What is the role of the Border Patrol?

What is the role of the Border Patrol?

By Bobby Eberle

August 27, 2007

With all the heated debate on illegal immigration and calls for increased numbers of Border Patrol agents, one would think the Border Patrol would play a vital role in stopping illegals from getting into the country. Right? Not according to one Border Patrol chief who said the role of the Border Patrol is NOT to stop illegal aliens. Question... if they won't do it, who will?

As noted in the Washington Times http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070826/NATION/108260044/1001, Carlos X. Carrillo is the Border Patrol chief in Laredo, Texas. This region is one of the toughest, most dangerous along the border. "It is the sister city of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, which is controlled by one of that country's most ruthless drug-smuggling rings."

In comments at a town hall meeting, Carrillo said:

"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. ... 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.

Excuse me, but we've already seen instances of terrorists sneaking across the border along the routes taken by illegal aliens. If we stopped the flow of illegals, wouldn't that help reduce the risk of terrorists getting into the country?

In a press release, Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) called for Carrillo to be removed from his post:

If Mr. Carrillo’s remarks represent a new mission statement not yet published by the Department of Homeland Security, then Secretary Chertoff needs to come up to Capitol Hill and explain this new mission, because it seems suicidal to me.

If the Border Patrol has developed a new technology that can distinguish between terrorists and other illegal border crossers without first catching them and checking them out, that is good news. But if that is not the case, Mr. Carrillo’s statements are extremely irresponsible and demoralizing to officers in the field.

Stopping the flow of illegal aliens into the U.S. is a vital mission of the Border Patrol. Tax dollars are being spent by the billions on healthcare and other services for illegals... money that could be going to other services or back in the pockets of law-abiding Americans. Crime goes up disproportionately for illegal aliens compared to the rest of American society. Oh yes, and lax border enforcement increases the chances of terrorists getting into the country. Do we need to list more reasons for a strong Border Patrol?

Source: http://www.gopusa.com/theloft