BORDER PATROL/INS EMPLOYEES LAUDED

Re: "Durango INS office opposed," Feb. 13. I read with interest the
complaints of Jim Fitzgerald, a sociology professor at Fort Lewis College,
and Olivia Lopez, who both are affiliated with Companeros Latino Resource
Center. They argue that Border Patrol/INS presence in that area will
aggravate the inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants.

What inhumane treatment? The ones ( "Durango INS office opposed," Feb. 13)
who complain about inhumane treatment are the social workers and bleeding
hearts who worry that their special research funds will be cut off, and the
special-interest groups who worry about the cheap workers who cook, clean
and maintain their ski resorts.

Has Fitzgerald or Lopez ever been to the southern border where the illegal
entry action is? Have they ever been to the farm camps where the illegal
aliens live, without electricity, water or toilets? Have they ever seen a
vehicle loaded with illegal aliens that overturned while attempting to
outrun a Border Patrol sedan? (As they say, been there, done that.)

The mission of the Border Patrol/INS was and is to detect and prevent the
smuggling of illegal aliens and drugs into the United States. A Border
Patrol agent attempting to stop a vehicle cannot assume that it's just
another load of illegal aliens. It may be and sometimes is a drug-loaded
vehicle destined to resupply drug trafficking in Colorado or elsewhere.

The effort to control illegal drug- and human-trafficking is not hopeless,
and I say thank God for those green-shirted agents who are doing a thankless
job.

Crestino H. Gonzales
Highlands Ranch