Rep. Bill Owens (D-Plattasburgh) says he is “seriously concerned” about what he calls “worrisome” plans by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to cut staff assigned to the border with Canada.

In a letter dated Tuesday to CBP Acting Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski, Owens expressed concern over “plans to threaten northern border security by significantly and abruptly reducing staff at the Plattsburgh Air Branch, information I have recently heard from several of my constituents.”

He cites in the letter a conversation he had last month with CBP’s Office of Air and Marine Assistant Commissioner Randolph Alles, “who informed me that any planned reduction in staffing at this location would occur incrementally, over the next three to five years. I have just learned today that CBP plans to significantly reduce the size of the Plattsburgh Air Branch within the next approximately 90 days.

“I hope that I was not deliberately misled during my August 1st conservation regarding CBP’s true intentions for the northern border,” Owens wrote.

“It is now my understanding that, of the 25 existing personnel in Plattsburgh, most of those employees not volunteering to be relocated to the southwestern border would be forced to relocate or be terminated” he wrote.

“I am deeply concerned with the security implications of this precipitous reduction in surveillance resources along the northern border,” Owens wrote. He said he would like to see how CBP arrived at their decision, and the analysis they used.

The 21st District congressman said the rapid draw-down is worrisome enough, but that he also concerned with an apparent lack of transparency in dealing with the agency.

The full text of his letter follows:

September 17, 2013

Acting Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski

US Customs and Border Protection

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20229

Dear Acting Commissioner Winkowski:

I write you to express my serious concerns with Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) plans to threaten northern border security by significantly and abruptly reducing staff at the Plattsburgh Air Branch, information I have recently heard from several of my constituents.

On August 1, 2013, I had a thorough conversation with CBP’s Office of Air and Marine Assistant Commissioner Randolph Alles who informed me that any planned reduction in staffing at this location would occur incrementally, over the next three to five years. I have just learned today that CBP plans to significantly reduce the size of the Plattsburgh Air Branch within the next approximately 90 days. I hope that I was not deliberately misled during my August 1st conservation regarding CBP’s true intentions for the northern border. It is now my understanding that, of the 25 existing personnel in Plattsburgh, most of those employees not volunteering to be relocated to the southwestern border would be forced to relocate or be terminated.

I am deeply concerned with the security implications of this precipitous reduction in surveillance resources along the northern border. I would like to be fully briefed on the analysis that CBP has undertaken in order to anticipate the effects of this decision on CBP’s ability to perform its critical national security mission. I would also like to better understand the accommodations that have been made for CBP officers and their families who have been asked to make a decision, within about a week, about abruptly uprooting and moving across the country. Senator Schumer shares my concerns with the impact of this action on northern border security as evidenced by his meeting earlier today with the nominee for CBP Commissioner, Richard Kerlikowske, and the senator’s subsequent press release.

Beyond the worrisome security implications of a rapid draw-down, I am also seriously concerned with the lack of transparency displayed in this important decision. I would like to know precisely what has changed since I spoke with Assistant Commissioner Alles and why I was not updated on these important developments.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

BILL OWENS

Member of Congress

Cc: Senator Charles Schumer

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Director Richard Kerlikowske, Office of National Drug Control Policy