I am a federal employee for The Department of Homeland Security. They are conducting an A-76 study to privatize Information Officers (IIOs) and Contact Representatives (CRs) and has decided to contract out the Investigative Assistants (IAs) employed at the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) Service Centers without a A-76 study. The A-76 study is an investigation done by the government to determine if the federal job can be performed by contract employees. Immigration Information Officers, Contact Representatives and Investigative Assistants make up an essential part of our nation's overall homeland security effort. They are part of the "front-line" of our immigration system. Without these professional Immigration Officers, the internal enforcement of our immigration system will be blind. Terrorists and criminals may obtain immigration benefits for which they are not entitled, and may escape detection by the very agency tasked with identifying and protecting the nation against such individuals. IIO's, IA's, and CR's interpret and execute immigration law of the United States on a daily basis, that has the effect of binding the United States to take or not to take some action, which significantly affects the life, liberty, or property of "private persons", the public that they serve. Creditnet, I am reaching out to you in this time of support. Please call, e-mail, and fax the members of the Homeland Security Committee (or your congress person) and urge them to support the Roybal-Allard amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations Act that will stop this insane privatization of Immigration Officers. Thanks for your support, Tammy
What is your evidence that homeland security would be adversely affected? It seems that the government hasn't been exactly doing a knockup job of it, and perhaps privatizing might be the answer...maybe it would prevent our invasion of countries in order to prevent the use of non-existent weapons of mass destruction.
That is totally correct regarding the government is not doing a great job--they are currently correcting and revamping. However, the entire country until 9-11 was very content, unconcerned, and maybe even unaware of the task of securing the Homeland. Privatizing is like giving that job to a temp agency to distribute. These persons are not working directly for the government. They would be a temporary employee. Even if I was not a federal employee I would NOT want a temporary employee monitoring and securing my nation.
tea, Much like creditboards the government is run by bureaucrats. In fact my experience on creditboards are that they represent a microcosm of just about any organization. Certain people have the power to delete, lock or ban a person and these powers are used arbitrarily and politically. Not unlike what George Orwell wrote in "Animal Farm", "some pigs are more equal than other pigs". Much like the INS. My experience ( about 6 months working for an atty who did INS cases) the INS discriminates against many groups. Before 9/11 it was Mexicans, Africans, Pakistanis and Indians. After 9/11 it was the same group except now it is ALL Arabs no matter what country they come from. Let's just say "brown skinned" peoples. I also know that "privatizing" any gov't bureaucracy will be just like "privatizing" the US Postal system...after the dust settles the INS will still be a gov't bureaucracy like the USPS. Homeland Security is a joke...and Tom Ridge is an incompetent. I speak from experience here as I resided in PA when he was governor. What could be more ridiculous than the "alert" system???? It is so stupid that people don't even pay attention to it anymore. I am not saying the INS is alone in its ineptitude pre-911. It certainly was not and still is not....the entire system from the CIA to the FBI to the INS is broke. Is privatization the answer....probably not. Maybe a shake up from top to bottom is in order for all three bureacracies. Maybe that is why George Tenet resigned without a lot of advance notice. Now I have been discriminated against on a credit board. Being a WASP female it was quite surprising as we Waspies aren't accustomed to any form of "discrimination" so therefore I have now an iota of empathy for those who suffer discrimination daily...like right now Arab-Americans. So while I agree with you "temps" might not be the right solution...something radical needs to be changed in order to give Homeland Security any credibility as it has very little right now. clc PS BTW I was not "discriminated" against here at CN or at the board sassy posts on regularly. I still post at that particular board because I love the "newbies" who come in looking for help and they appreciate my help or else I would just leave the durned board completely!
