Why we need the wall -- and some more Border Patrol agents

[Hawkmoon]

http://www.kusi.com/Clip/12667034/special-report-border-crisis-reality-check#.V7zWGHVf40J.facebook

I didn't know the BP was currently 2,000 agents below minimum strength.

[markdido]

Would you want to work for a Law Enforcement agency whose superiors prevent you from enforcing the law?

[RoadKingLarry]

Would you want to work for a Law Enforcement agency whose superiors prevent you from enforcing the law?

Or even defending yourself from attack.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/may/10/barack-obama/obama-says-border-patrol-has-doubled-number-agents/

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[dm1333]

Currently, Border Patrol is almost 1,000 agents under the 21,370-agent minimum set by Congress. At our ports of entry, CBP has hired less than 1,000 of the 2,000 additional officers that were funded by Congress in 2014 and remains short of the congressionally mandated staffing level of 23,775. Increased attrition, particularly in rural areas along the border, has compounded this staffing shortfall. At the Tucson Field Operations Office, there has been a net loss of 27 CBP officers over the last fiscal year, even with new funding to hire additional officers.

http://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2015/12/senator-john-mccain-introduces-bill-to-address-border-patrol-staffing-crisis-at-rural-border-patrol-stations-ports-of-entry

[Triphammer]

Great, give the agents more money to not do what Border Patrol is  supposed to do. I live about 5 miles from the Mexican border, Three out of every five law enforcement vehicles is BP. They're still not allowed to arrest anyone who's "gotten by", not actually on there way from illegally crossing the border. But they still are required to perform Search & Rescue if an illegal is reported lost or injured.

 Before they were absorbed by Homeland, they were just a bunch of good ole boys. You cold stop & talk with an agent whether on the road or out in the desert. Everyone around here would go out of their way to help one. Now, BP is a bunch of  entitled Fed dicks that no one can be bothered with.

[Ben]

I don't know what you guys are complaining about. The had to take money from somewhere to cover pizza box advertising and hiring of more TSA employees.

[HankB]

. . . But they still are required to perform Search & Rescue if an illegal is reported lost or injured. . .

And they're not doing that very well either.

I was down by the Rio Grande and saw an illegal with a knapsack (probably filled with drugs) drowning as he tried to cross. I contacted Border Patrol, and they never showed up. The illegal drowned.

Makes me think I wasted a stamp.

[Firethorn]

http://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2015/12/senator-john-mccain-introduces-bill-to-address-border-patrol-staffing-crisis-at-rural-border-patrol-stations-ports-of-entry

Hum...  Reminds me of military recruiting.  Yes, it costs money to hire people, and not just their salary.  Especially with all the requirements for law enforcement officers today.

I haven't examined the problem, but it might be pretty expensive to fix - something like a 10% raise for those in "remote" areas, and for roughly 2k officers needed, you're probably looking at $20M in recruitment costs - advertising, interviewing, footwork, etc...

Consider the military - you might have 2-3 people in a recruiting station, and they recruit 2-3 people/month.  Salary alone that's around $3k for the recruiters. Add the office and you're up to $6k.  Advertising - like showing soldiers fast roping out of a helicopter, and attrition for people who fail out of basic and you might as well round up to $10k.

Want more border patrol officers?  You're going to have to go and send recruiters to the police academies and colleges.  Pay for training.  Beat your competition(other departments).  Etc...

[wmenorr67]

Hum...  Reminds me of military recruiting.  Yes, it costs money to hire people, and not just their salary.  Especially with all the requirements for law enforcement officers today.

I haven't examined the problem, but it might be pretty expensive to fix - something like a 10% raise for those in "remote" areas, and for roughly 2k officers needed, you're probably looking at $20M in recruitment costs - advertising, interviewing, footwork, etc...

Consider the military - you might have 2-3 people in a recruiting station, and they recruit 2-3 people/month.  Salary alone that's around $3k for the recruiters. Add the office and you're up to $6k.  Advertising - like showing soldiers fast roping out of a helicopter, and attrition for people who fail out of basic and you might as well round up to $10k.

Want more border patrol officers?  You're going to have to go and send recruiters to the police academies and colleges.  Pay for training.  Beat your competition(other departments).  Etc...

Cost of a recruiter for the military isn't an easy thing to add up.  I will tell you $3k a month each isn't going to touch the "salary".

As for Border Patrol, the money isn't great and you are hogtied in doing your job. 

[Perd Hapley]

And they're not doing that very well either.

I was down by the Rio Grande and saw an illegal with a knapsack (probably filled with drugs) drowning as he tried to cross. I contacted Border Patrol, and they never showed up. The illegal drowned.

Makes me think I wasted a stamp.

A stamp - 

[Fitz]

Cost of a recruiter for the military isn't an easy thing to add up.  I will tell you $3k a month each isn't going to touch the "salary".

As for Border Patrol, the money isn't great and you are hogtied in doing your job. 

I think he was breaking down the cost per recruit

[Firethorn]

I think he was breaking down the cost per recruit

Indeed.  I'd estimate that it costs the military around $10k to get a body signed up.  And that's just the cost to get them to basic.  That's not their salary, benefits, etc...  It's like $3k just to pay a recruiter to run down enough leads to get 1 recruit.  A bit more at times, a bit less at others.

[Scout26]

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the annual salary of a new border patrol agent ranged from $33,829 to $42,948, depending on experience and qualifications (www.cbp.gov). Border patrol officers can earn up to 25% above their base salary by working overtime and picking up weekend and holiday shifts.

So roughly $40k a year to ride around in an air conditioned vehicle and not do your job?

Where do I sign up?!?!?!

 

[Firethorn]

So roughly $40k a year to ride around in an air conditioned vehicle and not do your job?

Technically speaking, they would be doing their "job".  It's just that the job isn't what you think it is or should be.