shockedcanadian
Diamond Member
- Aug 6, 2012
- 30,041
- 27,303
As I stated before, the obstructionism by some poses a National Security threat. How fair is this to men and women busting their hump to defend the country from border violations and deporting illegals when they don't have a permanent leader to report to?
Border agents say ‘acting’ status of agency chiefs has hampered enforcement efforts
The enthusiasm felt by Border Patrol agents following news of President Trump’s strong stance on border and immigration enforcement is slowly dissipating as the reality sinks in that actual enforcement of stronger rules may not be changing much from the Obama years.
Agents hoped to be able to return to the days where they could inspect the immigration status of suspicious individuals at transportation hubs, jails or even businesses -- not only as an immigration enforcement measure, but to prevent terrorism.
According to some agents, there is a general feeling of a "disconnect" between what President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly both say they want and expect -- and what is actually happening at the Border Patrol operational level.
One major issue is what is perceived as the continued foot-dragging to appoint the three operational heads of the agency, all of whom continue to have “acting” in front of their titles:
Kevin McAleenan, acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Ron Vitiello, acting deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection and Carla Provost, acting Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol.
Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, said this uncertainty contributes to confusion among field agents who don’t know who is actually going to lead the agency.
McAleenan was nominated for the post in January but has not had a Senate confirmation hearing scheduled. And where McAleenan goes, so too will Vitiello and Provost, whose positions do not need Senate approval.
There is a sense among agents that nobody wants to make sweeping changes until the leadership positions are permanent.
Dan Hetlage, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection, would not comment on the complaints.
Border agents say ‘acting’ status of agency chiefs has hampered enforcement efforts
The enthusiasm felt by Border Patrol agents following news of President Trump’s strong stance on border and immigration enforcement is slowly dissipating as the reality sinks in that actual enforcement of stronger rules may not be changing much from the Obama years.
Agents hoped to be able to return to the days where they could inspect the immigration status of suspicious individuals at transportation hubs, jails or even businesses -- not only as an immigration enforcement measure, but to prevent terrorism.
According to some agents, there is a general feeling of a "disconnect" between what President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly both say they want and expect -- and what is actually happening at the Border Patrol operational level.
One major issue is what is perceived as the continued foot-dragging to appoint the three operational heads of the agency, all of whom continue to have “acting” in front of their titles:
Kevin McAleenan, acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Ron Vitiello, acting deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection and Carla Provost, acting Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol.
Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, said this uncertainty contributes to confusion among field agents who don’t know who is actually going to lead the agency.
McAleenan was nominated for the post in January but has not had a Senate confirmation hearing scheduled. And where McAleenan goes, so too will Vitiello and Provost, whose positions do not need Senate approval.
There is a sense among agents that nobody wants to make sweeping changes until the leadership positions are permanent.
Dan Hetlage, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection, would not comment on the complaints.
