It makes sense that U.S. Customs & Border Protection is doing whatever it can to attract new agents. Just a few days ago, several of New Mexico’s newspapers reported that the Border Patrol currently has 1,993 unfilled positions. U.S. Representative Xochitl Torres Small, who represents the southern half of New Mexico, is sponsoring legislation designed to help CBP fill those positions.
Torres Small says more customs, border patrol agents needed for influx of asylum seekers
Scott Turner
Published 3:12 p.m. MT March 10, 2019
https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/new-mexico/2019/03/10/border-patrol-agents-needed-xochitl-torres-small-new-mexico/3123159002/
U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small says U.S. customs and border patrol are in desperate need of more agents to deal with the influx of asylum seekers crossing in to the U.S., and she is introducing legislation to bolster the number of agents.
"We don't have the manpower to process asylum seekers," Torres Small said in an interview with the Albuquerque Journal on Friday. "We don't have the manpower to stop the illegal activities coming across the border."
She is introducing the bipartisan U.S. Customs and Border Protection Rural and Remote Hiring and Retention Strategy Act with Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas. The legislation would require CBP to come up with a strategy to address recruiting and retention issues. […]
"In order to ensure that CBP can properly adapt to the changing circumstances along the remote sections of our southern border, we must ensure it has the resources to do so, and that starts with personnel," Torres Small said.