Beefed-Up Border Enforcement

Your Jan. 16 editorial (“Troubling Tactics at the Border”) endorses INS’ efforts to strengthen border enforcement in California and Arizona. The administration’s border program began in 1993 when President Clinton directed the INS to beef up our fight against illegal immigration. All Americans wish to see the immigration laws of our nation enforced properly.

I would like to clarify two points:

* Assistance by local law enforcement: Only specially trained INS officers and Border Patrol agents can enforce our nation’s immigration laws. Under the innovative partnership with local law enforcement that the attorney general and I announced, up to 135 police and sheriff’s deputies will ride with Border Patrol agents, assist in the transport of apprehended illegal immigrants and provide other forms of support to INS personnel in carrying out their duties. This partnership will be border-specific and will improve public safety, reducing crime in border areas and protecting against vigilantism. Nothing in this effort is intended to nor should preclude illegal immigrants from lodging complaints of abuse with appropriate local or federal officials. Respect and protection of human rights is an overarching responsibility and I have taken vigorous steps to ensure that the Border Patrol exhibits the highest standards of professionalism in all aspects of its work.

* Military support: Military personnel have provided observation and communications support to the Border Patrol since 1991 as part of the military’s anti-narcotics mission. The level of this support will be no greater than the 200 to 300 members of the armed forces working with the Border Patrol in California and Arizona at this time last year. What is new is better coordination so the Border Patrol is freed up as fully as possible to concentrate on its core function of enforcing immigration laws.

Far from “creating confusion,” the administration’s objective is clear: We are focusing different uniforms with clearly defined different roles on a game plan designed and led by INS professionals to restore the rule of law to the border after years of neglect.

DORIS MEISSNER

Commissioner, INS

Washington

* Re “Wilson Jab at U.S. Takes 4-Hour Detour,” Jan. 31, which describes how Gov. Pete Wilson shuffled a convicted illegal immigrant through the desert in an attempt to illustrate that the federal government is not taking responsibility for the costs of these illegal inmates. Must Wilson continue to embarrass Californians? In his recent escapade through the desert, Wilson did nothing but make a mockery of himself and the state as well as humiliate the inmate.

Of course federal officials would have refused custody of the inmate; the transfer was unauthorized and illegal! It is true that illegal immigration is a problem for California, but Wilson’s judgment on this venture was truly absurd. Perhaps if Wilson were not so interested in being in the limelight, some changes might actually occur.

TAURA S. MIZRAHI

Los Angeles