October 29, 2011 in Nation/World

Border Patrol checks curtailed; agents irate

Gene Johnson Associated Press

SEATTLE – The U.S. Border Patrol has quietly stopped its controversial practice of routinely searching buses, trains and airports for illegal immigrants at transportation hubs along the northern border and in the nation’s interior, preventing agents from using what had long been considered an effective tool for tracking down people here illegally, the Associated Press has learned.

Current and former Border Patrol agents said field offices around the country began receiving the order last month – soon after the Obama administration announced that to ease an overburdened immigration system, it would allow many illegal immigrants to remain in the country while it focuses on deporting those who have committed crimes.

The routine bus, train and airport checks typically involved agents milling about and questioning people who appeared suspicious, and had long been criticized by immigrant rights groups. Critics said the tactic amounted to racial profiling and violated travelers’ civil liberties.

But agents said it was an effective way to catch unlawful immigrants, including smugglers and possible terrorists, who had evaded detection at the border, as well as people who had overstayed their visas. Often, those who evade initial detection head quickly for the nearest public transportation in hopes of reaching other parts of the country.

Halting the practice has baffled the agents, especially in some stations along the northern border – from Bellingham to Houlton, Maine – where the so-called “transportation checks” have been the bulk of their everyday duties. The Border Patrol is authorized to check vehicles within 100 miles of the border.

The order has not been made public, but two agents described it to the AP. The union that represents Border Patrol agents planned to issue a news release about the change Monday.

“Orders have been sent out from Border Patrol headquarters in Washington, D.C., to Border Patrol sectors nationwide that checks of transportation hubs and systems located away from the southwest border of the United States will only be conducted if there is intelligence indicating a threat,” the release says.

Those who have received the orders said agents may still go to train and bus stations and airports if they have specific “actionable intelligence” that there is an illegal immigrant there who recently entered the country. An agent in Washington state said it’s not clear how agents are supposed to glean such intelligence, and even if they did, under the new directive they still require clearance from Washington, D.C., headquarters before they can respond.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman, Bill Brooks, repeatedly insisted that any shift in enforcement tactics does not amount to a change in policy as local commanders still have authority to aggressively pursue illegal immigrants near the border and at transportation hubs.

“It’s up to the local commander to position his agents the way he wants to position them. What we’ve done is gone to a risk-based posture,” he said.

In a separate statement, the agency said, “Conducting intelligence-based transportation checks allows the Border Patrol to use their technology and personnel resources more effectively, especially in areas with limited resources.”

Shawn Moran, vice president of the union that represents agents, was outraged at the changes.

“Stated plainly, Border Patrol managers are increasing the layers of bureaucracy and making it as difficult as possible for Border Patrol agents to conduct their core duties,” the National Border Patrol Council’s statement said. “The only risks being managed by this move are too many apprehensions, negative media attention and complaints generated by immigrant rights groups.”

The Border Patrol, which patrols outside the official ports of entry handled by customs officers, has dramatically beefed up its staffing since 9/11, doubling to more than 20,000 agents nationally. Along the northern border, the number has jumped from about 300 in the late 1990s to more than 2,200.

At the same time, the number of Border Patrol arrests nationwide has been falling – from nearly 1.2 million in 2005 to 463,000 in 2010, and 97 percent of them at the southern border, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Immigration Statistics. The office cited the recession as a likely factor in the drop.

Along the northern border last fiscal year, the agency made 7,431 arrests. It was not immediately clear how many stemmed from routine transportation checks. The public affairs office for the Border Patrol’s Blaine, Wash., sector said it doesn’t break down the data that way.

But of 673 arrests in the sector, roughly 200 were from routine transportation checks, according to a Washington state-based Border Patrol agent who has been with the agency for more than 20 years and spoke to the AP.

Until receiving the new directive, the Bellingham office, about 25 miles from the Canadian border, kept agents at the bus and train station, and at the local airport 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Now, the agents have little work to do, the agent said.

The situation is similar in upstate New York, where an agent told the AP that a senior manager relayed the new directive during a morning roll call last month. Since then, instead of checking buses or trains, agents have spent shifts sitting in their vehicles gazing out at Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, where few illegal immigrants cross.

“They’re already bored,” the agent said. “You grab the paper every day and you go do the crossword.”

In the Buffalo sector, where there were more than 2,400 arrests in fiscal 2010, as many as half were from routine transportation checks, the agent estimated.

The change was immediately obvious to Jack Barker, who manages the Greyhound and Trailways bus station in Rochester, N.Y. For the past six years, he said, Border Patrol agents boarded nearly every bus in and out of the station looking for illegal immigrants.

Last month – one day after the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and all of the hype that surrounded it – the agents stopped coming. They haven’t been back since, Barker said.

“What’s changed that they’re no longer needed here?” Barker asked. “I haven’t been able to get an answer from anybody.”

Doug Honig, spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, welcomed the news.

“If the Border Patrol is indeed not boarding buses and trains and engaging in the random questioning of people, that’s a step in the right direction,” he said. “People shouldn’t be questioned by government officials when there’s no reason to believe they’ve done anything wrong.”

Kent Lundgren, chairman of the National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers, said the transportation checks have been a staple of the agency for 60 years. His organization has heard from agents around the country complaining of the change, he said.

33 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

oneanddone on October 29 at 6:00 a.m.
I guess therefore that when one or more of these immigrants do something noteworthy, as in blow something up, Obama will quickly claim he knew nothing of the change. Seems like that’s a practiced mantra of his administration.
PassinThru on October 29 at 6:09 a.m.
This isn’t the first time this has happened. Ask any veteran agent how they feel about Janet Reno. The rules for the Border Patrol change just about as frequently as the seasons.
IHike4Fun on October 29 at 6:29 a.m.
You mean Janet Napolitano I think.
I was living in Arizona at the time she was offered the position of directory of Homland Security. We had mixed feelings about it. We were glad to be rid of her (Arizona has big time border problems and she was lousy at dealing with it). But at the same time we were not happy the entire country now had to experience her leadership.
mikeln on October 29 at 6:43 a.m.
This must why a few in congress want to give new authority for homeland security to screw with those of us who live within 100 miles of the border. As it is now, these people have little to nothing to do. If the job was done right they would find those who do not belong here before they crossed into the country and not need to bother people like me that live 20 miles from the border.
Diana on October 29 at 6:46 a.m.
@oneanddone, don’t blame the Obama administration because the the Cheney administration slept through intelligence memos. If you can cite credible sources for your assertions, please do so.
The flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. has slowed to a trickle due to a lack of economic opportunity.
The Obama Administration has already deported over 400,000 illegal immigrants this year, by far the largest number on record.
The Obama administration has cracked down on “criminal aliens”.
Read all about it in the Christian Science Monitor:
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2011/1028/Obama-s-illegal-immigrant-crackdown-fills-prisons-with-Hispanics
D Statler on October 29 at 7:03 a.m.
We are lucky to have these Border Patrol agents on duty. I would like to see them doing traffic and safety stops to fill in their spare time. Lord knows there is plenty of work for them. Maybe we could move them closer to Spokane and they could investigate our property crimes as well. We are well within the 100 mile limit. LOL seriously, I am guessing that somebody important got pulled over and harrassed by agents.
misjustice on October 29 at 7:05 a.m.
When was Cheney our president?? Therefore we’ve never had a Cheney administration.
Who wants to read a religious magazine for their daily current news??
greyhound2 on October 29 at 7:40 a.m.
Illegal immigration, globalization and trade agreements are just union busting in a new dress.
E-verify if a quick, cheap and proven way to check identity of employees, but is opposed by the Chamber of Commerce who just can’t survive without a large pool of unprotected workers to exploit.
jddavis on October 29 at 7:46 a.m.
MikeIn: “If the job was done right they would find those who do not belong here before they crossed into the country and not need to bother people like me…”
Are you suggesting we send the Border Patrol or Military into Canada and Mexico to seach for people who intend on coming here illegally?
“- soon after the Obama administration announced that to ease an overburdened immigration system, it would allow many illegal immigrants to remain in the country while it focuses on deporting those who have committed crimes.”
—Hmmmm….Obama supporters help me understand this policy please!
BlondeSquawker on October 29 at 8:03 a.m.
Do I have to do everything around here?
http://www.alternet.org/rights/36695/
BlondeSquawker on October 29 at 8:04 a.m.
“Some in this country argue that the solution is to deport every illegal immigrant, and that any proposal short of this amounts to amnesty,” said Bush. “I disagree. It is neither wise, nor realistic to round up millions of people, many with deep roots in the United States, and send them across the border.”
-G.W. Bush
BlondeSquawker on October 29 at 8:09 a.m.
No, W, we don’t miss you.
http://207.199.174.56/img/cjBWyZHywk_illegal-immigrants-im-letting-them-in-scot-free.jpg
johnclarke on October 29 at 8:29 a.m.
As posted above, the illegals are staying home because they can’t find work here.
“But agents said it was an effective way to catch unlawful immigrants, including smugglers and possible terrorists”
I’m curious how many possible terrorists we’ve caught so far. I say it’s time to dismantle the Bush/Cheney police state. This is not a (former) Eastern block country with armed agents walking up and down the aisle saying “your papers please.”
Hunterman on October 29 at 9:01 a.m.
Yahoo! Let the drugs flow!
metaline on October 29 at 9:32 a.m.
It makes it possible to say that illegal immigration has lessened by using statistics showing apprensions are down, therefore less illegal immigrants are in our country.
tinybobidaho on October 29 at 10:03 a.m.
Anybody with half a brain can see what’s going on here. They don’t want the border secured or our immigration laws enforced because then these “undocumented” Democrats wouldn’t be able to stay here when they push for amnesty again. The Democrats want the future votes and the Republicans what the cheap labor for their contributors.
But here’s the part that really gets me. Homeland Security keeps saying they are concentrating on catching and deporting the illegals who commit violent crimes. WHY ARE THEY WAITING FOR THEM TO HURT OR KILL SOMEBODY IN THE FIRST PLACE! If they check these people beforehand and deport them, they could prevent most of the crimes illegals commit in this country. Their excuse is that they don’t have the money. Really? Then where are they getting the money to prosecute all these illegals who are allowed to commit these crimes in the first place?
Wake up, America! You’re country now has open borders and the Washington elite doesn’t care if people get murdered, raped or mugged by people who sneak across our borders. Your being handed excuses instead of solutions.
mikeln on October 29 at 10:15 a.m.
They can check them at the border, before they come into the country. There is no need to look for them 50 to 100 miles away, they’ve already blended in.
misjustice on October 29 at 10:51 a.m.
Impeach O-Blame-A, lock down the borders & send the illegals packing. Time to start enforcing the laws on the books & get Ovomit to start doing the jobs he is being paid to do.
Oh, I forgot. He said he has completed 60% of what he set out to do. Yes, that’s right…..high unemployment, high foreclosures, high homelessness, rampant “undocumented citizens”, trillions of dollars in debt, lower credit rating with another decline on the way. He has completed 60% of what he’s set out to do. I don’t think we can afford to see his other 40%.
RedCedar on October 29 at 10:56 a.m.
I say it’s time to dismantle the Bush/Cheney police state.

You’re right but let’s be honest and call it the Clinton/Bush//Obama police state. Clinton started it out with a series of spectacularly dictatorial executive orders that nobody noticed because they hadn’t been put into effect and everybody was too busy making money. Bush Jr brought us the term “unitary presidency”, and damn near every congresscritter voted for the Patriot Act which implemented at least half of his police state wet dream. Obama has done absolutely nothing to attempt to repeal any part of the Patriot Act or to undo much of what Bush put into place.
Now that presidents are used to the idea of having nearly unfettered power, and Americans are used to the idea of being snooped upon, groped, questioned, photographed, and tracked by government agents from so many agencies that we can’t even keep track of them any more, I think the “soft police state” is here to stay. One thing that definitely keeps it in place is the partisan attitude that puts all the blame on the enemy party.
johnclarke on October 29 at 11:23 a.m.
I will concede Obama has not done enough to dismantle this current state of affairs, unless of course we count the topic of this story. I will also agree that there are not (if any) voices speaking out against the Patriot Act. I imagine anyone that does will still be labeled “weak on terror” and not “protecting us from the terrorists”. Americans were so scared that they didn’t notice what amounts to a victory for the terrorists. A small group of determined individuals changed the way we live.
gmorton on October 29 at 12:28 p.m.
johnclarke wrote,
“I will also agree that there are not (if any) voices speaking out against the Patriot Act.”
Of course there are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdvpiA7-gss
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/143605-ron-paul-slams-patriot-act-backers-drown-out-jeers-at-cpac
Paul has opposed the Patriot Act consistently, from the beginning.
johnclarke on October 29 at 12:47 p.m.
Your point gmorton? Does this mean you oppose the Patriot Act?
gmorton on October 29 at 12:48 p.m.
johnclarke wrote,
“Does this mean you oppose the Patriot Act?”
Of course.
BlondeSquawker on October 29 at 12:55 p.m.
Welcome_Black_Carter:
I really hope you get banned permanently for that last vulgar and racist comment.
Welcome_Black_Carter on October 29 at 1:09 p.m.
BSquaker…… Not racist at all! I am just referring to diff areas of the world and immigration numbers. I am all for immigration from around the world as long as they show up and are are productive americans. There is very good science and proof that lots and lots of violence/drugs/crime/etc comes from the south of the US border. Much less of those issues are coming from Asian countries. I am just discussing issues from two of the most immigrant %antge numbers in the US. Has nothing to do with race etc…..
tobiasg on October 29 at 1:22 p.m.
Stupid border patrol…nothing but a bunch of rich gubmint employees with their health care and pensions, sucking us taxpayers dry!
DHF on October 29 at 2:22 p.m.
This shows some more of the Bama Adm. stupidity. If nothing else it will encourage a terrorist attack. Add this to Solyndra, Fast and Furious and you have a failed adm.
tobiasg on October 29 at 2:32 p.m.
Yup, that Obama is so weak on terror it’s sickening. Forget that Osama Bin Laden was taken out on his watch…Bush was all over terrorism, no terrorists got past him on his watch.
Welcome_Black_Carter on October 29 at 2:46 p.m.
FYI Tobisg and others….not that you care, etc….but I will say this….
I could care less about administrations….clinton, bush (either) or Obama….. they are all about equally worthless.
I want fiscal conservatism….the rest can eff off…..
I am not in general about social issues….I just want elected officials to balance the gd books….
MrBloggy on October 29 at 6:07 p.m.
so now when you see creepy white guys in suits hanging around the bus stations staring, it’s just businessmen looking for teenage hookers …
Shazamm on October 29 at 7:55 p.m.
It is an election year and Obummer is pandering for the votes of the squawking immigrants rights groups. Who in the heck are the people who still want to vote for this guy?
And I can’t believe the stupid quote from the goofball at the Anti-Christian Liberties Union:
“People shouldn’t be questioned by government officials when there’s no reason to believe they’ve done anything wrong.”
Ah, Mr. Honig, they are called “illegal immigrants” for a reason. That means they have done something wrong just by being here. Moron…
gmorton on October 29 at 8:23 p.m.
Shazamm wrote,
“That means they have done something wrong just by being here.”
Methinks you missed the point. If the cops *have reason to believe* they are illegal, then they may be questioned.
An Hispanic appearance, BTW, does not constitute a “reason to believe” they are illegal immigrants.
jgalvez on November 01 at 12:22 p.m.
To tinybobidaho:
“You’re country now has open borders and the Washington elite doesn’t care if people get murdered, raped or mugged by people who sneak across our borders.”
You must not know your history very well. If you think for a second, that’s HOW THIS COUNTRY CAME TO BE. Not only that, I’m willing to bet that you don’t know the California, Nevada, Texas and a few other states once belonged to Mexico after the Mexican-Spanish war, and the United States then fought Mexico and took those lands.
Have you heard of the Treaty of Hidalgo Guadalupe? This treaty signed by both governments stated that the Mexican citizens that chose not to leave their homeland after the border was re-drawn still had the right to their own land and property and will receive the same rights as other American citizens. Yet Americans mugged, raped and killed out of greed, and many of these Mexican-Americans were forced out of there homes. I just want you to realize that it’s not just immigrants who are capable on doing such horrendous acts, but it’s applicable to all human beings, so therefore we shouldn’t be putting so much effort in protecting our borders, but put MORE effort in protecting our nation as a whole, internally and along the border, not from Mexicans or Hondurans or Russian or Bolivian or Saudi Arabian or Chinese immigrants but from those who wish to bring evil in our house.
And if you wanna place a crack about how I feel this way only because of my last name, then you’ve just posed yourself as the most ignorant person on the web. I’ve seen those types of responses on here before.