June 1, 2007

• And how about that border agent, eh?

  By jingo, I'm sure I'll sleep better at night, secure in the knowledge that alert, watchful border patrol agents such as the one in Champlain, NY are on the job:

  A globe-trotting Atlanta lawyer with a
  dangerous strain of tuberculosis was allowed back into the U.S. by a
  border inspector who disregarded a computer warning to stop him and don
  protective gear, officials said Thursday.

  The inspector has been removed from border duty.

  The
  unidentified inspector explained that he was no doctor but that the
  infected man seemed perfectly healthy and that he thought the warning
  was merely “discretionary,” officials briefed on the case told The
  Associated Press.

  [snip]

  The inspector ran Speaker’s passport through a computer, and a warning
  — including instructions to hold the traveler, don a protective mask in
  dealing with him, and telephone health authorities — popped up,
  officials said. About a minute later, Speaker was instead cleared to
  continue on his journey, according to officials familiar with the
  records.

  "Discretionary"?  The yahoo thought a pop-up window warning the agent to hold the person trying to enter the country, call the health authorities, and put on a protective mask to boot, was basically a suggestion, meaning if the traveler looks hail and hearty to the agent then never mind?  The CDC is leaving the decision as to whether a traveler is a health risk up to individual agents, who can pretty much just eyeball him?  This seemed likely to whoever that was?

  Oy vey, and likewise, aye carumba! 

  Don't you know that agent has had more than a few bad moments since that episode was revealed?

  "Oh.  You mean....I really was supposed to stop him?  Because he IS sick?  Oops.  Guess the laugh's on me, huh?" 

  Guess so. 

  • 12:56 am
  • 1 Comment