track cronies (subordinates of Aguilar’s when he was the Tucson Chief) include current El Paso Sector Chief Victor Manjarrez, and former Laredo Sector Chief Carlos Carrillo, former subordinates of Aguilar’s in Tucson Sector. Both, like Aguilar, support amnesty.
In fact, it was the following statement to local Texas media by Chief Carrillo that led to his quick retirement at age 55, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The Border Patrol’s job is not to stop illegal immigrants. The Border Patrol’s job is not to stop narcotics…or contraband or narcotics…..the Border Patrol’s mission is not to stop criminals. The Border Patrol’s mission is to stop terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the country."
But this all starts with the example set by Reyes, who stated the following at his June 2007 border conference in El Paso, “besides being a former Border Patrol Chief and a resident of the U.S.-Mexico border, as Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I have a vested interest in ensuring that we allow those who are in our country illegally to come out of the shadows and identify themselves through an earned path to legalization, making it more difficult for those who want to do harm to our country to hide.”
Border expert Ramirez says Aguilar’s command has been insulated from within and is akin to what has been going on in the Customs service.
Aguilar Denies Military Incursions by Mexico’s Soldiers
Another problem plaguing the Border States is the increased border incursions.
According to Ramirez, “Over the past 10 years (through Spring 2006), the Border Patrol has reported more than 250 incursions by Mexican military and police units into the U.S., including incidents where U.S. civilians, Border Patrol agents, and other law enforcement came under fire from the uniformed Mexicans.”
While Sheriff’s in Hudspeth County continue to fight on the front lines along the U.S./Mexico border region, aggressive incidents have continually been downplayed by Aguilar and Congressman Reyes; even when these incursions are documented with video.
In 2006 the Hudspeth County Texas Sheriff’s deputies and Texas state troopers ran into a convoy of Mexican vehicles transporting rugs on the U.S. side of the border. “As you know, our law enforcement chased them back to the border where they were met by heavily-armed Mexican military units in Humvees, with machine guns, who escorted the drug smugglers back into Mexico. Again, our government covers up for Mexico’s involvement and plays down the incident,” Ramirez said.
In Congressional testimony, Congressman Reyes stated there were no Mexican military incursions and the Hudspeth County Sheriff’s deputy was mistaken. Reyes concluded that because he served in the U.S. military and resided in the border region most his life there was no Mexican military crossing the international border. This echoed the statements by the Mexican government later parroted by representatives of the Bush Administration including Aguilar.
However, in sworn testimony from Kelly Legarreta, Deputy Sheriff in Hudspeth County and first on the scene when the alleged incursion took place stated, he too had served in the U.S. Marines and he knew what he saw –Mexican military illegally crossing the U.S. border assisting two vehicles loaded with contraband back into Mexico.
In an April 2006 story by The New American, Ramirez explained in complete detail the incursion and how law enforcement felt about Aguilar’s down playing of the Mexican military incident. “It was a gross insult to the law enforcement officers who were involved and who were there on the line looking down the barrels of the Mexican military, because there were no Border Patrol agents there guarding the border! Aguilar and the (Bush) White House are responsible for leaving that border vulnerable. Then when the sheriffs do the job that the Border Patrol is supposed to be doing, the administration tried to discredit them and made it sound like they’re exaggerating the danger.”
He also pointed out that Aguilar appeared on local El Paso TV news station KFOX and said it was not the Mexican Military involved in the Hudspeth County incursion. Former El Paso Sector Chief Luis Barker than appeared before the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition and said Aguilar never said any such thing, and that it was ICE was responsible, which was a blatant lie as the coverage clearly showed Aguilar. ICE had not issued any statement prior to the Sheriffs meeting.
“Barker had just been appointed National Deputy Chief of the BP and appeared at the Border Sheriffs Conference in order to take the heat off Aguilar who didn’t have the stones to appear. So he sent Barker as the former sector chief to take the heat for him,” according to Ramirez.
It was but a few months later when Ramirez testified as an official witness before a Congressional field hearing when he exposed an internal BP card given by the public information office in Tucson Sector pertaining to Mexican Military incursions.
The card said, “Remember, Mexican military are trained to escape, evade, and counter-ambush if it will affect their escape.” However, the “SALUTE” card also advises agents to hide from Mexican soldiers that may be operating, and to “avoid” confrontations with Mexican soldiers. It was issued initially in 1997 as Ramirez understood it, and continued to be issued to agents during Aguilar’s tenure as Sector Chief, and later as National Chief. This is definitive proof that the Border Patrol knew but refused to do anything about it, even after firefights resulting in injuries to agents. In one widely known incursion in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, El Paso Sector Chief Barker refused to call in the FBI after such a firefight, though policy dictates that the FBI is notified about any U.S. – Mexico border incidents. Reyes was silent about this matter.
Detonate and rebuild
Clearly the agencies that fall under the Department of Homeland Security are not on the same page and they may be in different stratospheres. The reason for the disparity between departments could be classified as infighting. This is because the mission of DEA is different than Border Patrol-and ICE’s mission (often redundant) would be different than Customs so having all these agencies under one umbrella is self-defeating.
Ramirez contends that DHS, something George W. Bush was adamantly opposed to, gave the worst kind of opportunity to the wrong people. The creation of DHS put those agencies responsible for domestic border (CBP) and internal security (ICE) under one roof with a single top chain of command in comparison to the legacy or pre-DHS days where Customs (including their Immigration Investigators) and Secret Service were at Treasury, while the Border Patrol and Citizenship and Immigration Service (Legacy INS) were at the Justice Department.
“In the wrong hands, America’s Security could easily be subverted especially if the chains of command were structured with cronies instead of America’s best. Given what we know today, that has taken place, and all benefiting those who do not have America’s best interest and at a pretty hefty cost to taxpayers. Just remember that they’re still working on implementing what they call one face at the border, which will allow for greater internal corruption including further compromises with no way to stop it unless Congress acts now,” concluded Ramirez.
A simple solution presents itself for the American people- dismantle DHS. Chief King sums this up best, “DHS is an error, internal politics is rampant and political nepotism has ruined what was once a good form of law enforcement, and therefore it is DHS that has to go in order restore integrity.”
For more stories;
National security breeches include discovery of bombs and missiles;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m12d10-Breakdowns-at-US-Port-of-Entry-continue
Acting CBP Commissioner Ayhern retiring, leaves a stained legacy;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m12d8-Acting-CBP-Commissioner--retires-leaves-stained-legacy
Corruption in Juarez connected to bridges;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d24-Crime-part-of-Mexico-strategy-to-undermine-US-corruption-abounds-at-Juarez-bridge
House of Death part one-a dozen murders;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d2-House-of-Death-in-Juarez-prelude-to-a-massive-murder-coverup
House of Death part two-the cover up;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d4-House-of-Death--US-Government-coverup-unveiled
House of Death part three-keys to amnesty;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d19-US-gives-Mexico-keys-to-open-border-and-amnesty
David V. Aguilar hails from U.S. Border Patrol where he served under Congressmen Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) and has followed the coattails of ‘friends in high places’ all the way to the CBP Acting Deputy Commissioner slot.
“As Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, David has successfully provided leadership and guidance through a period of unprecedented growth and tremendous change while at the same time strengthened control of our nation’s borders,” says Jayson Ahern outgoing CBP Commissioner. “As Acting Deputy Commissioner, he will bring to the position more than 30 years of border security experience, management, and leadership. He is a tested and proven leader and I have the utmost confidence in his abilities to take on this new role.”
No Confidence
In a memo from Ahern, Aguilar receives high praises for his career in law enforcement. However, Aguilar’s record is rife with controversy, power consolidation, and failures.
First, in February 2007, delegates to the National Border Patrol Council’s biennial convention unanimously endorsed a vote of “No Confidence” in Chief Aguilar.
“The vote was the result of increasing frustration by front line Border Patrol Agents in the decisions of their senior leadership,” T.J. Bonner, NBPC National President, said in a statement. “This lack of leadership has caused morale to plummet, which in turn has accelerated the attrition rate among experienced agents. Unless drastic changes are made soon, the goal of securing our borders will remain as elusive as ever.”
Aguilar again received a “No Confidence” vote from his rank and file agents on February 25, 2009.
According to the representatives of the National Border Patrol Council they unanimously supported a vote of "No Confidence" for Chief Aguilar due to his lack of leadership abilities. Hardly the glowing recommendation Ahern described and another example of the ‘screw up and move up’ policies plaguing the CBP and Department of Homeland Security.
“We at the NPBC are very concerned about this ‘acting appointment’ becoming permanent,” says Shawn Moran, Vice President of the National Border Patrol Council. “Chief Aguilar is the first chief in the history of Border Patrol to ever receive the vote of ‘no confidence’ and he has received it twice.”
The NBPC contends his agenda has resulted in bad management by SES level managers, compromising security for trade, commerce, pro-open border and protect the illegal alien agenda of corporate America which has led to diminished security at the U.S./Mexico borders.
One of the reasons Aguilar has created tension within his rank and file coworkers is the shortening of the training time required to complete the Border Patrol training Academy “Lack of training coupled with late back ground checks” is yet another example of Aguilar’s inexperience or worse negligence with what Border Patrol agents require to perform at the best of their abilities says Moran.
The mission of Border Patrol is to control immigration and secure our borders, yet Aguilar supports amnesty and couches it with the responsibility of catching terrorists. “Our goal is to stop drug cartels and illegal aliens. Terrorist apprehension is secondary and we do that once we’ve done our primary job,” Moran explains. “How can we have a leader that doesn’t even know the mission of Border Patrol?”
“Chief Aguilar has done more damage to moral than anyone. To reward him is ridiculous,” Moran finished.
Moran’s statements are echoed by a number of sources who say that agent morale is the lowest ever and how agents used to talk about how they’d take a bullet for this agent or that agent. Now under Aguilar there is such a fostered mistrust and fear of “monkeyboys,” which are described as those who “kiss asses who go along to get along,” get away with everything and are protected while good agents are sold down the river.
Another issue that keeps coming up about Aguilar’s BP Academy is the violent practice of stacking (or hazing) in which a trainee at the academy goes into a room with a number of PT instructors and once they are finished some trainees have to be transported to medical facilities due to severe injuries.
Project 28, a Controversial Money-Pit
Another failed program that Aguilar attaches to his resume is the “Project 28” virtual border fence fiasco. In February 2008, U.S. Representative Chris Carney, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Management, Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee, said the system “works about 30 percent of the time.” During a visit in January of 2008 to the El Paso region, Carney explained that he witnessed an incident where two illegal immigrants crossed in front of a project camera. Carney then explains, “That a technician tried to electronically reposition the camera to track them (illegal aliens), but the picture was out of focus, the camera moved too slowly and the illegal immigrants got away.”
Project 28 was deemed the “smart” virtual fence that would close the borders without building a physical fence and the early detection would direct Border Patrol agents to illegal border crossers quickly and efficiently, however the system has suffered numerous glitches resulting in lack of apprehensions.
“Project 28 is nothing more than a hair-brain scheme,” says 50-year veteran Chief Border Patrol Agent Bill King, who was Chief of the Border Patrol Academy about 30 years ago and remains active with border issues.
This DHS project includes nine towers complete with radar cameras along a treacherous canyon filled area of the Arizona border region where Chief Aguilar serves. But with a price tag of $800,000 per tower and a thirty-percent effectiveness rate, one questions the wisdom of such a program. Project 28’s so-called virtual fence system is part of the Secure Border Initiative and consists of a multibillion-dollar government contract intended to slow illegal border crossings.
Government officials predict the $7.6 billion price tag is far to low as the program continues to meet with malfunctions and missed deadlines.
The radar cameras attached to the towers are supposed to trigger a beam of high-quality images when movement is detected at the border. At this point agents are able to determine if the incursion is something as simple as lost hikers, drug smugglers or illegal immigrants. However, the response time is much too slow for agents in the field to detain the human trafficking as they are often long gone by the time Border Patrol agents arrive on the scene.
Despite the documented failure of the virtual fence Aguilar contends this $7.6 billion project is worth it. “We are living the dividing line between the old Border Patrol and the new patrol of the future,” he said in an interview with the New York Times. The article continued to dog Aguilar regarding the lack of Border Patrol agents even when a reporter stood at the foot of the towers waiting to see a response time. “No guards were in sight,” they said.
Passing the blame along, Aguilar shrugged it off and stated that the cameras must have been turned off. This begs the question as to why such an expensive program would be “turned off” during high traffic hours.
Experts state that Project 28 is similar to the Secure Border Initiative and the awarding of contracts to Boeing that were extremely secretive, lacking any transparency. They say there were other border monitoring programs available that were vastly more effective like Raytheon’s Project Athena, which gave results that surpassed all expectations when tested along the northern border over 3 years ago.
Retired BP Chief King chimed in on this issue; “Look if we wanted to stop illegal immigration and drug smugglers from coming into this country we could. A virtual fence is certainly not going to do the job here. We need to put the U.S. military along the borders and all traffic would halt.” King also knows this bright idea would never happen as he has been told by Washington D.C. ‘no way.’ “I’m thoroughly disgusted with Democrats and the GOP. They don’t want to stop illegal immigration, the political morass in unbelievable.”
Conduct Unbecoming: The Imperious Ruler Says One Things Does Another
A third area where Chief Aguilar has fallen short is the documented disconnect within the agency, and he clearly says what he pleases while firing employees for significantly less.
There must always be a nexus (connection) between the misconduct (on or off duty) and the efficiently of the service as written by the National Border Patrol Council (BP agents union).
Local 2544 of the National Border Patrol Council (representing Tucson agents) documented a number of infractions by Aguilar during a 2-day muster in June of 2007 held at the Tucson and Nogales (AZ) Stations. The antics reported by the union include; discriminatory behavior including leading agents to pick on a disabled civilian’s physical appearance, disruptive and extremely unprofessional behavior, while lying about his official statements before Congress, the public, and during these meetings misrepresenting the facts before his own employees. These acts are all punishable under the CBP’s Table of Penalties.
Some of the offenses committed as posted by the union fall under the following: Discriminatory Behavior, Disruptive Behavior, Falsification (of information), Integrity, Neglect of Duty (considering his support of amnesty and the discussions of the “new mission of CBP”) Safety/Health (considering how he has compromised his employees and the public’s safety), and Security (given the amount of statements from active and retired agents addressing how Mexico runs the stations).
Of course, it was his former boss Congressman Silvestre Reyes who during an August 2007 Congressional hearing in El Paso stated, “When you pin a badge and gun on, you should be held to a higher standard.” This is clearly something that applies to all but Aguilar and the Tucson Mafia as it is known by agency insiders. Something that has led many CBP employees to comment that the only difference between organized crime and their superiors are the badges and service issued firearms.
It is also of note that when Aguilar has appeared on Capitol Hill to testify before Congress, he has worn his sidearm into the hearing room. One such occasion was when he testified in July 2007 before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing into the Ramos and Compean case, which was prosecuted by former U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton. Several sources felt it was inappropriate for him to be packing heat at the Capitol during an official hearing, and yet another example of arrogance and contempt.
America’s Top Border Agent Supports Amnesty
As the country heads into the national debate regarding amnesty early next year it is important for voters to understand Aguilar’s position on this hot-button issue. During Congressional testimony, Aguilar clearly supported the Bush administration “comprehensive immigration plan” that included amnesty and temporary worker cards.
During his April 2007 testimony to Congress Aguilar said; “To most effectively secure our border, we must reform our immigration system to relieve this pressure. We need comprehensive immigration reform… The Administration is dedicated to comprehensive reform of America’s immigration laws…” He goes on to say that we should be “addressing the millions of illegal immigrants already in the country… The Administration’s plan will bring illegal immigrants out of the shadows without providing amnesty.”
However, Friends of the Border Patrol founder Andy Ramirez, who has investigated border security and testified before a number of Congressional Committees, states, “According to my sources inside the patrol, David Aguilar has made misinforming the public as well as destroying the agency internally a top priority. Everything he says or does is staged and clearly is at odds with my own testimony before the same House Committees. He is well known for being soft on incidents involving Mexico, and has previously ordered subordinates to pretty much let the Mexican Consulates run the stations. I’ve long contended that as our statements so completely contradict each other, Congress has long needed to swear him both in, as I was sworn in by Sensenbrenner when he was Chairman, and ask him questions under oath while referring to my testimony. Of course we won’t get a hearing without Silvestre Reyes, Aguilar’s pro-amnesty former boss in McAllen Sector (South Texas), running interference for him as usual.”
As Chief of the Border Patrol, Aguilar explains his agents are not just immigration officers and as such they shouldn’t focus on illegal immigration, but focus on terrorists, criminals and dope smugglers. However, once you cross the border illegally a law has been broken and the illegals have now committed a crime. This is the first crime in a string that continues when they work illegally in the U.S.
Such statements are personified by sycophants who have bought into the philosophy and been rapidly promoted to high ranking positions, including many Sector Chiefs who were appointed during a purge that began in 2006. The purge involved a number of Chiefs and other high-ranking agents who were not pro-amnesty, and retired well ahead of the mandatory age retirement of 57. Many of the new chiefs were graduates of the elite BORTAC (Border Patrol tactical unit) program. Two such fast-track cronies (subordinates of Aguilar’s when he was the Tucson Chief) include current El Paso Sector Chief Victor Manjarrez, and former Laredo Sector Chief Carlos Carrillo, former subordinates of Aguilar’s in Tucson Sector. Both, like Aguilar, support amnesty.
In fact, it was the following statement to local Texas media by Chief Carrillo that led to his quick retirement at age 55, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The Border Patrol’s job is not to stop illegal immigrants. The Border Patrol’s job is not to stop narcotics…or contraband or narcotics…..the Border Patrol’s mission is not to stop criminals. The Border Patrol’s mission is to stop terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the country."
But this all starts with the example set by Reyes, who stated the following at his June 2007 border conference in El Paso, “besides being a former Border Patrol Chief and a resident of the U.S.-Mexico border, as Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I have a vested interest in ensuring that we allow those who are in our country illegally to come out of the shadows and identify themselves through an earned path to legalization, making it more difficult for those who want to do harm to our country to hide.”
Border expert Ramirez says Aguilar’s command has been insulated from within and is akin to what has been going on in the Customs service.
Aguilar Denies Military Incursions by Mexico’s Soldiers
Another problem plaguing the Border States is the increased border incursions.
According to Ramirez, “Over the past 10 years (through Spring 2006), the Border Patrol has reported more than 250 incursions by Mexican military and police units into the U.S., including incidents where U.S. civilians, Border Patrol agents, and other law enforcement came under fire from the uniformed Mexicans.”
While Sheriff’s in Hudspeth County continue to fight on the front lines along the U.S./Mexico border region, aggressive incidents have continually been downplayed by Aguilar and Congressman Reyes; even when these incursions are documented with video.
In 2006 the Hudspeth County Texas Sheriff’s deputies and Texas state troopers ran into a convoy of Mexican vehicles transporting rugs on the U.S. side of the border. “As you know, our law enforcement chased them back to the border where they were met by heavily-armed Mexican military units in Humvees, with machine guns, who escorted the drug smugglers back into Mexico. Again, our government covers up for Mexico’s involvement and plays down the incident,” Ramirez said.
In Congressional testimony, Congressman Reyes stated there were no Mexican military incursions and the Hudspeth County Sheriff’s deputy was mistaken. Reyes concluded that because he served in the U.S. military and resided in the border region most his life there was no Mexican military crossing the international border. This echoed the statements by the Mexican government later parroted by representatives of the Bush Administration including Aguilar.
However, in sworn testimony from Kelly Legarreta, Deputy Sheriff in Hudspeth County and first on the scene when the alleged incursion took place stated, he too had served in the U.S. Marines and he knew what he saw –Mexican military illegally crossing the U.S. border assisting two vehicles loaded with contraband back into Mexico.
In an April 2006 story by The New American, Ramirez explained in complete detail the incursion and how law enforcement felt about Aguilar’s down playing of the Mexican military incident. “It was a gross insult to the law enforcement officers who were involved and who were there on the line looking down the barrels of the Mexican military, because there were no Border Patrol agents there guarding the border! Aguilar and the (Bush) White House are responsible for leaving that border vulnerable. Then when the sheriffs do the job that the Border Patrol is supposed to be doing, the administration tried to discredit them and made it sound like they’re exaggerating the danger.”
He also pointed out that Aguilar appeared on local El Paso TV news station KFOX and said it was not the Mexican Military involved in the Hudspeth County incursion. Former El Paso Sector Chief Luis Barker than appeared before the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition and said Aguilar never said any such thing, and that it was ICE was responsible, which was a blatant lie as the coverage clearly showed Aguilar. ICE had not issued any statement prior to the Sheriffs meeting.
“Barker had just been appointed National Deputy Chief of the BP and appeared at the Border Sheriffs Conference in order to take the heat off Aguilar who didn’t have the stones to appear. So he sent Barker as the former sector chief to take the heat for him,” according to Ramirez.
It was but a few months later when Ramirez testified as an official witness before a Congressional field hearing when he exposed an internal BP card given by the public information office in Tucson Sector pertaining to Mexican Military incursions.
The card said, “Remember, Mexican military are trained to escape, evade, and counter-ambush if it will affect their escape.” However, the “SALUTE” card also advises agents to hide from Mexican soldiers that may be operating, and to “avoid” confrontations with Mexican soldiers. It was issued initially in 1997 as Ramirez understood it, and continued to be issued to agents during Aguilar’s tenure as Sector Chief, and later as National Chief. This is definitive proof that the Border Patrol knew but refused to do anything about it, even after firefights resulting in injuries to agents. In one widely known incursion in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, El Paso Sector Chief Barker refused to call in the FBI after such a firefight, though policy dictates that the FBI is notified about any U.S. – Mexico border incidents. Reyes was silent about this matter.
Detonate and rebuild
Clearly the agencies that fall under the Department of Homeland Security are not on the same page and they may be in different stratospheres. The reason for the disparity between departments could be classified as infighting. This is because the mission of DEA is different than Border Patrol-and ICE’s mission (often redundant) would be different than Customs so having all these agencies under one umbrella is self-defeating.
Ramirez contends that DHS, something George W. Bush was adamantly opposed to, gave the worst kind of opportunity to the wrong people. The creation of DHS put those agencies responsible for domestic border (CBP) and internal security (ICE) under one roof with a single top chain of command in comparison to the legacy or pre-DHS days where Customs (including their Immigration Investigators) and Secret Service were at Treasury, while the Border Patrol and Citizenship and Immigration Service (Legacy INS) were at the Justice Department.
“In the wrong hands, America’s Security could easily be subverted especially if the chains of command were structured with cronies instead of America’s best. Given what we know today, that has taken place, and all benefiting those who do not have America’s best interest and at a pretty hefty cost to taxpayers. Just remember that they’re still working on implementing what they call one face at the border, which will allow for greater internal corruption including further compromises with no way to stop it unless Congress acts now,” concluded Ramirez.
A simple solution presents itself for the American people- dismantle DHS. Chief King sums this up best, “DHS is an error, internal politics is rampant and political nepotism has ruined what was once a good form of law enforcement, and therefore it is DHS that has to go in order restore integrity.”
For more stories;
National security breeches include discovery of bombs and missiles;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m12d10-Breakdowns-at-US-Port-of-Entry-continue
Acting CBP Commissioner Ayhern retiring, leaves a stained legacy;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m12d8-Acting-CBP-Commissioner--retires-leaves-stained-legacy
Corruption in Juarez connected to bridges;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d24-Crime-part-of-Mexico-strategy-to-undermine-US-corruption-abounds-at-Juarez-bridge
House of Death part one-a dozen murders;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d2-House-of-Death-in-Juarez-prelude-to-a-massive-murder-coverup
House of Death part two-the cover up;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d4-House-of-Death--US-Government-coverup-unveiled
House of Death part three-keys to amnesty;
http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2009m11d19-US-gives-Mexico-keys-to-open-border-and-amnesty
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