Understaffing is contributing to low morale among Customs and Border Protection personnel along the border with Mexico, the National Treasury Employees Union told a House panel recently that was examining why DHS consistently ranks low on Best Places to Work Rankings.
The union cited the San Ysidro port in southern California in particular, claiming employees work excessive overtime and pointed out long lines and unmanned booths in the commercial lanes of inbound traffic.
The White House seems to share the view that the agency is at least in need of a funding increase – albeit a small one, but not insignificant considering belt-tightening elsewhere. Its 2013 budget proposes about $40 billion for DHS, which would support 21,186 CBP officers and 21,370 Border Patrol agents. The White House said the overall funding increase for CBP from $10.15 billion in 2012 to $10.35 in 2013 would help reduce wait times at ports of entry and increase seizures.
