PhillyKev 0 #1 December 15, 2004 Don't look it up, and don't say if you happen to know. I'm curious what people would guestimate the number to be. A few stats to base your guess on... There are 38,000 cops in NYC. 3 Million illegals enter the US each year. US Canadian border is 4,000 miles. US Mexico border is 1.500 miles. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rebecca 0 #2 December 15, 2004 Bob and Jeff? How those guys doin'? No clue, though I'd bet an appallingly low number, let's guess 4,000? you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,600 #3 December 15, 2004 I think I remember about 1800. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rebecca 0 #4 December 15, 2004 QuoteI think I remember about 1800. Wendy W. Holy crap. you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markd_nscr986 0 #5 December 15, 2004 I was going to say 2500-3000 but I might be too highMarc SCR 6046 SCS 3004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #6 December 15, 2004 Well, the answer is 3500. Yep, that's a 4 digit number. How do I know this? From the news report last night about a HUGE STING by the border patrol. After 9 months of investigation they broke up a ring that they can attibute a massive smuggling of 35 immigrants into the country. That's right, they're touting that as a victory. Busitng a ring responsible for 35 of the 3 Million illegals after 9 months of work. Oh yeah, and they didn't actually catch any of those 35 illegals either. But on the plus side, we had a missile defense test yesterday Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #7 December 15, 2004 QuoteI think I remember about 1800. Wendy W. I vaguely remember hearing a number in that range. The story came along with a picture of the Montana/Canada border. It was in the middle of a wooded area with a clearing the size of a road running east/west - with one lookout tower for about a mile or so. Oh yea, there wasn't a fence. We also share a border in Montana where there is a national park that has no fence as well. I will have to go back and see if I can find the stat of how many miles are unguarded, or the response time wouldn't be quick enough to catch someone._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #8 December 15, 2004 Certainly, that 'sting', did not involve all the agents in the U.S. Border Patrol. That story, was just a 'little over-done' by the press. For about every 25-illegals apprehended, about 1,000 illegals enter this country. On the Southwest border, more drugs are stopped from coming into this country by the Border Patrol, than any other agency. Other agencies are able to get 'stats' from Border Patrol drug stops and most of the 'credit' for those stops is given to other agencies. When you consider the length of the U.S. Border and the amount of 'open' land along our borders, it's more than 3500 agents can really cover. You have to keep in mind also, all 3500 agents are not all working at the same time. They work in shifts. So, you divide (roughly) 3500 agents by 3 and you get approx. 1500 agents, per shift covering our borders. Most of that work is done on foot. When the Border Patrol can stop the creeps that bring people into this country in locked semi-trailers and are left to die in those trailers... yeah, that's a big deal. We don't always hear about the life-less bodies found, stuffed into tanker trailers in the deserts of Arizona. Left there by some smuggler. When the smugglers are caught, yeah, it's a big deal. Those bodies in that tanker, probably paid anywhere from $1500.00 - $2500.00 each for that 'ride'. We don't always hear of agents being shot at from the other side of the border in the course of their duties,either. It's one of the toughest jobs in law enforcement. I wouldn't be too rough on them. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #9 December 15, 2004 I'm not being rough on them at all. I think they are overworked and doing an important job that should be getting more attention and more assistance. My point was to illustrate that they are woefully understaffed and in effect, unable, as an agency, not as individuals, to do the job. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #10 December 15, 2004 I can accept that. I went back and re-read what you posted and could see room for a different interpretation. I appreciate your feelings, though. You are correct. They, like every law enforcement agency we have are under-staffed, under-paid and etc. I'll probably get some 'flack' out of my next statement but, I believe, we should close our borders! We have had such a 'laid-back' attitude about our borders for too long. We should really pay attention to the 'message' of 9/11. How many other nations in the world have 'closed' borders? Also, we are experiencing too much population growth in this country and we're running out of room. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,131 #11 December 15, 2004 >I'll probably get some 'flack' out of my next statement but, I believe, we >should close our borders! The problem there is that if we do that, the only people entering the US will be illegal, and it will not even make a dent in the number (unless we increase border security funding by an order of magnitude.) It's like outlawing guns so no one will have them. If you outlaw guns, the only people who are going to turn them in are the people who aren't going to use them to rob 7-11's anyway (i.e. the people who obey laws.) You'll have just as many illegal guns on the street. If you close the borders and don't change anything else, there will be just as many illegals coming across. Illegals are well known for not following rules. I don't think we need to close our borders. Just fund the border patrol, build better fences (the ones we have now are jokes) get better technology in place, and put a much higher priority on border security than we have now. I hope it doesn't take another 9/11 with terrorists sneaking a dirty bomb from Mexico to Tucson to make us realize that we're vulnerable there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #12 December 15, 2004 I took "close the border" to mean secure the border, not further restrict legal immigration. And if that's what he meant, I agree. Secure it, still allow people to immigrate, but know who they are. The problem with that is illegals are good for businesses. And politicians don't like to piss off businesses. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #13 December 15, 2004 Well said! Secure our borders... what-ever it takes. Those who wish to enter the U.S. can go through the process. What about using our Natl. Guard, to 'assist' the Border Patrol? Right now, it would be so easy for someone to sneak more than drugs and people into this country. Besides that, we are experiencing diseases, we 'thought' we had wiped-out in this country, a long time ago. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #14 December 15, 2004 QuoteWhat about using our Natl. Guard, to 'assist' the Border Patrol? Chuck They are in Iraq. _________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #15 December 15, 2004 Well the one border patrol agent I met in Sept. let me back into the USA with my Sam's cardMay your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #16 December 16, 2004 Good point! That's what i meant... thanks. Like all the manufacturing that has moved South of the border to cash-in on all the 'cheap' labor. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,175 #17 December 16, 2004 QuoteWell the one border patrol agent I met in Sept. let me back into the USA with my Sam's card I use Uncle Sam's Card when I want to get back in.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #18 December 16, 2004 There are not nearly enough BPAs. The fact that they start guys at GS-5 or 7 for a tough job doesn't help... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
