Preventing Immigration

Being a Mexican American I have been asked many times at checkpoints traveling from state to state my citizenship. I realize that by looking at my appearance that, I, perhaps could be an illegal immigrant. It is still very offensive, however, that my Anglo friends are never asked. It makes me feel like I look suspicious because of the color of my skin, which I cannot change. So because some Border Patrols agents have no better way of catching terrorist or immigrants I have to suffer through aggressive questioning. This is blatant racism and I find it very hard to believe that this is not evident to everyone.
The Border Patrol Headquarters in Washington sent orders last month to the agents patrolling northern border states to stop routine searches of buses, trains, and airports. Agents said soon after the Obama administration announced that border patrol agents would concentrate their efforts on deporting immigrants engaging in criminal activity, the orders were received. For years border patrol agents have patrolled these areas looking for immigrants who have just crossed the border. Agents search buses, trains and planes as well as question suspicious looking people who might be illegal immigrants. The orders specify that the only reason an agent should search in any of these public transportation areas is if there is a confirmed illegal immigrant. Tenured agents believe these searches help prevent illegal immigration and terrorism. They said many immigrants participating in criminal activity often head straight to transport to different parts of the country. The orders left many of them confused as to how they would be able to obtain information about illegal immigrants at these locations without patrolling them. The activity of these agents is now to sit in their trucks and patrol the actual border. Officers report their agents are already bored with the lack of activity. There is no wonder, Jack Barker manager of Greyhound transportation in NY said agents would check nearly every bus leaving the station for suspicious activity.

These actions have long been criticized by civil rights activists. Doug Honig, spokesman of the American Civil Liberties Union said the orders were a step in the right direction. I firmly agree. Border Patrol agents need to be at the border prevent the immigrants and terrorists from being able to cross. If the problem were stopped there we would not need to frighten travelers and tourist with gun presence. Not to mention that it infringes on our civil liberties. It is clearly racial profiling to question a person already in the United States. If you question one then it is only fair to question all, and that is unfathomable. This is very similar to the agents and police officers in Arizona. If a person resembling a Mexican crosses paths with an agent or officer and are questioned the person must cooperate and prove citizenship. Anglo Americans are not forced to this sort of questioning. It is extremely offensive to be questioned by an agent or an officer about criminal activity only on the assumption that you look different so are likely an immigrant. However, no matter the race, it is unfair to question an innocent person traveling. It seems to me that the agents are wasting time trying to catch immigrants who got away amongst innocent Americans. Instead they should be evaluating there systems at the border to figure out why they were able to cross. I grew up in El Paso, TX where immigration and the crimes it causes are far worse than in northern states. As a little girl I visited several bus stations and never once saw an agent searching buses or questioning any Mexican Americans.
I hope that the Border Patrol Headquarters in Washington will send agents detailed order on how to patrol a border, because they clearly cannot get the job done.