Border Patrol forbidden to speak with Congresspersons

[kpete]

DHS eyes House members
Agent who spoke with rep suspended
Sara A. Carter, Staff Writer

Congressional members interviewed by the newspaper said they were unaware until recently that Border Patrol agents were required to file Significant Incident Reports - normally used for shootings and other serious border incidents - when congressional members made unannounced visits in the summer along the U.S.-Mexico border.
A second document obtained by the paper reveals that one agent was suspended for 10 days without pay for speaking with Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, who made an unannounced visit to the border in May.

"Preventing Congress from speaking freely to federal employees violates at least two federal statutes, and agents are fearful of telling the truth," said King, who recounted several visits to the Mexican border when Border Patrol agents would not speak with him for fear of reprisal.

"Filing these reports is a form of intimidation. If anyone is going to be punished, then they should be punished for not speaking to a member of Congress, rather than for telling the truth."

more at:
http://www.sbsun.com/ci_4401381

[Flying Dream Blues]

1. More police state dictatorial BS. This is getting ridiculous! K&R

[sui generis]

2. you know it's just about time we kick their asses

figuratively speaking. who the fuck do they think they are?

This is not a monarchy unless we run around acting like serfs, people. Write to Michael Friels, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and call him on his bullshit.

Most federal agencies have a public contact, however rules like the SIR requirement with legislators effectively inhibit congressional oversight, and Mr. Friels is using it to cover up his own incompetence and to create a vigilante form of closed governance. Not in America Mr. Friels.

[Wiley50]

3. Au contrere, Sui. They just took away Habeas. Police State exists

Now, if I had the funds to leave, I'd do it now, while we can.
And say "Goodbye" to the border control agents over my shoulder
from a safe distance, once I was on the other side

From here on out the snowball to Hell
is no longer on a slippery slope
it's over the cliff, in freefall


edit: typo

[sui generis]

8. yes but

Canada willingly handed over it's own citizens for "effective questioning" in the U.S. The CIA, and apparently any private bounty hunter can kidnap you in Mexico. If it's in national security interests to do so you can be assassinated in any country on this planet, by our very own fellow countrymen. You won't be safe anywhere unless you're willing to fight for safety here.

Those laws live and die through congressional legislation. That's really where we have to focus. It IS scary, but hiding and hoping it will get better all on its own is just the same thing as giving silent approval.

There are reasonable things to do of course, writing your congressmen, LTTE's, and clear letters to Department officials; at least even if you do end up running to another country you'll know you did something real to try to change things here.

[annabanana]

5. Some CBP contacts:

Are here>>>

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_officers/us_border_patrol_sectors.xml

[lonestarnot]

4. Police State Gone Wild!

[bananas]

6. !!!!!

[mmonk]

7. Amazing. So the people's representatives cannot hear

from or question border patrol people?