Taking this discussion down a different path, the NPR clip posted is a conversation between the interviewer and ONE CBP agent that they had met previously on assignment in San Diego. His quote is, "I think most border patrol agents know that [barriers work]..." Well, first of all, DUH! My dog certainly recognizes the fence in my yard and doesn't try to magically teleport itself onto the other side. My kids understand that when they're in their classrooms at school that the only way to get from one side to the other is through the door. I understand that my garage door is not an optical illusion and I have to actually open it before I back out.
To take it further though, are we ok taking something that one CBP agent says and extrapolating it to infer that all CBP agents feel the same way? I work in the financial industry and I feel there should be thoughtful regulation; however, there are many in my line of work that feel very differently. Would you use an interview I did to infer that all in the financial industry feel as though there should be regulation?
I'm not saying that the majority of the CBP doesn't feel this way. I'm just saying that it's disingenuous to take one guy's interview and state that it's the feeling of the entire agency. Ask any employee what they want - what would make doing their job better and easier - and they're going to ask for the world. Ask the clerk at 7-11. Ask the dry cleaner. Ask a teacher. Ask a police officer. Ask a soldier. At the end of the day though, it's about cost vs. benefit.