Update:

Response promised soon on Border Patrol agent’s claims about ‘black hole,’ misuse of federal funds

Border Patrol cuts ribbon for new $11.9 million facility in Port Angeles

Signs cheer, jeer opening of new Port Angeles Border Patrol station

 

Update:

Zero press coverage from any source on the grand opening of the new 50 agent US Border Patrol station yesterday?

The people of Erie, PA got solid news coverage Re: justification for their new US Border facility which included arrest statistics:

U.S. Border Patrol expands presence in Erie

 

September 14th, 2012-

Grand opening of the $9.8 million, 50 agent US Border Patrol station at Port Angeles- access restricted “only to media with credentials and invited guests”

This local story has been developing for years now. There has been plenty of time for people with the advantage of a press credential to schedule appointments, do interviews & ask questions.

Unfortunately- local reporters are not in the habit of doing so.

 

Example one:

Ceremony to mark new Border Patrol complex

 

Example two:

Border Patrol opens new Port Angeles station on Friday; protesters to rally

 

Example three:

Our free and independent press recently informed us on Olympic Peninsula US Border Patrol operations.

The article reads like paid advertising or something produced by US Border Patrol public relations.

Most of the photos used in the article were provided by the federal government.

 

Much more to the story-

 

Still no justification provided by elected officials or the US Border Patrol for an upgrade in staff requiring the 50 agent facility.

 

The US Border Patrol at Port Angeles has stopped 2 people from illegally crossing into the US. That incident took place more than 2 years ago.

 

More than a year has passed:

Port Angeles Border Patrol whistleblower- Investigation status unknown.

 

Secret arrest statistics and the denied FOIA request.

 

Suspicionless checkpoints ended on the Olympic Peninsula in 2008. Suspicionless bus boardings ended in November, 2011.

If Olympic Peninsula USBP operations are being downsized, why have local USBP personnel numbers been upsized?

 

News links & documentation here

 

Best case scenario- elected officials, public agencies, & a free and independent press work together to keep people informed.

This concept has completely broken down Re: the US Border Patrol at Port Angeles.

 

Possibly of interest:

Federal agents on hand to work local boat race event-

“The law enforcement contingent at Saturday’s race comprised three Port Angeles police officers, including Roggenbuck, one Clallam County sheriff’s deputy and two Border Patrol agents.

Roggenbuck said the Border Patrol agents, with training on all-terrain vehicles, were there to quickly traverse the uneven terrain of the park and surrounding land if the need arose.

“They’re able to get pretty much anywhere on the grounds that were are not,” Roggenbuck said.”

 

Federal agents on hand to investigate drug stash at storage unit

 

Show of hands- how many smaller government folks are OK with having the Border Patrol around to act as a federal reserve force for local law enforcement agencies?

“Nothing in the Constitution gives the federal government authority over ordinary crimes. In America, crime fighting is the responsibility of state and local government. But despite the lack of constitutional authorization, federal policymakers continually try to involve themselves in crime fighting.”

 

 

Photo- Port Townsend Shipyard