The Fence
The Fence by Robert Lee Maril, now available from Texas Tech University Press.
Category Archives: Customs and Border Protection
But Who Is Watching CBP?
More than two years ago (see my 2018 blog below) President Trump sent the National Guard to our Mexican border. I questioned then, as I do now, whether that was a good strategic decision or just another attempt to generate … Continue reading
Posted in Customs and Border Protection, Uncategorized
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Sending National Guard to the Mexican Border Does Not Make Sense
by Lee Maril President Trump’s recent decision to send the National Guard to the Mexican borderlands does not make good sense. The National Guard are trained soldiers, but have little training in guarding an international border, speaking Spanish, immigration law, … Continue reading
Posted in Customs and Border Protection
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The Border Patrol Needs to Hire, Retain, Mentor, Promote More Female Agents
In 2016 the percentage of female agents remains at 5% although the Border Patrol continues to attempt to recruit additional women. Somehow this process just never seems to work very well, neither the recruiting, the retaining, the mentoring, or promoting … Continue reading
Posted in Gender Discrimination
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The Business Side of Customs and Border Protection
The business side of what Customs and Border Patrol does and does not do is extremely important. While both political parties debate policy, one unaddressed but fundamental question is this: how efficient is CBP in getting new technologies to its … Continue reading
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How We Treat Our Returning Disabled Veterans Matters
When our military men and women enlist, they promise to uphold certain obligations that are expected of them. These obligations at a personal level are frequently extremely challenging for them to live up to. In return, our military institutions also … Continue reading
Posted in CBP Internal Affairs, Customs and Border Protection
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Why is the Actual Amount of SBInet Important?
What difference does it make if SBInet cost $1 billion, or $1.2 billion, or the real amount, $1.389 billion? First and foremost, American taxpayers paid the SBInet contracts to Boeing. There is a big difference, exactly $389 million, between the … Continue reading
Posted in Customs and Border Protection
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Tomsheck’s SAREX
The SAREX program initiated by Mr. James Tomsheck in March 2011, and supervised by Janine Corrado and Jeffrey Matta at the Integrity Program Division, is another example of Customs and Border Patrol Internal Affairs breaking federal law and agency policy … Continue reading
Posted in CBP Internal Affairs
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Mexican Border Deaths are a National Disgrace
The Border Patrol reported last week that 477 immigrants died attempting to gain illegal entry along our Mexican border. According to the Border Patrol, this is a 27% increase over the preceding year. Although fewer undocumented immigrants are seeking entry … Continue reading
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The Border Patrol’s New National Strategy: Measuring What?
Just two weeks ago the Border Patrol launched its new national strategy in hearings before Congress. Surprisingly the national media seem less than interested in the BP’s newest national strategy since 2004 which will, according to the Border Patrol, cover … Continue reading
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The Border Patrol’s New National Strategy: Lipstick on a Javelina
There’s a lot in CBP’s “2012-2016 Border Patrol National Strategy” to digest. For starters there are two major goals, the first with five objectives, the second with three. All this is sandwiched between numerous color photographs reminiscent of university textbooks … Continue reading
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Lee Maril 