Congressionman John Barrow recently went to the Border (you know, the one with Mexico) to find out for himself what was going on. (BTW, this interview aired Thanksgiving Eve, but unfortunately, I just could not get it posted until today.)
John’s group visited El Paso, TX and Tucson, AR. I was encouraged by John’s report. John makes it clear that we need border security. Like most everything else that we think and believe about things we don’t experience personally, the idea that our borders are being crossed by men, women and families that just want a better life is just wrong. Sure, some may just want to come to work (and send the money to Mexico), but there is also the reality that many of these individuals are nothing more than criminals and drug smugglers. While John and his group were present, a guy with $30,000 on his person (drug money) was apprehended, as well as someone wanted for murder and a tractor trailer transporting drugs. Imagine what would be coming into this country if we had “open borders,” which is the ultimate goal of those who want to reform immigration policy, rather than enforce the law.
While John didn’t call it a war, it sure seems to be one. He said that the Border Patrol has the highest rate of fatalities of any law enforcement agency in the USA. Everyday, in border cities like El Paso, the border patrol have rocks thrown at them from the Mexican side of the border as they try to apprehend someone crossing illegally.
John explains that the purpose of a border fence is not to be an absolute barrier that can’t be crossed, but more of a “force multiplier” that increases the border patrol’s available response time. In a border city, such as El Paso, TX, law enforcement only has a few seconds before an illegal alien disappears into the crowd. A fence that takes more time to cross increases the available response time to minutes. Further out, in the middle of nowhere, motion detectors and sensors accomplish the same thing by increasing the response time to hours and even days.
The most amazing thing is that thanks to former Republican Arizona Congressman, Jim Kolbe, there were absolutely no “check points” along the Arizona border with Mexico. You’ve heard of earmarks to put pork in a congressional district, well Kolbe used earmarks to prevent any funds being spent in his district for check points. Incredible! How in the hell can the security policy of this country be controlled by one congressman? At least, Kolbe did not run for re-election in 2006! The idiot.
But, as John points out, border security is not a priority for everyone and there is a lot of feet dragging. On 9-11, there were about 10,000 border patrolmen, now, six years later there are only 15,000. That’s not a lot when you think of how much border there is.
Ultimately, this issue of border security and law enforcement is an economic one. You can continue to be in favor of amnesty and paths to citizenship if you think the issue is that simple, but illegal aliens are a work force that take American jobs. You know, the ones that Ameicans won’t do! Well, John puts that argument into perspective: Americans won’t do them, sure, because you pay a Mexican wage. Pay an American wage and Americans will do it.
They (the NAFTANS) exported our manufacturing plants in the 1990’s. The next target is to cheapen the labor that can’t be exported. Think about it! Mexico does!
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