While Homeland Security officials stick to their claim that the border is as "secure as it’s ever been," this week the Border Patrol effectively cut some 4,000 agents from its force due to budget cuts — 20 percent of its total manpower.
The cuts, meant to close a $250 million shortfall due to “sequestration,” forced Border Patrol brass to make some tough choices. One option included putting agents on furlough two days a month — but agency administrators instead opted to eliminate overtime, according to Shawn Moran, vice president of the National Border Patrol Council.
"The border is not secure. It's safer than it has been in decades but it is by no means secure and it won't be if you cut 20 percent of your workforce," Moran said Wednesday.
"This is no longer about border security,” Moran added. “This has become a corporate mentality. They say it's about the mission but if it was we'd be out there securing the border. They’re worried about securing bottom line."
A Homeland Security Department spokesman took exception to Moran's remarks, calling them out of line and untrue. The department maintained the cuts were necessary to comply with automatic spending cuts — “the sequester.”
While the overtime cuts could be seen as inconsequential, agents insisted it’s actually quite a blow. In many border areas, agents don't actually live in the immediate border region. They drive from home to headquarters, which in Tucson is more than an hour from the border, about the same as in San Diego. For agents in Casa Grande, Arizona, the commute is closer to 2 hours.
For the agency, the drive time is treated as overtime, thus allowing line agents to put in a full eight-hour shift actually patrolling the border. However, effective April 7, agents will be forced to leave the border after a five- or six-hour shift in order to make it back under the mandated eight hours.
Agents said the down side will be that areas of the border will be left unprotected for hours at a time.
"This is best thing that could happen to smugglers and coyotes and drug smuggling organizations,” said Moran. “They already know the border patrol is looking at staffing cuts.”
In some sectors, managers will increase the number of shifts to cover the overtime cuts, but they recognized that will mean fewer agents on patrol. In Arizona, elimination of overtime equates to 700 fewer agents on a daily basis — nationwide it’s 3,000 to 4,000.
Homeland Security issued a statement when asked for comment on the impact of the sequester cuts:
"The automatic budget reductions must be applied to virtually every program, project, and activity that DHS has and will negatively affect the mission readiness and capabilities of the men and women on our front lines.”
At border stations across the country, this is issue is front and center. Not just because it affects the mission — keeping the border secure — but also agents’ take home pay.
To agents, it means a 25 percent pay cut, since overtime is part of their pay package. The Border Patrol has actually advertised overtime as part of take home pay.
Agents with young families said the cut for them will be devastating. Supervisors and chaplains report an increase in the number of agents seeking help and advice on how to handle the financial pressure.
"Lately I feel like a financial planner, marriage counselor and shrink," said one agency administrator in California manager, who requested anonymity. "Morale is horrible. They feel Washington doesn't believe in the mission."
Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn blasted the decision to cut border agents’ overtime pay, saying it’s the latest example of President Obama putting national security at risk.
“The Obama Administration’s actions amount to nothing short of a calculated, willful neglect of what should be a President’s top priority: Protecting the homeland and keeping Americans safe.”
Blow-up ... Rafa Benitez lets loose after Chelsea's FA Cup win.Source: Paul Ellis / AAP
Rafa Benitez has turned on Chelsea supporters, remarkably hit out at Chelsea for referring to him as 'interim' manager and confirmed he will not be at the club next season.
In an astonishig outburst, Benitez turned on the section of fans who continue to vent their frustration at the Spaniard.
While Benitez rounded on the fans, he also revealed that he knew nothing about being appointed as interim boss and feels that was a mistake by the Premier League club.
"I have a title, someone decided the title would be interim. Why? Just in case," he revealed.
"OK fine, if they want to blame me for everything that is wrong and then they said they would put interim just in case. Fine, that is your decision, I don't agree but that is your decision, and now everybody has to take responsibility.
"If we are in the Champions League I will be the happiest man in the world but the next year I would leave anyway because I finish my contract so they don't need to worry about me. They have to concentrate on supporting the team.
"I have a contract until the end of the season, that's it, so they don't need to worry about me.
"It was surprise for me, [the title] interim. I have a contract to the end of the season, I said before I have to do my job, that's it but this group with [their] agenda they carry on and I think it is wrong because it is bad for the team.
"Someone decided and I think that was mistake. It's very clear, I don't know who but it was mistake.
"Everybody is interim, because after you there is another one. In this case they didn't have anyone so why did they put interim? It's just to say to everyone that he was in Liverpool and then just in case we will put interim and then we wash our hands.
"I can't change the titles and the perception so it doesn't matter now. What I have to do is be sure that I give 100 per cent every single day. They will know I am trying to do my best.
"The manager is the manager, one month, three months, seven months it doesn't matter.
"I think the reason why the group of fans is not happy is because I was Liverpool manager, we played in the Champions League, massive games, that's it. You cannot change that, they were really good, we were really good, it was a confrontation at this stage.
"Now I am the manager, and a professional. I want to clarify I will do my best until the last minute but if they carry on with this agenda they are damaging the club and the team and next year if we cannot achieve the top four, they have to take a bit of responsibility.
"I didn't know about the title, I have an agent and I was surprised but they couldn't change things because they announced that. I thought it was a mistake but I still couldn't change the interim [title]."
Benitez insists that the fans are not showing him the respect he is due.
"I have been in charge in football for 26 years, I won the Champions League, I won the FIFA World Cup, the FA Cup, the Italian Super Cup, the Spanish league twice, nine trophies - all the trophies you can win at club level so this group of fans are not making any favourites with the team and they are singing and wasting time preparing banners," he said.
"And it is because someone made a mistake - they put my title interim manager, and I will leave at the end of the season so they don't need to waste their time with me, they have to concentrate on supporting the team, that is what they have to do, they are not making any favours to the club and the rest of the fans and the players, so every game if they continue singing and they continue preparing banners, they are wasting time.
"What they have to do is support the team, if we cannot achieve what we expect to achieve which is to be in the top-four and Champions League for next year, I will leave and they will stay in the Europa League and they have to take responsibility too. If they put players under pressure or they did not create a good atmosphere in Stamford Bridge they are making a big mistake as the rest of the fans would like to see them in the Champions League next year.
"So it would be much better for everyone to support the team and back the players, I am the manager and will manage the team, I like to manage players and not names, and I will make decisions and at the end of the season I will leave anyway as I am interim, as they say, they are wasting time.
"I have proved in these last months I want to win every single game, I am professional and if we win I will be the happiest in the world but if a group of fans continue with their agenda and wasting time it is their decision.
"I am really pleased here, I have a top side and a good group of players who work hard and it is a top club, it is not a problem - the problem is a group of people who can say what they want but they have to support the team and they don't need to worry about me as I will leave at the end of the season. I will do my job and try and win every game until the last minute.
"I am surprised, I have won nine titles, all the titles you can win at club level in three countries so I have enough experience and have quality as a manager - but if a group of people with an agenda can carry on, they don't realise I will leave at the end of the season, they don't need to worry about me, if they do that and we are not in the Champions League they can say what they want but next year they will see the Europa League.
"A group of fans, they don't realise - the rest of the fans want to see us in the Champions League, this group have an agenda they put the title interim so why do they have to bother, they should just carry on supporting the team.
"It is a team in transition - in the past you had Drogba, Essien, Kalou - a talented team with experience and now we have a group with talent but it is a time of transition, they need to realise that when I came here the team was not in the Champions League and will do my best until the last minute. They are damaging the image of the club and the other fans because people think that is all the fans.
"I will do my job and I will try to do my best. It will be easier at Stamford Bridge and have the fans supporting the team instead of thinking of what can we do, what can we say."
Asked how long he would be in charge, he insisted as far as he knew it would be June, when his deal runs out.
"I will be manager until the last minute when somebody decides no, you won't be here in June," he continued.
"I will do my job, no problem, to manage is to decide the team, the subs and everything until the end. I did it for 26 years with nine titles and lot of trophies in different countries, so I think I have enough experience. So if they want to sing and prepare banners, they have to take responsibility too.
"They have to decide what they want to do. What I've said is what I've done in my life as a professional and what I want to do in the future, hopefully win trophies too.
"A group of fans have an agenda. I will do my job until the last day, and after I will be really pleased if we can win trophies or be in the top four, three, two. I will do my job until the end."
Itchy feet ... Is David Moyes finally on the move from Goodison Park?Source: Lindsey Parnaby / AFP
Everton manager David Moyes says he will wait until the summer before deciding on his future.
The 49-year-old's current contract at Goodison Park expires at the end of the season and speculation is intensifying about his long-term future.
Ahead of Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round tie with Oldham, Moyes admitted he had spoken with Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright but he has no plans to decide anything until the current campaign is over.
"I've spoken with the chairman and I want to see how the team do," he said.
"I want to see how we do in the cups and the league and it is more than likely that I won't make a decision until the end of the season.
"You can ask me every week but I will probably give you the same answer."
Next month marks the 11th anniversary of Moyes leaving Preston to begin his reign at Everton, with his tenure regarded as a success despite him not having won a trophy during his time with the club.
The Toffees are enjoying a good season, and are in contention to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the second time under Moyes' management after their debut in the competition in 2005-2006.
Having only lost four games and taking 42 points from 26 matches so far this season, the Toffees are sixth in the Premier League table.
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard earlier stressed the importance of Moyes staying with the club, but he insists that it should not be the concern of the players.
"The manager he needs to stay, everyone knows that," he said.
"It is no secret but that is an outside issue and that doesn't concern, currently, the players.
"We have to focus on the task and that is playing and performing, and he focusses on getting us ready for the games and performing and it [his future] is not something he talks about and we just get on with it."
