You see the images on TV every day. Border Patrol agents waving illegal immigrants through holes in the border fence, directing them to massive processing areas. Cutting razor wire put there by Texas state troopers and National Guard. Basically being as helpful as possible to the massive flood of immigrants coming across the border every day, day in and day out. This seems to fly in the face of their stated mission statement. From the Border Patrol web site: “…its primary mission remains unchanged: to detect and prevent the illegal entry of individuals into the United States“.

The behavior of the Border Patrol that I see with my own eyes clearly contradicts the mission statement. So what gives?

Now I get it, the Border Patrol doesn’t set policy. The agents are acting on the orders passed down from their superiors, which was passed down from the Secretary of Homeland Security, who gets his orders from the White House. So those poor schmucks on the front line are left simply enforcing whatever edict they were given. It’s not their fault. Or is it?

Because I’m a dork, I went and found the Border Patrol’s ’22-’26 Strategy document. My first thought is that it’s the most useless corporate propaganda I’ve read in a while. A waste of (virtual) trees. My second observation is that in the entire 26 page document (with dramatic pictures!), there is one, ONE, sentence related to the 10,000+ immigrants streaming across the border a day. (2021 migrant encounters hit a record at the time, so yes it was an issue when the doc was put together)

So the current administration, the decision makers, and senior management intentionally decide to ignore the actual purpose and mission of the Border Patrol. Here’s the thing though… every single one of those agents swore an oath to US constitution. Who’s standing up and saying, wait a minute this isn’t right? There wasn’t a single agent who previewed this document and pushed back on the total lack of focus on the actual crisis right in front of them? Obviously a bunch of sycophant agents all clapping like seals to please the chief.

I get it. You have a mortgage. A family. A baby on the way. A new truck payment. You’ve got your eye on that new boat. While you may not entirely agree with management, those decisions are above your pay grade.

I’m just doing my job.

And that, my friends, is how we got officials filling in skate parks with sand and arresting solo surfers on the beach. It’s Covid man, I’m just following orders. It’s how we have FBI agents conducting SWAT raids on J6 grandmothers. It’s how we got Ruby Ridge. It’s how we have police officers standing by and letting protestors take over highways. It’s how the holocaust happened. People just doing their job.

I have lost all respect for the agents of the Border Patrol. While the border is literally collapsing in front of them and they’ve turned into nothing more than a concierge and transportation agency for the customs and immigration service… there isn’t a single agent who’s willing to stand up and say this isn’t right?

To effect change, it’s going to take a revolt from the Border Patrol rank and file. Masses of them speaking out to the press. Ignoring orders and helping Texas officers put in more razor wire. Going to Washington and speaking out against their management and the decisions being made.

Think that will ever happen?

The answer is no. You gotta go along to get along. Would you risk your career to say something? Almost nobody would. It’s human nature. The rare individual who does say something will be ostracized immediately and working for Walmart by the end of the year. So the status quo remains.

Food for thought when society begins to break down. When President Newsom decides to implement some draconian rule in the name of safety and security, don’t expect those first line responders to push back. Do you really think law enforcement will be the good guys standing up for the rights of citizens? When the police and FBI arrive at your door because you’ve been posting subversive messaging and disinformation… it’s not those officers fault.

They were just doing their job.