Border patrol agents met with Arizona Governor Brewer this week and said the meeting was “very productive and Governor Brewer listened attentively to what we had to say.” They “pointed out some serious flaws with CBP’s attempts to convince the American people that the border is secure.”
The agents “had the opportunity to relay personal experiences that we’ve had as Border Patrol agents, such as mandatory adherence to overly restrictive policies that often handcuff us and how the last round of amnesty (IRCA 1986) affected our jobs, illegal entries and overall border security,” and invited the Governor to include them in any groups or committees that might be tasked with helping to certify that the border is “secure”.
The group says that “that the American people deserve to hear from the agents who know what’s really going on. We also believe that the agents who are out doing the job of securing the border are the only ones who truly know whether it is secure.”
The members of the agent group also bids farewell to CBP Commissioner David Aguilar. In their fond farewell they state that they hope Aguilar “will never resurface in any shape, form or fashion as a “leader” for the Border Patrol. It is almost impossible to dream up a one-man wrecking crew for the Border Patrol who could do more damage over the years than David Aguilar. He is a liar, a hypocrite, a self-serving egomaniac and a complete sellout. He always surrounded himself with largely incompetent yes-men whose only qualification was that they agreed with everything he said. Many of them left in disgrace after being caught stealing, lying, engaging in sexual misdeeds on duty and otherwise disgracing the uniform (and the standard to get rid of a top-ranking manager is very, very steep, regardless of the fictional “higher standard” they would have you believe they are held to).”
The group accused Aguilar of “trying to convince Border Patrol agents that we were “not immigration officers”. He talked about how arresting illegal aliens was not our primary responsibility and how we should never “lower” ourselves to the status of immigration officers. He lobbied very hard for amnesty and bringing illegal aliens “out of the shadows” during testimony to Congress, but then denied that he was pro-amnesty when talking to Border Patrol agents. He liked to wordsmith, a lot. The oft-repeated “I never said that.” was a staple of his arguments, even when there was a record of what he said.”
During his tenure Aguilar received two unprecedented unanimous votes of no confidence by Border Patrol agents at two consecutive national union conventions.
The agents said that Aguilar “wanted Border Patrol agents to be forced to clean up tons of trash left behind by illegal aliens, and went so far as to say that he would install trash racks on top of patrol vehicles.”
The agents say that they want a leader they “can respect. And we’re not asking for someone who agrees with everything we say, we’re just asking for someone who is honest, fair, qualified and is in possession of true leadership qualities.”