Your recent article, "Justifying the USBP's Existence: I Waste Your Time, Therefore I Am," is easily one of the most malicious, ego-driven tripe I have read in quite some time. I really don't know what you would call such an article, but serious, responsible journalism it certainly is not. You took what was basically a personal conflict with an individual agent and, with one stroke of your pen, turned it into an indictment of the entire agency.
Now, I realize that I will not change your mind regarding our nation's need for immigration laws, so I will not try. I also realize it is your right to hold whatever opinion you wish, however asinine and juvenile that opinion may be. I do, however, have a serious problem with your ad hominem attack on the US Border Patrol and will take you to task by refuting several of the more ridiculous statements you made:
1. Your contention that Mexican visitors are treated by USBP agents "as if (they) have no human rights and as if (they) were less than them (the agents)." This position is ludicrous. I hate to break you the bad news, but there exists a checkpoint leaving Nuevo Laredo en route to Monterrey, Mexico as well. Additionally, the Mexican authorities check traffic coming into as well as leaving Nuevo Laredo. I used to travel this highway frequently (three to four times monthly for two years). And I would frequently be asked to exit my car while authorities would search it. Often, a Mexican soldier would guard me, pointing his AK-47 machine gun directly at me, WITH HIS FINGER ON THE TRIGGER, while the other authorities searched my car. Now, realize I had done nothing; it was a routine search. Imagine if the USBP agents pointed their pistols at people while doing routine searches. Then you would have something to bitch about. The checkpoints here are run with far more respect and regard for individual rights than those abroad, in my considerable experience. Go to Europe, Mexico, and Canada, and then tell me about tough, no-nonsense checkpoints.
2. Your statement about the USBP "returning hungry people who want to work to their country of origin." Now, granted, many of the people the USBP arrests daily are merely wishing to improve their status in life. Many,however, come into this country in order to commit crime. Ask any storeowner downtown -- they'll set you straight. Around 10-15% of all the illegal aliens apprehended have criminal records in the U.S. Who knows what crimes they have committed in their countries? I personally have arrested convicted child molesters, rapists, murderers, drug dealers, armed robbers, etc. Ad nauseum. Should these people be allowed to live here? If so, I say let 'em be YOUR neighbors. The purpose of immigration laws is to screen undesirable people from coming here. Every industrialized country in the world (Mexico included) has immigration laws. If you want to live and work in any country in the world you must apply and be accepted. Failure to do so means you will be deported. The only real difference between the US and most countries is that most people want to live here, not there. That is the reality of the world, Ms. Guerra, not this idealized version you live in, where the US takes in anyone, and it's peace and love for everyone.
3. As for you being stopped at the checkpoint, it happens to everyone. I've been stopped, and I'm an agent. The only legal consideration needed is mere suspicion. In other words, if the agent is suspicious of your vehicle, he or she can secondary you at the checkpoint. It's that simple. You don't have to fit any profile. The agent merely has to be suspicious. If that bothers you, then don't go through the checkpoint. As for asking for your driver's license, he did not violate any rule or law by asking for it. You imply that the agent is prohibited from asking for your driver's license. That is incorrect. There exists no prohibition against asking for any ID. What would be wrong is if you refused and he forced, coerced or took the license from you. THAT is abuse of authority. The mere asking does not qualify.
4. Your contention that new agents need "priming for the border-language, customs, manners, attitude, respect." You mean like the respect agents get here in Laredo? Not a week goes by, and I'm not joking or exaggerating, that some citizen of Laredo doesn't drive by and either flip me his middle finger and/or engage in racial and derogatory remarks about me and my family. Manners, you say? Less than two weeks ago I entered a local restaurant to wash my hands and order two tacos to go. Five minutes later I left, tacos in hand, to return to work, and found my Service vehicle's driver-side window smashed in. The vandalism of a law-enforcement vehicle where I come from is unheard of. Respect, you ask for? I have had more than my share of racism, lack of manners and respect combined with an overabundance of attitude from plenty of Laredoans. Yet I, unlike you, do not indict all Laredoans for the actions of a minority. You had a run-in with one agent, one time, and the entire agency is suspect and thereby condemned in your paper.
5. Finally, you claim the agent (Agent Zealous) overstepped his authority. Well, I was not there and don't really know what happened, but I do know you certainly overstepped yours, Ms. Guerra. You used your power as a (self-proclaimed) journalist to defame and attack the USBP, WITHOUT ONE SHRED OF SUPPORTING STATISTICAL EVIDENCE. You called our work a "highly refined level of ineptitude and ineffectiveness." Anyone can call anyone or anything inept and ineffective, as you did. Saying it, however, doesn't make it so. If it's so true, back it up. Show me some proof. Give me some statistical evidence, don't just flap your jaws. If you can't back it up, then don't state it as if it were a truism. You actually have little idea of what goes on along the border, or you wouldn't make such idiotic claims. You state that if "this nation's front line in the War on Drugs" is the USBP then "God help us all." This statement is so inflammatory and stupid that I was tempted to ignore it. However, just for the record, it should be noted that over 95% of the drugs claimed by the DEA in Laredo is actually apprehended by the USBP. And, while I do not have the actual statistics at hand, I know that a CONSIDERABLE percentage of the total yearly DEA drug seizures is also apprehended by the USBP.
I challenge you, Ms. Guerra, to ride with some of the BP agents at work some time, and educate yourself. I would volunteer myself for this task, if you wish. You can contact me and I'll see what can be done. If we are so inept and incompetent, as you claim, then you should be in little danger from immigrants (you know, a group of 20-50 aliens vs. you) or drug smugglers. They are honorable, law-abiding people, these drug smugglers, so don't worry about their having weapons. I therefore challenge you to put your money where your mouth is. Ms. Guerra, I have been assaulted, shot at, and threatened in my time with the USBP. I have been forced, and my family along with me, to suffer and worry through having some idiot place a bounty on my head. I have also suffered through two other bounties, from drug organizations and for considerably more money, that never made the news. To therefore have what I do demeaned by some know-nothing, so-called journalist without a shred of true journalistic ability is insulting. I realize this is somewhat lengthy and hostile, but so was your article. Now let's see if you have the guts to print it.

Sincerely,
Montie Guthrie,
Senior Patrol Agent