Spindrift February 16, 2023

SPEAKER

This week’s speaker was introduced by Pres-Elect Shirley Lashmett. Kim Smith is and has been employed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for 20 years and has been volunteering to work in El Paso, TX. Kim is the daughter of Ed Kohlmeyer, who was a long-time member of ECNH a few years back. Kim presented her eyewitness perspective on the process and living conditions involving the wave of immigrants at our Southern border. She stated that there currently aren’t enough employees of Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to handle the influx of immigrants, so government workers from both the TSA and CBP and a large number of other organizations under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were asked to work as paid volunteers for 6 or 12-week periods.

CBP is responsible for patrolling 7,500 miles of border (Alaska, Canada, and Mexico). The U.S. shares 1,954 miles of border with Mexico over 4 states, and there are 48 ports of entry. There are approximately 21,000 CBP individuals patrolling all 7,500
miles of border. Kim states that there were 7,000-15,000 immigrants/week presenting themselves at the border, although there has been a recent increase. When immigrants turn themselves in at ports of entry, they are zip-tied, all their possessions are searched, and what they are allowed to keep (wallets, cash, jewelry, medications, phones, chargers, i-pads and religious items) are placed in a large plastic bag which is sealed and transported to the detention center. At that location, they are checked for lice, scabies, open sores, or injuries. A file is established at that time for individuals and families. The individuals are then examined by physicians for communicable diseases, then taken to shower, given clothing, identifying wristbands, and some toiletries. They are not permitted to keep anything else that they came in with,. Immigrants are interviewed extensively, and must have a sponsor to enter the U.S. They include people from Guatemala, Venezuela, El Salvador, Columbia, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Uganda, Brazil, Peru, and a few from Russia and Ukraine Less than 2% of immigrants come from Mexico. Not everyone is allowed in; those who have no legitimate sponsor or reason to be given asylum will not be allowed to enter. In many cases, especially involving Venezuelans, Columbians, and Guatemalans, individuals might be returned to their port of entry in handcuffs and chains because of their flight risk. Once they arrive by bus at the port of entry, they may be flown back to their country of origin, at taxpayer expense. Individuals who make it in and are detained are fed three meals a day; burritos for breakfast and lunch; hot chicken sandwiches for lunch and dinner, apples, granola bars, snacks, and bottled water. They are adequately clothed, and the rooms that are used for sleeping quarters are comfortable. Individuals are detained for 3-5 days depending on how long it would take to process their paperwork. While detained, special people are employed to watch and report on any fights or attempts at molestation, so that these incidents do not occur. Generally, immigrants are well cared for. However, many of the paid personnel are upset because the benefits and privileges given to the immigrants, including free medical care, food, and housing, are unavailable to U.S. citizens including themselves.

Kim Smith, Ken DuFour

When leaving the detention center, the immigrants are given ankle bracelets and phones so that authorities can locate them, as they are given court dates for which they must be present. Only 11% of immigrants show up for court dates. If caught without showing up, they are sent back, but they often return and try again.

Kim rendered her opinion that we have major problems involving the citizens of our own country, such as homelessness, mental health, and poverty in the inner cities and elsewhere, and that we should be first using taxpayer money to resolve these problems rather than making it easier for non-citizens to enter our country.

Thank you, Kim, for a very interesting and informative presentation!