Agency chief: US border faces ‘overwhelming’ strain

By: Jarrell Dillard, Bloomberg News

WASHINGTON — The head of U.S. Border Patrol defended using military personnel at the U.S.-Mexico border, saying extra resources are needed “as long as we face this crisis” of an influx of migrants.

Speaking at a House Homeland Security hearing Thursday, Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost said apprehensions and drug seizures at the border have become “overwhelming.” She said agency officers are already working 50 hours a week, and in some cases she must ask them to work more in a physically and emotionally demanding role.

Committee Democrats led by Border Security Subcommittee Chairwoman Kathleen Rice of New York acknowledged the influx of migrants, but questioned agency decisions “to take trained border patrol agents away from their jobs that they are trained to do and have them do different things that independent contractors could be hired to do.”

Full story: https://www.policeone.com/border-patrol/articles/484221006-Agency-chief-US-border-faces-overwhelming-strain/