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Welcome To U.S. Border Fire Report
by Jim Kouri
While telling the American
people that national security is a priority in his
administration, President Barack Obama submitted a 2011
budget proposal that includes cuts to U.S. border
security.
The proposed budget
cuts include a reduction in Border Patrol agents and a
cut in the amount of money allocated for the so-called
"virtual fence" on the U.S.-Mexico border, which critics
claim is a pipe dream in lieu of a real border fence
In the midst of a firestorm
over Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano's failure to
appear before a Congressional committee
hearing, officials from her office confirmed the
proposed cuts on Monday.They said, however, that there
would be no lay-offs of Border Patrol agents and the
reduction in positions would be achieved through
attrition as agents retire or transfer to other Homeland
Security departments.
In order to ward off vocal
condemnation of this latest Obama proposal, White House
officials claim the cuts won't reduce the effectiveness
of the U.S. Border Patrol, which President George W.
Bush doubled in size. At it's apex, there were more than
20,000 agents assigned to northern and southern borders.
This latest White House
attempt to reduce the amount of resources allocated for
border protection will undoubtedly be met
with resistance from the Senate and House of
Representatives, who will be vote on proposed budget
cuts, according to several national security experts.
"The Republicans are
expected to kick up a fuss over this latest effort to
minimize the protection of U.S. borders. But, this is an
election year and Democrats do not want to appear weak
on security, especially when control of both houses of
Congress is at stake," said former NYPD detective and
Marine intelligence officer Sid Frances.
"Look at it this way: New
York City has a police department that numbers well over
40,000 officers and another 10,000 civilian employees,
yet the U.S. Border Patrol agents, who are responsible
for thousands and thousands of miles of border, number
only 20,000. And Obama wants to cut that number," said
Frances, now the owner of a private security firm.
Obama's proposed budget
cut also would eliminate $226 million that had been
allocated for an electronic "virtual fence" system along
the border. Known as "SBInet," the strategy is to
install cameras, radar and sensors to detect humans and
contraband coming into the U.S..
Obama White House officials told reporters that even though the President is seeking cuts in border programs, the administration is seeking an additional $10 million to create Border Enforcement Security Task Forces in Honolulu, San Francisco, and Massena, N.Y.These multi-agency teams work to identify and stop criminal organizations that transport drugs and other contraband across U.S. borders. "This is only the beginning," said political strategist Mike Baker. "There will be more cuts made to Immigration and Customs Enforcement since President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others have been critical of agents going after illegal workers. This budget is going to be all smoke and mirrors."
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president
of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and
he's a columnist for The Examiner (examiner.com) and
New Media Alliance (thenma.org). In addition, he's
a blogger for the Cheyenne, Wyoming Fox News Radio
affiliate KGAB (www.kgab.com).
Kouri also serves as political advisor for Emmy and
Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty.
He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer and columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. Kouri appears regularly as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Fox News Channel, Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, etc.
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