6/18/2014
With a huge wave of illegal immigrants crossing our borders, Border Patrol officials are cracking down on their own agents.
They are being warned against speaking openly to the media.
We hit the streets to hear what you think about the memo asking all U.S. Border Patrol agents in the area to keep any information they see or here to themselves.
Taxpayers said a community so close to Mexico should be kept well informed with those protecting our borders.
"I think the government is trying to control the information that is getting out to the public and they always want to have a closed door policy and keep the general public kind of blinded," said Dale Martin, a Hidalgo County resident.
Friday, news broke of an internal memo released by Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Eligio "Lee" Pena warning over 3,000 agents in the Rio Grande Valley that they were not to speak to reporters on or off duty without permission.
Dale Martin said it something that should be concerning for just about every taxpayer and he's not the only one.
Rick Reyes said it troublesome.
"I think that violates our rights of freedom of speech. We can talk to whoever we want. Sometimes, I think the government wants to control everything," said Hidalgo County resident Rick Reyes.
National Border Patrol Council Vice President Chris Cabrera told Action 4 news that having a tight-tipped federal agency during such a hectic time only adds to the problem.
"Lately, the agents have gotten frustrated with a lot of stuff that is going on and when that happens things start to leak out," explained Cabrera.
He claims information the council releases is confirmed through multiple sources.
Cabrera said the Border Patrol Administration should be more transparent.
"They remain tight-lipped through this whole thing. I think if they have a concern with information being put out there correctly, then maybe they should come out and make a comment," he said.
Border Patrol Officials said the memo is not so much a warning, but more of a reminder as there has been several incidents recently where journalists have trespassed onto private property and interfered with agents’ day to day operations.
The email was to remind agents that that if they are approached in the field, they should refer questions and comments to their public information department.
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