Fresh Air

Corruption & Dysfunction In The Border Protection Agency

07.18.2019 - By NPRPlay

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When Customs and Border Protection was formed after 9/11 (as a part of the Department of Homeland Security), many agents signed up for the job thinking it would be a quasi-military position, focused on catching terrorists and stopping drug smugglers. Journalist Garrett Graff says in recent years, the border patrol agents mostly have been doing humanitarian and administrative work for asylum-seekers. "It went out and built its ranks by recruiting Rambo, when it actually turns out that what the border patrol needs is Mother Teresa," he says. Graff talks about the leadership vacuum that's plagued the agency and worsened the border crisis.

Also, film critic Justin Chang reviews the new remake of 'The Lion King.'

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