[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 14, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H2647-H2648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNITION OF CUSTOMS AND INS INSPECTORS AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Reyes] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the men and women, 
officers and inspectors of the Immigration and Naturalization Service 
and the U.S. Customs Service and ask all of my colleagues to support 
H.R. 1215 which was recently introduced by my friend and colleague, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Filner]. This bill will grant the same 
law enforcement status to inspectors of the INS and Customs as all 
other Federal law enforcement officers. This action is long overdue, in 
my opinion.
  The inspectors of the INS and Customs carry a badge, a gun, and are 
exposed to the same rigors, challenges, and dangers of any other law 
enforcement officer in the United States. Last year alone, there were 
more than 280 million border crossings, all requiring inspection and 
many escalating into violent conflicts, yet we have not provided our 
inspectors with the same benefits and security as other law enforcement 
officers. I know firsthand what these inspectors are asked to deal with 
on a daily basis.
  I spent 4 years as an inspector at the various ports of entry around 
El Paso, and I can tell my colleagues that I sympathize with these men 
and women who put their lives on the line each and every day.
  In the past 2 years, 140 inspectors have been assaulted along our 
Nation's borders. During fiscal year 1995, we had 88 assaults on our 
inspectors. During fiscal year 1996, there were 52. I think it is 
important, Mr. Speaker, that we recognize that on any given day, our 
officers, our inspectors at those ports of entry are subject to being 
attacked and being injured.
  It is time that we recognize these courageous men and women and 
provide them with the benefits that they have earned and rightfully 
deserve. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1215. It is time 
we recognize the inspectors of INS and Customs as law enforcement 
officers.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to my colleague, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Filner].
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I am 
especially honored by his support of this legislation. His stature as a 
former chief patrol agent in El Paso is recognized around the Nation. 
The gentleman knows the problems, he has been effective in dealing with 
them, and I again appreciate joining with him in this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, in the spirit of National Police Week, I 
rise to honor 43 courageous U.S. Customs and Immigration and 
Naturalization Service inspectors who were killed in the line of duty, 
and honoring at the same time the inspectors who currently perform the 
same dangerous work the others died doing. The most recent of these 
brave officers to fall are Customs Inspectors James Buczel and Timothy

[[Page H2648]]

Cal McCaghren, and INS inspectors Reynaldo DeLaGarza and Tammy Aamodt. 
The inspectors' names are engraved in the wall of the National Law 
Enforcement Memorial here in Washington, DC. Yes, I said the National 
Law Enforcement Memorial. Yet, as my colleague stated, while they lived 
and while they did their job, they were not considered law enforcement 
officers. Only when they died did they get that honor.
  My bill, H.R. 1215, will finally grant the same status to U.S. INS 
and Customs inspectors as all other Federal law enforcement officers 
and firefighters.
  These inspectors are the country's first line of defense against 
terrorism and the smuggling of drugs through our borders and our large 
international airports. My district is home to the busiest port of 
entry in the world: 200,000 people a day cross the border in San 
Ysidro, San Diego. The inspectors face daily dangerous felons and 
disarm people carrying every weapon imaginable. Shootouts with drug 
smugglers happen all too frequently.
  Because of the current lopsided law, INS and Customs lose vigorous, 
trained professionals to other law enforcement agencies and also lose 
millions of dollars in training and revenues that experienced 
inspectors help generate.
  It is time we value our INS inspectors and Customs inspectors, both 
living and dead. I urge the support of H.R. 1215 to correct the unequal 
treatment of these Federal law enforcement officers.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back to my colleague, the gentleman from Texas 
[Mr. Reyes], who knows all too well the valor of these fine Federal 
employees.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honor and a privilege for me, 
knowing exactly what these men and women go through each and every day 
as they carry out their duties at the frontline of defense for this 
Nation.
  I again would like to urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1215. 
It is time we recognize the inspectors of the INS and Customs for the 
law enforcement officers that they truly are.

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