JE#3B BarbaAlexandra

I’m very grateful to have read the article, “War on the Border” la Profe provided us, because I hardly have time to watch the news, let alone read articles regarding the U.S Mexico border. I don’t know as much about the border as I would like, but I have heard that the Border Patrol harasses harmless individuals, very much like Stewart Loew. This harassment is often very degrading and forcefully imposed with violence.  I understand that the U.S. is taking precautions to prevent international threats, but I agree with the article in that these Borer Patrol agents also need some policing themselves. I think that these Border Patrol agents abuse their power and ignore the reality that the people they are policing are only PEOPLE, and despite the suspicion that they may be of harm, should be treated as humans. I do not think that the B.P needs to create an overly hostile zone on the border because it is already hostile as it is. The Border criminalizes everyone who enters as though they were murderers or drug dealers when many of us know that the people who are looking to cross over are mainly hardworking people wishing to make a better living. I just don’t understand why this bill needs to be passed. Is there not enough border patrol as it is? If not “a single international threat” has been caught within this past year, what is the need of recruiting and hiring even more Border Patrol? The only reason I can honestly think of is the fact that the people who are going to be hired are most likely going to be Caucasian. These men and women will be earning money to essentially harass the earnest workers trying to cross over. We Do Not need $40 billion to finance extra agents and build 700 miles of fencing! What we DO need is more money for our schools! Ugh this is always, always so heartbreaking!! Sadly, I know that this bill has a great chance of passing considering the anti-immigrant sentiment that exists, but if it is passed I agree with my classmates and believe that these agents need to be better regulated by someone other than the Border Patrol agents whom they work with.