August 22, 2003
Some Good News
Order not to arrest illegals overturned
An order by the chief Border Patrol agent in San Diego for his agents not to arrest illegal immigrants on city streets or question them except along the border has been overturned by Robert C. Bonner, commissioner of the new Bureau of Customs and Border Protection.Posted by Ithildin at August 22, 2003 7:00 AM | PROCURE FINE OLD WORLD ABSINTHE[....]
"We were very happy to hear that the order had been rescinded," said agent Shawn Moran, spokesman for National Border Patrol Council Local 1613 in San Diego.
"We hope it's a harbinger of things to come, that the Border Patrol — under Customs and Border Protection — is now going to focus on law enforcement," he said.
Agent Joseph N. Dassaro, president of the National Border Patrol Council Local 1613 had issued a statement last week saying that while agents were "disgusted" by the order, the agency maintained the right to determine the Border Patrol's mission.
He advised the agents at the time to "fully comply with the policy, regardless of personal or professional opinion."
"We are all disgusted at the recent turn of events concerning the Mexican Consulate, subsequent related events, and the issuance of this recent policy memorandum," the Dassaro statement said. "The situation in totality represents the systemic abrogation of our responsibilities to foreign governments and interests.
"As federal officers, we should all be disgusted; however, we should not be surprised," he said.
