In order to rapidly expand the number of Border Patrol agents, the Trump administration is looking to lower standards.
Internal Department of Homeland Security memos obtained by Foreign Policy indicate that the Trump administration is intent on removing standards that remain in the way of meeting recruitment goals.
Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan wrote in a five-page memo dated Feb. 17 that the agency is hoping to expand from 19,627 agents to 26,370.
The memo states that recruiting 6,743 agents will cost $2.2 billion and take around five years, even assuming that accelerated hiring is brought to bear. Currently, applicants have to take a lie detector test, medical exams, fitness exams, fingerprinting, financial disclosures, drug testing and other background checks. Those with security clearances often have to obtain additional security clearances.
The lie detector test is especially hampering recruiting efforts, as two out of three applicants fail. A former DHS official who spoke to Foreign Policy noted that the standards for Border Patrol agents are “insanely cumbersome” and way stricter than, for example, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE does not require a lie detector test.
In an interview with Foreign Policy, McAleenan denied that CBP intended to lower standards.
“Secretary Kelly has made it absolutely clear we are not going to lower standards to speed up our hiring,” he said.
Kelly pledged not to lower standards when asked by a member of Congress.
And yet, former DHS officials told FP that under the surface of neutral-sounding language is the clear message that standards will be lowered.
“Most of the measures are worded in terms that look neutral on their face,” former senior counsel to DHS chief and Citizenship and Immigration Services Stephen Legomsky said. “But because all of that is prefaced with how they need to make changes for the express purpose of enhancing their hiring ability, then obviously these things are meant to loosen those standards, not to tighten them.”
Former officials worry that lowered standards will increase the level of corruption. Already, agents are specifically targeted using bribes or favors to look the other way when drugs or illegals move across the border.
According to a review by The New York Times, nearly 200 employees and contract workers at DHS have accepted almost $15 million in bribes.
These employees have allowed drugs and illegals into the United States and even sold green cards.
“If you start lowering standards, the organization pays for it for the next decade, two, or three,” former deputy CPB commissioner Jay Ahern said.
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