Yesterday the NYT offered "Border Patrol Considering Use of Volunteers, Official Says". The official was Robert C. Bonner, commissioner of United States Customs and Border Protection, who was considering creating "something akin to a Border Patrol auxiliary."

Then, later yesterday word came that the idea had been smacked down.

From "Civilian border patrol scuttled":

"We are aware of Customs and Border Protection Commissioner (Robert) Bonner's comments yesterday; however, the Department of Homeland Security has not received any specific details of the idea that the Commissioner raised," the agency said in a statement.

"There are currently no plans by the Department of Homeland Security to use civilian volunteers to patrol the border - that job should continue to be done by the highly-trained, professional law enforcement officials of the Border Patrol and its partner agencies."

...T.J. Bonner [not related to Robert Bonner --CK], president of the National Border Patrol Council, told the AP the idea was merely a diversion.

"And I don't think it worked," he said...

Whatever the exact political machinations, clearly the Bush administration is playing politics with our safety. There are several government programs involving volunteers, including at least two involving homeland security.

In his 2002 State of the Union address, Bush proposed the Citizen Corps (official; also former home to the creepy TIPS program) saying:

My call tonight is for every American to commit at least two years -- four thousand hours over the rest of your lifetime -- to the service of your neighbors and your nation... America needs retired doctors and nurses who can be mobilized in major emergencies, volunteers to help police and fire departments, transportation and utility workers well-trained in spotting danger...

(In January 2003 came "Bush's volunteer plan takes a hit" about funding problems).

And, there's the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary:

It includes more than 30,000 members.... from all walks of life who receive special training so that they may be a functional part of Coast Guard Forces. Auxiliarists assist the Coast Guard in non-law enforcement programs such as public education, vessel safety checks, safety patrols, search and rescue, maritime security and environmental protection and Coast Guard Academy introduction programs for youth. Auxiliarists volunteer more than 2 million hours annually to benefit other boaters and their families.

And, there's this:

If you are a tow boat operator, a recreational boater, a fisherman, a marina operator, or otherwise live, work or engage in recreational activities around America's waterways, the United States Coast Guard wants your help in keeping these areas safe and secure. You can do this by participating in its America's Waterway Watch (AWW) program, a nationwide initiative similar to the well known and successful Neighborhood Watch program that asks community members to report suspicious activities to local law enforcement agencies.

(That may be the same thing as Operation On Guard)

I'll leave it to the reader to speculate why volunteers are encouraged to protect our coastlines and ports but volunteers are discouraged from protecting our land borders.