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For the second time in a year, the Biden administration is seeking to pull Customs and Border Protection agents away from the ongoing migrant crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border and send them to help protect the integrity of a foreign country.
Specifically, the administration is asking for volunteers to send to Poland as Russian forces continue their invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which is producing waves of refugees.
According to Just the News:
In a memo sent Thursday morning and obtained by Just the News, CBP’s office of field operations sought volunteers willing to deploy immediately to Poland for “Operation Ukraine Support.”
The request comes six months after a similar effort to process Afghan refugees after the bungled U.S. exit from that country. That operation was sharply criticized Friday by the Pentagon inspector general for poor Defense Department vetting that allowed 50 Afghans posing serious security risks to enter the United States.
“The Office of Field Operations is seeking volunteers to assist with the possible evacuation of U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and their immediate family members from Ukraine,” said the memo sent to field operations executives.
“Eligible employees who volunteer for this situation may be selected to serve a temporary duty assignment in Poland to facilitate travelers for entry into the U.S., to include providing guidance and problems resolution to other government agencies,” the memo continued.
The communique added that volunteers should be ready to deploy “within 2-3 days” of being selected and should plan on being overseas for around a month.
In addition, the memo contained a plan for COVID-19 mitigation, saying staffers should have the vaccine or have natural immunity from being recently infected.
“As a mission necessity and to avoid post-arrival quarantine, volunteers must be able to provide a negative PCR test taken within 24 hours of arrival and meet one of the following conditions: fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccination” or “recovered from COVID-19 within six months prior to arrival,” the memo notes, according to the outlet.
“Once deployed employees are expected to perform all assigned duties and may be required to work irregular shifts and schedules, up to seven days per week including holidays and weekends,” the memo warned, going on to offer volunteers overtime pay.
Following Russia’s attack, President Biden issued a statement that was posted to the White House website:
The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering. Russia alone is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable.
I will be monitoring the situation from the White House this evening and will continue to get regular updates from my national security team. Tomorrow, I will meet with my G7 counterparts in the morning and then speak to the American people to announce the further consequences the United States and our Allies and partners will impose on Russia for this needless act of aggression against Ukraine and global peace and security. We will also coordinate with our NATO Allies to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of Ukraine.
In November, Biden also voiced concern for the border — between Belarus and Poland.
“I think it’s of great concern,” Biden told reporters. “We’ve communicated our concern to Russia, we’ve communicated our concern to Belarus. We think it’s a problem.”
Record numbers of migrants have crossed illegally into the U.S. since Biden reversed most of former President Donald Trump’s border enforcement policies on his first day in office.
