Recently, two US border inspectors were charged with taking thousands of dollars in bribes to allow people past one of the United States’ busiest entry points in San Ysidro without documents. The two officers, Farlis Almonte and Ricardo Rodriguez, were assigned to inspection booths at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Investigators found phone evidence that the two had exchanged messages with human traffickers in Mexico, and found unexplained large bank deposits. Surveillance showed at least one instance where a driver and a passenger in a vehicle were waved through, but only the driver had documentation. Prosecutors reported that both were seen waving dozens of vehicles through, and the officers were paid thousands for each vehicle. The investigation itself started last year when three migrant smugglers told federal investigators that they were working with United States border inspectors. Rodriguez could be innocent, but it isn’t known if Almonte has a lawyer to represent him.
Bribery at border inspection has happened in the past, and this case is only one of many. Everyone likes money, and clearly border inspectors are no different. I believe both will be found guilty, since there is a lot of evidence to state that they are. But this case won’t change anything. Out of every border guard, there has to be a couple bad eggs. The most we as a nation can hope for is that it maybe won’t happen again. But letting people in without documentation is how we get undocumented criminals. Sure, maybe some or even most of the people let in are joining their family or have good intentions, but people with bad intentions might be among them.
If both officers are found guilty, this is of course a cause of concern for the American public. Now there are potential criminals in their midst. The US could try to amp up border control at San Ysidro, which would theoretically help. But ultimately, since smugglers are not often citizens of the US, getting smugglers and human traffickers into prison is beyond the US police’s capabilities. The United States can only do so much to prevent things like this, and it will certainly try, but it cannot fix the entire problem on its own. According to societal norms here in the US, it is normal to treat people kindly and give people a place to live. However, it heavily depends on your political beliefs when it comes to Hispanic immigrants. Certain people will be hoping for better border control over others.