Border patrol uniforms made in Mexico

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040615-121210-1166r.htm

Patrol uniforms 'made in Mexico'

By Jerry Seper
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

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.
     "What system is in place to ensure that these uniforms are not stolen en 
masse or sold outright in Mexico to be used by terrorists, alien smugglers or 
drug dealers who could cross unimpeded into the United States?" asked Mr. 
Dassaro, a veteran agent.
     More than $30 million in new uniforms have been ordered for the Border 
Patrol by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a new agency within 
Homeland Security that now oversees the border force. Homeland Security was 
created in March 2003 after the September 11 terrorist attacks on America.
     "It's certainly not uncommon for cargo to be hijacked in Mexico, 
particularly in the many staging areas along the border, and the potential 
theft of these uniforms by the truckloads could become a major problem," Mr. 
Dassaro said.
     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."
     But T.J. Bonner, president of the NBPC, which represents all 11,000 
nonsupervisory Border Patrol agents nationwide, noted that in addition to many 
unanswered questions concerning security issues regarding the Mexican-produced 
uniforms, there are concerns by field agents on why the cost of the new 
uniforms are rising if the government is saving money.
     Mr. Bonner, in Washington today to testify before the House Select 
Committee on Homeland Security, noted that a $500-a-year uniform allowance 
paid to the field agents has not been increased while the cost of their basic 
gear, including $27 shirts and $32 trousers, has gone up as much as 10 percent.
     "They say they're saving money," Mr. Bonner said. "If they are, none of 
those savings are being passed on to us. I think this is just the wrong thing 
to do; it's the wrong message to send."
     The new uniforms were supplied through a contract with VF Solutions of 
Nashville, Tenn., which agreed to produce 30,000 shirts and pants for CBP 
agents and inspectors for the 2003-04 fiscal year that began Oct. 1. But the 
contract allows the company to subcontract its work to other facilities in the 
United States, Mexico, Canada and the Dominican Republic.
     Officials at VF Solutions did not return calls yesterday for comment. The 
firm is a part of VF Corp., the world's largest apparel company with 60,000 
employees in 22 countries.
     Mr. Bonner and Mr. Dassaro, based on complaints from field agents, said 
there also appeared to be quality concerns in the new Mexican-made uniforms, 
particularly shirts that are less durable and orders that often are undersized 
and have to be returned.
     The Border Patrol, before the merger with Homeland Security, used to get 
shirts under a Justice Department contract with Fechheimer Bros. Co. in 
Cincinnati, the largest manufacturer of public-safety uniforms in the United 
States. The Border Patrol wore the company's Flying Cross brand deluxe 
tropical shirts for many years.
     Fechheimer still supplies other federal agencies with made-in-the-U.S.A. 
shirts — some through VF Solutions.
     "We could have been supplied with quality shirts and trousers, even 
through VF," said Mr. Bonner. "Instead, they sent tax dollars to Mexico in an 
effort to realize more corporate profits at the expense of the agents."
     The Border Patrol has worn dark-green uniforms since the agency was 
created in 1924 and vigorously fought with Homeland Security officials to keep 
them when other uniforms were being suggested.

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