Border Patrol Agents Said To Be Outraged Over Bush's Guest Worker Proposal

[AvesPKS]

Text

The Los Angeles Times (1/23, Reza, Gold) reports, U.S. Border Patrol agents, charged with enforcing the nation's border laws, are furious about President Bush's proposal to create a guest worker program for millions of illegal immigrants, union leaders say. In interviews this week, nearly three dozen current and former agents across the nation called Bush's proposal an insult to the thousands of men and women who have devoted their careers to fighting illegal immigration, including wave after wave along the California-Mexico border. The agents -- many of whom otherwise support the White House -- savaged the Bush proposal as a grab for Latino votes and a favor to the business community, factions of which rely on cheap immigrant labor. And they say they are bracing for a rush of people trying to sneak into the United States. ... The National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents approximately 9,000 rank-and-file agents, has launched a political campaign -- complete with a website -- to try to pressure Congress to reject the administration's proposal when it comes up for a vote." According to the Times, "It is difficult to pinpoint how many immigrants cross the border illegally each year, and too soon to determine whether there would be a significant increase along the 2,000-mile-long U.S.-Mexico border in response to Bush's proposal. But several agents said there was anecdotal evidence that an immigration wave already had begun. People recently detained along the border, the agents said, have demanded 'amnesty' upon their capture. ... 'The increase in numbers is going to be phenomenal,' said Charlie Maxwell, a union leader and senior Border Patrol agent in Brownsville, Texas." The Times goes on to report, "The collective bargaining agreement that governs the Border Patrol agents' union guarantees top officers the right to publicly criticize government programs. All of the agents who agreed to discuss the Bush proposal for this article said they were speaking in their capacity as union representatives. ... Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Commissioner Robert C. Bonner, a former U.S. District Court judge in Los Angeles, has defended the proposal as an important tool in fighting terrorism. In an interview, Bonner...said that allowing immigrants to register as guest workers would 'result in cutting down the flow of illegal aliens.'"

 

[digitalsm]

Its kind of funny. The head of the Border Patrol supported the original amnesty program. You know the one that gave all 7million illegals immediate amnesty, the Bush ditched, and came back with this guest worker program, that I believe grants citizenship after several years or working.

 

[dmcowen674]

We have Border Patrol Agents still?

 

[xxxxxJohnGaltxxxxx]

Do they state how many agents are "outraged" about this? ..could be just 4 guys in Texas who are "outraged."

 

[maluckey]

3 dozen. OOOOOHHHHH! that's alot!

That number includes some former Border Patrol officers. There are many thousands of Border Patrol officers on active duty. Less than three dozen active duty officers (all union) are complaining. Big deal.