Uniforms worn by U.S. Border Patrol agents, it turns out, are being manufactured in Mexico, creating a potential threat to border security.
“It’s embarrassing to be protecting the U.S.-Mexico border and be wearing a uniform made in Mexico,” says T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a 6,500-member union.
Agents and lawmakers are concerned about the consequences if the uniforms for agents charged with combating illegal immigration fall into the hands of criminals or terrorists.
“If we’re manufacturing uniforms in Mexico, what’s to stop someone from walking across the border in a Border Patrol uniform?” asked Rep. John Carter, a Republican from Round Rock. “How do you know who are our guys and who are their guys?”
For more than a year, the shirts and pants worn by agents and inspectors with U.S. Customs and Border Protection have been made in Mexico. The uniforms are supplied by VF Solutions of Nashville, Tenn., which subcontracts its work to plants in the United States, Mexico, Canada and the Dominican [Republic]. . . .
Customs officials say they haven’t detected any security breaches or misuse of the uniforms. Strict security measures are in place, including on-site inspections at the Mexican plant. U.S. officials conducted a review in August, a statement from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection released Wednesday said.
“Based on this review, a report will be submitted to the CBP commissioner for determination on the made-in-Mexico issue, and no decisions have been made at this point,” the statement said. — Associated Press
The House is expected to consider a proposal to require the uniforms to be made in the U.S. once it returns in December.
(Via The Jawa Report)
Okay, it’s exceptionally stupid to manufacture Border Patrol uniforms in Mexico, whether the plant is “secured” or not. Just one little bit of corruption would let someone get their own uniforms out of the plant and use them to sneak across the border. And since corruption seems to run rampant south of the border, this is definitely going to be a pressing issue.
Of course, a requirement to make the uniforms in the U.S. wasn’t in the bid request.
Anyway, even in our shiny new global economy, there are still a few things that absolutely should not be done outside the country.
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WebtrafficJunkie
Nov 28, 2005
I totally agree with you!! That is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard of! I hope now that it has been discovered that something will be done about it.
Nov 29, 2005
Totem To Temple » How Ironic
Max
Nov 30, 2005
I emphatically disagree. First of all, the security risk is minimal, if a fake uniform was all that was necessary to make it across, you’d be able to buy them for a couple of pesos on any street corner in Mexico.
Furthermore, the positives far outweigh this false negative, check my full argument here: http://neolib.us
Max
Cyrstal Rodrigez
Feb 28, 2007
Its Really Funny how Mexicans take their time in life to make Border Patrol Agents Uniforms but, When they try to cross the Rio Grande they are always put behind bars.All Mexicans are trying to do is make a living, to feed their famalies, & become citizens but how can they get those kind of chances if their all sitting in cells!!!!!!!! The lest Border Patrol Agents could do is just check them for drugs and weapons then let them cross safely. Its not the Mexicans faults that Mexico has deases, gangs, rotting foods, discusting filty water, & poor people.It is totally point- less!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
joe
Feb 15, 2010
crystal,undocumented mexicans are not only entering our country for a better life and to help their family. a majority of the ones i have come across would ditch their own mother and run away rather than get caught. if you saw the criminal records of the illegal aliens that cross our border every day it would really make you reconsider how you view the importance of stopping illegal aliens from crossing the border.
mike
May 23, 2007
crystal…first our natural resourses are limited..
money,area,utilities…are all impacted by people per square ft,acre,mile…then what americans are depressed about is knowing that immigrants have ugly sometimes hidieous
ways of life.things they believe or dress as.example
gangs ,tattoos,their dangerous low-income neighborhoods.
that seem to sprout up within 15 yrs time of having 3 or 4 families move in to a desent area.I came to ca from the east in 83 where in my neighborhood there was mostly white working families.And now I’m surrounded by loud music I dont understand,the immigrants park in the alley blocking me from going to the store or work sometimes.then every 8 or 9 yrs goes by and then boys become men and stupid enough ,think joining a gang is such a great thing.My country is being invaded ,becoming saturated by people who dont know when to quit having babies.The welfare and social security systems
are on the verge of busting at the seams.
BP Agent
Feb 28, 2008
Curse all of you illegal supporters. I defend this country as I have defended it while serving in the military. My family migrated here in the late ’50s with nothing but the shirts on thier backs and $100 in their pocket, and they did it legally! If my family can do it with so very little, then those who choose to join can do it too. It is true, the migration of “poor” mexicans has decreased the American way of life and it is unfortunate for the American’s who have to put up with such disgrace. As for the uniforms, they should not be made in Mexico, but I find it funny that they are. I don’t think that anyone could just put on a unifom and walk across. First off, if they go through the POE (port of entry) then they have to show documents, not to mention the questioning by the Customs supervisors as to why they were in Mexico in uniform. A big no-no for us. Customs & BP merged and they can tell us apart and know what we are supposed to look like, etc, etc. Now lets say they walk around the POE, don’t you think that they would need, um lets say a pistol belt w/ pistol?, a radio?, clean dressed appearance (Which is hard to come by with illegals)?, not to mention the ability to speak english. If I see another BP agent I talk to them in english before I would ever think about speaking to them in spanish. It would be obvious if they only spoke spanish. Also you know who works in your area and could spot “the new guy” in a heart beat. So all in all, if a mexican obtained a uniform and tried to use it to cross, they’d be cuaght hands down. And if they were smart enough to have everything needed, speak english, and be clean / well dressed, then they probably could afford to come across legally anyways and wouldn’t need to pull a stupid stunt.
john grey
Feb 09, 2010
crystal,
You must be unaware of the “people” trying to cross the border.
Most do not have the best interests for us. Most of them want to kill us.
Most of them are trafficking sex slaves ranging from ages 8 – 20 for illegal immigrants living north of the border.
Most intend to work, take advantage of our system and send the money back “home.”
These people are not good people. Most of them.
Anonymous
Mar 05, 2010
The crack dealer is just trying to make a living and feed his family too but you want me to arrest him. No similarity between the crack dealer and the illegal immigrant you say? I say there is…they are both breaking the law. My family came here from Norway…legally. If you want to come here and enjoy the privelege of being here then do it legally or face the consequences which is being put behind bars and deported; otherwise it is a slap in the face to all those who have and are doing it the right way.
Michael Hampton
Mar 05, 2010
Your family likely did not come here legally the same way that people today come here legally, Anonymous DHS employee.