Feds bare all at info and job fair

By Meg Olson

While demonstrators at the Peace Arch this weekend protest free trade throughout the Americas, representatives from border agencies will be explaining their roles in controlling movement of people and goods across the local border.

An informational and employment fair is planned for April 21 at Peace Arch Factory Outlets from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. “The fair is being provided for two reasons,” said Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) inspector Kelly McInnis. “First we want people to have a better understanding of the role each agency plays at the border as well as in the surrounding area. We are also looking for people to join our department.”

Visitors to the fair can learn what they can bring into the United States, what they can’t, and why. Find out why some vehicles and individuals are searched or detained while others are not, what makes a trip commercial, or why the inspector needs to know where you work. Information will also be available on how to emigrate to the U.S. or facilitate importing tricky things like a bird or a tree.

“We want to let the public know the positive side of the service, to let people know we aren’t just full of bad news all the time,” said INS inspector Wilfredo Rosado.

Besides information, the fair also offers job opportunities in law enforcement. Representatives from Whatcom County Sheriff’s office, Washington State Patrol, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, I.N.S, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs, Washington State Liquor Control Board, USDA and North Cascades National Park will attend, explaining what it takes to join their agency and the benefits of a law enforcement job.

Rosado said it’s coincidental that the fair is on the same day as the rally at border. “We’ve been working on this for ten months now with the manager of the outlet mall,” he said.
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