Gypsy Jan
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Alan Bersin to Leave Border Agency Dec. 30
From the San Diego Union-Tribune: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/22/alan-bersin-w...
"After nearly two years at the helm of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Alan Bersin announced Thursday that he will step down on Dec. 30. A former
U.S. attorney in San Diego, he oversaw the agency at a time of unprecedented resources for securing the southwest border.
Bersin’s supporters credit him for increasing enforcement, for his vision of boosting binational commerce and for maintaining strong relations with
Mexico. Detractors say he has failed on multiple fronts before and during his time as commissioner, including his lack of collaboration with community
groups, his role in “militarizing” the border and his advocacy of policies that pushed more migrants into harsh terrain — leading to more deaths.
In the statement announcing his resignation, Bersin, 65, did not specify his reason for leaving. But he had never received congressional confirmation,
so President Barack Obama had to make a recess appointment for him. Bersin’s term was set to end Dec. 31.
“We have measurably strengthened border security, enhanced our ability to prevent potential terror threats, streamlined the entry process for lawful
trade and expanded our trusted traveler programs,” Bersin said in his statement.
He could not be reached for additional comment.
As commissioner, Bersin oversees more than 57,000 employees and a budget of $11.2 billion in fiscal year 2011. The agency is charged with securing the
United States’ borders, including its ports of entry, with customs inspectors and Border Patrol agents.
Under Bersin, the Border Patrol got more agents — to its current total of 20,000 plus — more fences were erected and more high-tech surveillance
gadgets were added. The National Guard also joined the ground force along the country’s southwest boundary.
Bersin’s knowledge of the border region, plus his Spanish speaking skills, gave him credibility. But it was how he used that experience that elicited
praise and criticism.
“No one understands the border and how it works better than Alan Bersin,” said Ruben Barrales, president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of
Commerce. “He understands the manpower that it takes, the technology you need and the infrastructure you need to move legitimate goods and people
across the border.”
Bersin’s good working relationship with Mexican officials was an asset during crisis points, including the killing of a U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agent Jaime Zapata this year in San Luis Potosi, said David Shirk, director of the Trans-Border Institute at the University of San Diego.
His main role “was to build a strong case to show that Obama was doing everything possible to address the border-security concerns that many Americans
have, so that we can finally have a discussion on other” issues including immigration reform, Shirk added.
In the past year, apprehensions have fallen and drug seizures have risen. Bersin has credited the U.S. government’s solid flow of funding and new
technology for bringing about those trends. But Shirk and other analysts said the drop in illegal immigration from Mexico has been driven by fewer
economic opportunities in the United States. They question the effectiveness of strategies such as building border fences and other means of boosting
enforcement.
Civil-rights and immigrant advocates said Bersin falsely promoted the border region as lawless and fed fears that resulted in an unwarranted
enforcement response, a record number of migrant deaths and a higher level of tension between his agency and community members.
They describe him as a hard-charging lawman with little regard for grassroots organizations.
“His border walls and massive amounts of enforcement are the norms for the border,” said Christian Ramirez of the American Friends Service Committee
in San Diego. “It was because of his design and his policies that we have a mounting death toll on this border.”
Given Bersin’s history, immigration advocates’ hopes for his term as commissioner were minimal, said Kevin Keenan, executive director of the American
Civil Liberties Union in San Diego.
“And yet Bersin managed to disappoint,” Keenan said.
Bersin deserves credit for an inspiring vision of the border that recognized “the more robust the regulated exchange with Mexico of labor and capital,
the more controlled and humane the border becomes,” Keenan said. But the Obama administration did not deliver and Bersin did little on his own, he
said.
Born in Brooklyn, Bersin has made San Diego his home since the 1990s. His public positions include superintendent of San Diego schools and chairman of
the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.
But border issues propelled him to the national stage. As a U.S. attorney under former President Bill Clinton, Bersin was known as the “border czar”
who helped craft Operation Gatekeeper in 1994. The program tightened security in the San Diego sector of the border and in turn pushed migrants into
more hostile environments such as mountains and deserts.
Border experts said the program launched the momentum for today’s record-high number of agents and inspectors.
Shawn P. Moran, vice president National Border Patrol Council, on Thursday praised Bersin’s leadership as commissioner.
He “was a pretty straight shooter, he didn’t play games with us during our interactions with him,” Moran said. He was “definitely someone who was
concerned about the welfare and opinion of the frontline agents.”
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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MrBillM
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A.M.F.
Won't be missed.
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durrelllrobert
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not one mention of the fact that he reported to Janet Napolitano at DHS.
Bob Durrell
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Bajafun777
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Alan Bersin was a tough Attorney General and helped get funding in San Diego and Imperial County for fighting Drug & Gang Problems for law
enforcement. He was someone not afraid to step-up and get proper equipment to those on the front lines putting it on the line!!
This guy had a photographic memory and could walk into a room with 100 people and if introduced to someone call them by name if he ran into them
again, seen him do it. Thus, seeing is believing and was a very approachable person and could charm people just like Bill Clinton. Have to give the
guy some props for his tenacity in dealing with such big problems along the border, no an easy task even though some think so.
Yea, he had what some called a downside, as he went to College with Hillary Clinton and that is how he got appointed to U.S. Attorney General by Bill
Clinton, however he was still a very smart individual. His time as San Diego Superintendent of Schools was a rocky one as he fought with the teachers
union but he pushed for better schools so kids could learn better. Again, not an easy task and damn near impossible job with all the groups you have
to please or deal with. Maybe now he can spend more time with his family and just enjoy life, however minus the enormous tasks of pleasing so many
groups or dealing with border problems. If you met him on a personal level most of you would probably have liked him. Take Care & Travel
Safe-------------- "No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777
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wilderone
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It's a tough position to fill - he had plenty of federal money to spend to make it look like "something" was being done. With all the border
consultants, committees, councils weighing in, consensus may have prevailed. The important now is who will replace him? So many millions of dollars
spent over the years for "security" - momentum or effort can't slide. And with the border tunnels, shift in cartel power, panga immigration to San
Diego's beaches - need to keep up with the newer issues.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
The important now is who will replace him? |
Perhaps a commitee. May I suggest the Navy Seals?? 
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