The New York Giants ended their 4 game losing skid last week in a close battle with the Falcons as they pulled out a 34-31 overtime victory. QB Eli Manning threw for 384 yards with 3 touchdowns in the victory as the Giants passing offense came to life again this season. However, the defensive concerns over the past few weeks still loom as the Giants have now gave up 32 points per game on average over the past 5 contests. The Giants now take the climb to Mile High Stadium to battle with the 6-4 Denver Broncos in a classic Thanksgiving Day night battle in a game that is equally important for both teams.
Denver was blown out by San Diego 32-3 last week and has their own 4 game slid under their belt. The Broncos have experienced a ton of offensive woes over the past few games averaging just 9.25 points over the last 4 games. After having such a promising start with an undefeated 6-0 start, the Broncos have now fell behind San Diego in the division and if they do not get back on track soon they will be falling outside the wildcard playoff picture. Expect to see two desperate teams fighting and clawing their way back into their division race this Thursday night as the two collide in a primetime Thursday night battle.
Despite only giving up an NFL 2nd best 282 yards per game, the Giants have also relinquished just less than 24 points per game ranking all the way down at number 23 in the league. So why has the defense played rather well, but given up so many points? Well one reason is the Giants have been losing the turnover war over the past few weeks and another is the 3rd down defense. Over the past 3 games, the Giants have allowed 48% of 3rd down conversions which is of huge concern. Of course when you are losing the turnover battle there is not as many yards needed for scoring points as well. If New York can improve in those 2 categories, they will see a vast improvement.
However, the defense may not be a big as concern heading into this weekend as the Denver offense has not been to threatening. The Giants offense will be tested against a stout Broncos defense as they put the ball in Eli Manning’s hand and ask him to deliver another big performance. WR Mario Manningham had a big game last week catching 6 passes for 126 yards while WR Steve Smith added with 4 catches for 79 yards to lead the Giants in the victory. These young guys can really give the Broncos secondary a tough time this Thursday night and they will need these guys to play big against Denver’s tough pass defense.
Of course, there are major concerns on the Bronco’s offensive side of the ball. After all if they continue to fail to score points, the Giants will have an easy route to victory. QB Kyle Orton who is battling an ankle injury attempted to sit out last week against San Diego, but had to relieve Chris Simms deep into the 2nd quarter after the offense failed to move the football. Having Orton healthy means a lot to the pass offense, as they are responsible for getting the ball in the hands of WR Brandon Marshall who has 628 yards and 6 scores on the season after a slow start.
Running back Knowshon Moreno has proved he can move the ball on the ground this season, but still may not be far along yet in his rookie campaign to carry the team on his back. The Broncos will need for Orton to tough it out and complete a few passes while getting help from the defense. If defensive end Elvis Dumervil who leads the NFL with 12 sacks can help stay in Manning’s face all day, the Broncos strong pass defense could keep the Giants offense to a low scoring affair and that is something they really need to pull of the home win.
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICES:PAUL M. BERG
Congressional Testimony September 23, 1999 00-00-0000 PREPARED STATEMENT OF PAUL M. BERG CHIEF, CHIEF PATROL AGENTS ASSOCIATION AND CHIEF, DEL RIO SECTOR, U.S. BORDER PATROL IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AT A HEARING ON THE INS REFORM AND BORDER SECURITY ACT OF 1999 BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY THE UNITED STATES SENATE SEPTEMBER 23, 1999 Chairman Abraham, Senator Kennedy, and Members of the Committee, I am pleased to have the opportunity to talk to you today about the impact of the proposed “INS Reform and Border Security Act of 1999“ on immigration enforcement operations.
The Chief Patrol Agents` Association, which consists of over 190 top field managers, firmly believes that both immigration enforcement and immigration services are critically important to our nation`s sovereignty and those to whom we provide service. Each area requires equal dedication and continuous management oversight.
The problems with the existing system have been caused by the complexity and diversity of the two competing missions of the Immigration and Naturalization Service – providing services to legal immigrants and preventing the entry of individuals who attempt to enter the United States illegally.
On one hand, you have an agency responsible for adjudicating the various immigration benefit applications for those seeking to legally immigrate to the United States. The immigration services functions primarily deal with the paperwork and meticulous details that are required to provide benefits within the immigration and nationality laws passed by Congress.
The public is entitled to efficient and timely handling of applications and issuance of immigrant and non-immigrant visas, and most importantly the vesting of U.S. Citizenship to those eligible and deserving of such.
Divergently, you have enforcement elements who deal with people who try to circumvent the legal immigration system or who violate their status after admission. The largest of these enforcement elements is the U.S. Border Patrol.
The Border Patrol is the uniformed law enforcement element tasked with protecting the border of our nation 24-hours-a-day, 7-days a week, 52-weeks a year. Last fiscal year, the Border Patrol apprehended 1.5 million people attempting to enter the country illegally; and seized nearly 1.9 BILLION dollars of narcotics. Those figures will be equaled this fiscal year. (See attached apprehension statistics.) Supporting these enforcement elements are the offices of intelligence, investigations, and detention and deportation. All the aforementioned are essential to immediate border control as well as an effective interior enforcement strategy. web site immigration and naturalization
We also have immigration inspectors at the ports of entry. The inspectors have the dual function of facilitating the free flow of commerce and persons through our land, sea and airport ports of entry, as well as detecting malafide applicants for admission and interdicting illegal contraband.
As you can see the management of such diverse activities by one person leads to an adverse competition for resources. Historically, budget allocations for the enforcement elements served as a funding mechanism for the support services and benefits programs, when there are shortages in those areas. Funds for enforcement equipment and enhancements are redirected, when temporary increases in adjudicators are needed.
Congress has initiated a commitment to improving the efficiency of the Immigration and Naturalization Service as is evidenced by the record budgets allocated to the agency over the past five fiscal years. Yet the Agency has fallen short in accomplishing the objectives mandated by Congress.
Naturalization application backlogs, unacceptable inspection waiting times at ports of entry, poor investigation of fraudulent applications for benefits, overstay of non-immigrants, as well as shortages of personnel and technology continue to exist.
As you are aware, the operation of a law enforcement agency is drastically different from the operation of a benefits providing agency. What we presently have is similar to expecting one manager to oversee the operations of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Social Security System at the same time. While smaller in size, the current INS requires the same diversity.
Additionally, the current system provides for a very disjointed operation. The chain of command for the enforcement side of INS is extremely dysfunctional. As Chief Patrol Agent for the Del Rio Sector, my immediate operational supervisor is not the Regional Director for Border Patrol, but, is the Central Region Director. The Regional Director then reports to the Office of Field Operations at INS Headquarters on all operational matters. The Chief of the Border Patrol at INS Headquarters is not even in the chain of command.
In reviewing all the enforcement divisions within the Department of Justice – FBI, DEA, Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Marshals Service and the INS – we are the only agency organized in this non- functional management structure.
To have an effective immigration law enforcement element, there is a need for a very precise chain of command, with as few layers of management as possible, and, with trained law enforcement people in management functions.
For optimum efficiency, the functions and management of the enforcement elements must be structured similar to a large metropolitan police department, with adjustments for the national scale of the immigration enforcement elements.
The proposed legislation — the “INS Reform and Border Security Act of 1999“ — will provide the potential for effective management of the Immigration Services and Immigration Enforcement activities. At the same time it will place the immigration inspectors directly under the Associate General for Immigration Affairs, and independent of the immigration enforcement or services elements. This will place the inspectors on the same level at the other agency inspectors at the Ports of Entry. website immigration and naturalization
The creation of two bureaus will allow the directors and the Associate Attorney General to concentrate their efforts on making a system that is efficient, to remain focused on the very complex missions facing them, and they will be independently accountable. The latter is something I know this committee is very concerned with, and is important to our employers, the taxpayers. When tax- dollars are allocated to hire 1,000 new employees, or to purchase technology enhancements, it is important that the purchases be made for these specific purposes, and the funds not be diverted to other activities based on one person`s conflicting mission priorities.
From the standpoint of the proposal for the Bureau of Enforcement and Border Affairs, we believe the creation of the bureau will provide a framework to properly enforce the immigration laws of this nation, at the same time creating a separate bureau to better serve those wishing to immigrate legally or seek benefits under immigration law.
As I have said previously, we must not only stop illegal entry into the United States, but, we must remove those who have slipped through, remain and work here illegally. We must ensure employers stop hiring people who can not legally work in this country. We must remove the incentive for people to risk their lives at the hands of smugglers who are paid not only by those who are being smuggled, but also by employers in search of cheap labor. We must be able to detect, identify, and remove those who are threats to our society through modern technology and the human resources required to effect the removals.
This will require an enforcement agency structured much like the FBI, with professional law enforcement officers in charge of each area who know how to enforce immigration laws, as you have suggested in the proposed legislation.
The Bureau of Enforcement and Border Affairs must be an agency with the majority of its officers in the field where the enforcement takes place, and with a very limited amount of management overhead. It must take advantage of the latest technology to ensure the most efficient use of its resources.
The proposed legislation would provide the framework for this country to more effectively manage its borders, while improving the services required to eligible persons. The Bill would bring the National Border Patrol Strategic Plan, developed in 1994, nearer to closure. The establishment of a Bureau of Enforcement would serve as the bridge required to integrate a successful border control policy with an effective interior enforcement strategy.
This cohesive strategy is essential to eliminate the negative impact of unimpeded illegal immigration on communities not only in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, but, in places such as Detroit, Boston and other east coast destinations, that draw illegal entrants not only from the Southern Border but from the Northern Border as well.
A well-managed border will enhance our national security and safeguard our immigration heritage, while restoring our nation`s confidence in the integrity of its sovereign border.
The Chief Patrol Agent’s Association believes the INS Reform and Border Security Act of 1999, properly implemented, will create an Immigration Enforcement Bureau capable of properly managing our borders. We thank Chairman Abraham, Ranking Member Senator Kennedy and Senator Hagel for introducing this very important legislation.
As stated, this Bill provides the framework. A detailed implementation plan would be developed in a collaborative effort with those impacted by this plan, internal and external customers, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, other government and law enforcement agencies, the Department of Justice and with the members of Congress.
Mr. Chairman, and Members of this subcommittee, speaking on behalf of all the employees and officers of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and especially the Agents of the U.S. Border Patrol, we are proud to be serving our country and take pride in carrying out the intent of the immigration laws passed by Congress.
I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to appear before you today on behalf of the members of the Chief Patrol Agents` Association. I now would be happy to answer any questions you might have.
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