Roger Williams, R-Congressman from Texas, caused a minor stir in 2016 when he claimed "NAFTA allows a lot of trucks from Mexico. ... They can drive through without even being inspected. That concerns me." Politifact editors disputed the claim, but was Williams right?
[http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2016/dec/05/roger-williams/mostly-false-roger-williams-claim-lot-trucks-not-i/].
The editors say Williams' claim is false. They interviewed an expert, "Christopher Wilson, deputy director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars." He assures them inspections are conducted on all freight entering the country. He says, "I don’t know what kind of inspection he means. We don’t allow anyone into the U.S. without some level of inspection."
But the very next sentence says, "Officials don’t open every car trunk, every suitcase or every cargo load, he said, but all vehicles are scanned for nuclear material and some are subject to x-raychecks." So they DON'T inspect "every cargo load," but they might or might not scan it for nuclear material or make an x-ray check. Question: How does that stop child trafficking?
(Incidentally, one of Williams' congressional staff was injured in the shooting at the DC congressional baseball game.)
[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/2017/live-updates/public-safety/updates-shooting-at-congressional-baseball-practice-in-virginia/staff-member-for-rep-roger-williams-r-texas-was-injured-in-shooting/?utm_term=.dab6cebc78d4].
Furthermore, a number of border customs agents have been indicted and convicted for taking bribes to allow illegal shipments into the country. One example among many: Jose Cota.
[http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/sd-me-cota-guilty-20170110-story.html].
If President Trump renegotiates free trade agreements, a change of strategy may be necessary for those who wish to continue trafficking in drugs and children. Is newly created Amazon ocean freight services a step in that direction? For a company that has a already negotiated a large contract with the American CIA for cloud-computing services, what would be the likely level of oversight of Amazon
ocean freight, Amazon China?
[https://www.flexport.com/blog/amazon-ocean-freight-forwarder/].
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carmencita ago
This is how the art is shipped. A law was passed to allow it without inspection. So I am sure this covers certain trucks too. They are lying since THAT is no longer illegal too. They are so good at it.
UnicornAndSparkles ago
Funny how how an insightful and correct answer would be downvoated so quickly. The victims say they are trafficked in shipping containers I think?
Would thermal imaging not be a cheap and effective way to check all cargo? Seem to do a good job for police helicopters!
carmencita ago
Yeah. They search and image what THEY want. Not their stuff. We have to get this law changed.
UnicornAndSparkles ago
I would like to hope Trump's treading carefully. One small step at a time. He must be wise to this law surely?
carmencita ago
We must keep the faith but not be so trusting for they are wise and foxy. But now we are too. We are hopeful now but should also be awake.