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Article: Revival Along the U.S.-Mexico Line; Growth of Border Patrol Force Is Injecting Vigor Into Region's Struggling Economy
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- October 5, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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The U.S. Border Patrol's gleaming new regional headquarters
building is just one sign of how the fast-growing agency is boosting
the local economy.
Agents frequent the restaurants and gyms. A new indoor shooting
range relies on Border Patrol employees. And dry cleaners do brisk
business pressing green uniforms.
The Border Patrol's growth to more than 17,000 agents -- from
12,000 two years ago and nearly double from eight years ago -- has
been a boon to towns and small cities along the 1,952-mile border
with Mexico, many plagued by poverty and high unemployment.
"The Border Patrol had a very noticeable presence two or three
years ago. Now it's overwhelming," said Ray Borane, former mayor ...