The Coast Guard simply does not have the manpower or the budget to absorb new mandates at this rate. With the adoption of the recreational boat user fee. the Congress has successfully. if unwisely. transformed the Coast Guard into an arm of the IRS. And with the latest mandate passed downrequiring the Coast Guard to commit major resources to the windward passagethe Coast Guard has been asked to assume the role of Immigration support officer. It is extra missions such as these that force the Coast Guard to dip into resources provided for basic Coast Guard needs and services. This is unfair not only to the Coast Guard. but also to the taxpayers at large who depend on basic services.
Keywords matched
Immigration