Providing CBP Commissioner McAleenan with practical solutions while mitigating the impact of the humanitarian crisis
Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON — Congressman Cuellar is working with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to mitigate the impact of the reassignment of 750 CBP officers, 300 of which were taken from the Laredo Field
Sensible Reassignment of CBP Officers
Congressman Cuellar expressed his concerns to CBP Commissioner McAleenan regarding the agency’s decision to reassign 750 CBP officers (CBPOs) to Border Patrol Sectors from U.S. POEs. The Congressman noted that 300 of the 750 CBPOs (40%) were reassigned from South Texas POEs, a disproportionate amount compared to other areas, and requested justification for such an action. Cuellar urged the Commissioner to reassign more officers from the additional 19 Field Offices, so that the South Texas POEs can efficiently facilitate lawful trade and travel.
Overtime Limitations – Cap waivers
Given the increased demands of an already understaffed CBP, the Congressman urged the Commissioner to utilize officer and agent overtime resources to provide the agency with greater flexibility to ensure that there are enough frontline personnel assigned to address peak travel times and increased workload. Additionally, it is critical to ensure that POEs have the appropriate number of personnel to maintain CBP’s core mission of antiterrorism and border security. While all personnel have pay limitations, employees who are at or approaching the overtime cap can receive required waivers.
Furthermore, as Vice Chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, the Congressman encouraged the Commissioner to request additional funding required for covering CBP overtime expenses. Increasing the number of overtime hours will help address border wait times and facilitate the flow of trade.
Volunteers
The Congressman invited CBP to identify and deploy the volunteers recently requested by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Retirees
Cuellar also urged the re-hiring of recently retired CBP veteran officers, to help facilitate the volunteer process by requesting additional volunteers by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Taking this step would allow these retired federal employees to assume many of the duties that would be performed by CBPOs and Border Patrol agents, thereby increasing CBP’s overall capacity to protect our homeland.
Expand Transportation Capacity
Rep. Cuellar urged the Commissioner to expand CBP’s transportation contracts with private companies to increase the capacity for transporting individuals from the field to stations for processing thereby freeing up more Border Patrol agents to address the significant rise in migration to the southwest border.
Congressman Cuellar said, “It is absolutely essential that we bring back and retain CBP officers at our ports of entry in order to allow us to process legitimate trade and travel in an efficient manner.”
“My top priority is to ensure that all Texas Ports of Entry operate as efficiently as possible. As the largest inland port in the country, the Laredo Port of Entry cannot afford to lose any more CBP officers that provide critical support capacities to protect our homeland. Already, we are seeing delays and CBP is having difficulties in keeping up with operations.”
He continued, “I have offered realistic strategies and resource solutions that will maintain CBP’s ability to process trade and travel, while addressing the surge in migrants at our southern border. It is my hope that CBP Commissioner McAleenan takes these measures into serious consideration, and I look forward to working with him to see that the 750 officers return to their posts at our ports of entry.”
 to mitigate the impact of the reassignment of 750 CBP officers, 300 of which were taken from the Laredo Field Office to Border Patrol Sectors.){kind=link}