(Originally published in CNS News.)
If there’s one thing that’s incredibly easy to do these days, it’s point a finger. Point it at someone that you believe should burden the blame, even though it could very well be your fault. Playing the “blame game” has been ongoing for decades within political office, and it’s a trend that will likely continue.
I say this because a new report suggests that the Department of Homeland Security isn’t too fond of the job our Border Agents are doing keeping the country from overflowing with immigrants.
The report comes from The Epoch Times, which states that, based on the findings of the Department’s inspector general, approximately one-fourth of illegal immigrants at the border are finding their way into the U.S. without what’s called an official “alien registration number.”
And who’s to blame, according to the report? You guessed it, border agents.
For those who aren’t sure what an “alien registration number” is, it’s basically assigned to every migrant being released into the United States, legal or otherwise. It keeps track of individuals, just in case they need to be kept track of.
But here’s the thing. There are thousands of migrants at the border every single day. That’s a lot for Border Agents to go through. And yet, the inspector general’s report can’t help but blame them for approximately 107 of every 384 migrants making their way into the country without that aforementioned number.
“We found that Border Patrol did not issue A-numbers for 107 of 384 migrants, most of whom were paroled into the country or issued Notices to Report,” the general notes.
So there goes that finger pointing. But I wonder if the inspector general ever took the time to visit the border. It’s chaos right now.
We’re talking several agents assigned for thousands of people trying to get into the United States. And doing their job effectively, for the most part. And yet, instead of improving upon the system by hiring additional agents (so that they aren’t working themselves to the bone as is), they instead prefer to finger point, instead of actually looking for an active solution.
President Joe Biden hasn’t been shy about showing disdain for our Border Agents.
In the past, he’s made note about how there was reported abuse of migrants, including whipping while riding on horses. But instead of following through with an investigative report, he acted as judge, jury and executioner, saying he was going to make those responsible pay.
Which makes me wonder just how much he cares about keeping our borders safe. He already wants to eradicate a rule put in place by Donald Trump to make it easier for more migrants to get within this country. Which boggles my mind when, by comparison, this report chastises Border Agents for doing the same thing, despite the overwhelming odds they currently face on a daily basis.
So which is it, Joe? Do you want to work to make it easier for migrants to get in, or don’t you? Because you can’t have it both ways where you’re suddenly the hero for finding a solution, while the border agents – the ones who work to keep people safe in the first place – are villains.
One other interesting aspect about that report is its inconclusiveness.
The general did note that the report was put in place to “determine to what extent CBP [Customs and Border Protection] screened migrants to prevent criminals, drug traffickers and terrorist watch list individuals from entering the United States along the Southwest border.”
But when asked what they were actually going to do about it – hiring more agents, increasing registration techniques – they simply fell silent.
So it all comes down to the “blame game.” Point a finger, file a report, and figure out a solution that makes them look good while our hard-working border agents pay the price. Honestly, I wish Biden would just acknowledge how dedicated these agents are to their job and how much they work to keep everything as safe as they can.
Because if I’ve learned anything from my job, lending a hand is far more effective than pointing a finger.
Michael A. Letts is the Founder, President, and CEO of In-Vest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bullet-proof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs.
