American Border Patrol agents are upset that their uniforms have a Made In Mexico label. The agents are worried about what could happen if uniforms disappeared from the factory and turned up in the hands of criminals or terrorists. They are concerned that someone in a stolen uniform could waltz across the border into the US.

To head off that possibility, US House members Rep. John Carter and Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) say they plan to press a measure that would require the uniforms be made in the United States. Renzi said he wants Republican House leaders to include the requirement as part of an immigration enforcement measure expected to be introduced in early December.

That’s all well and good. But how about a little concern that government purchasing contracts are going to companies like VF Solutions of Nashville, Tenn., which subcontracts its work to plants in the United States, Mexico, Canada and the Dominican Republican? In a time when outsourcing is devastating United States labor, shouldn’t our government lead the way in supporting Made In The USA jobs?

One person comes close to expressing that sentiment. “It’s embarrassing to be protecting the U.S.-Mexico border and be wearing a uniform made in Mexico,” says T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a 6,500-member union, in an article appearing on the Wired news feed. The story does not give the context of this quote, but I would hope it’s a case of the union expressing support for the garment makers union, ala that old publicity campaign “Look for the union label.”

I think we should expect our government to back dwindling American factory jobs, even if it costs a little more.