WASHINGTON — The U.S.
border might become harder to protect should lawmakers fail to avert
the so-called fiscal cliff at the end of the year.
Among the
many agencies that would be affected by the automatic spending cuts
scheduled for early January are those that guard the borders with Mexico
and Canada, inspect ports of entry and monitor airport security.
Officials and policy analysts have warned that drug smugglers and human
traffickers might be able to exploit a weaker border as patrol agents
would be fired by the thousands and tens of millions of dollars for the
border fence would be cut.
The $1.2 trillion in spending
reductions also would mean fewer customs agents to operate X-ray
machines and fewer security guards at airports, leading to longer waits
at checkpoints, according to a congressional analysis of the prospective
cuts.
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