Liberty's Blog: Patrol uniforms 'made in Mexico

Tuesday, June 15, 2004

Patrol uniforms 'made in Mexico

Border Patrol uniforms 'Made in Mexico'

New Border Patrol uniforms, ordered in the wake of the agency's transfer last year to the Department of Homeland Security, arrived this month and some agents are not very happy: The new uniforms were "Made in Mexico."
"I'm embarrassed, not only as a Border Patrol agent but as an American citizen, that our government has decided to outsource the production of these uniforms with no regard for the safety of the process or the security of our country," said Joseph N. Dassaro, president of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) Local 1613 in San Diego.

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Patricia Todaro, CBP's director of logistics, said the agency purchases new uniforms, along with jackets, shoes, hats and other equipment, from those suppliers from whom the government can obtain the best possible value for the taxpayer's dollar.
"Our contracts allow us to seek out the best value for the government and that means we use vendors who might not be located in the United States," Mrs. Todaro said. "In the end, we end up getting the best price and the best value."

Isn't it a better value for our goverment to make its purches from Americans who create American jobs, and pay American texes? Its hard to critisize Industry for outsourcing, but our goverment really needs to think about American Businesses, and jobs when they concider purchases.