Martial Arts Equalizer for Border Agents

On the evening of August 8, 2007 a Border Patrol agent fatally shot a suspect who was illegally smuggling immigrants across the border between the United States and Mexico. This is the fifth fatal shooting involving Border Patrol agents in a border state this year, and things are only going to get more dangerous for those in law enforcement.

Every year millions of illegal immigrants cross the 1,951 mile border the United States shares with Mexico, and among those looking for work are smugglers and terrorists. The only thing stopping this third world invasion is the brave men and women of the United States Border Patrol (USBP). Even as conditions worsen, the government is withdrawing badly needed National Guard troops from the border and leaving these brave police officers on their own. With ever increasing danger and lack of support, it has become the responsibility of every border agent to seek out self defense training on their own so they can stay safe while carrying out their duties.

The Border Patrol was founded on May 28, 1924, later became part of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and in the wake of 911 became part of the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to 1924, the INS patrolled the border with mounted agents. It was dangerous work in rough country, and there were few lawmen to do it. Long after the west was tamed the border was still wild.

Today, advocates for illegal immigrants like to portray the border as simply a place where "undocumented workers" cross into the United States, but this is a complete distortion of the truth. Border agents are routinely assaulted by illegal immigrants and shot at. Not only by drug smugglers and "coyotes", but even by members of the Mexican military. Often times a lone agent will confront many suspects with his only backup miles away.

Police Commissioner William E. Fairbairn who patrolled the streets of 1920's Shanghai (History's most dangerous city) uncovered many martial arts techniques that would be a great help to Botder Patrol agents today. Since not every situation justifies deadly force, an agent needs techniques that will quickly end a situation. Good solid martial arts self defense training is necessary for agents who routinely have to fight off attackers who are armed with bottles, rocks, and other crude weapons. They also need techniques to control or disarm weapon wielding suspects in close combat situations so they won't be injured or killed.

The federal government is slowly increasing the number of agents on the border, but until reinforcements arrive the brave men and women guarding the border will have to tough it out like they always have. The border is a dangerous place, but with proper self defense training agents will have an edge over crossing criminals. Agents are already outnumbered, but proven, legitimate martial arts and self defense training is the force multiplier tool that the US Border Patrol needs to keep safe in these dangerous times.