According to a Pew Hispanic Center survey conducted back in March 2006, approximately 850,000 illegal immigrants penetrate the U.S.-Mexico border each year. Today, illegal immigrants make up approximately 4% of the U.S. population, 5% of the workforce, 50% of California’s prison population, 20% of the general prison population, and 17% of the federal prison population. In the next 24 hours, an additional 2,400 illegal immigrants will have successfully crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. And that's not even the worst of it.
When it comes to border security, President Bush has not only failed the American people, but he has actually placed us in harm’s way. The U.S.-Mexico border is quite possibly the most easily penetrated border in the entire world. Meanwhile, America remains the loftiest of targets for terrorist activity. President Bush’s negligence is criminal.
When Congress created the Department of Homeland Security back in 2002, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was broken up into two separate departments: Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Aside from creating more bureaucracy, the replacement of the INS with two departments has accomplished little. Indeed, the corruption with which the INS was plagued is equally prevalent in the institution’s replacements.
National Security
America’s largely unpatrolled borders poses a significant threat to our national security. While the vast majority of illegal entries into the United States arrive from Mexico, our border with Canada cannot be overlooked. Anybody who crosses either border without detection must be recognized and treated as a security risk. In fact, from the moment a person steps foot on American soil without proper documentation, he or she has already committed a federal offense:
More importantly, the ease with which illegals are crossing our borders on a daily basis sends a clear signal to the entire world that America remains vulnerable to attack.U.S. Code, Title 8, Section 1325: Improper entry by alien
Any alien who (1) enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or (2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or (3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Absolutely on-target. Not only is "President Bush’s negligence...criminal" it's patently irreconciable to his policies about terrorism. Whatever he does now, five years after 9/11 will be too little, to late. And the Government and the Media, as you say, just turn a blind eye and distort the picture, bearing out the contention: "Meanwhile, conscientious Americans who are concerned for their safety, and the safety of their country, have been completely marginalized in the process." Thanks for the pertinent facts and new info.
2 - troll
*journalistic jihad*
nice - kinda rolls off the tounge
troll
3 - Dr Politico
Gordon,
"it's atently irreconciable to his policies about terrorism"
You're absolutely right. The war on terrorism needs to start at home and work outward. Not the other way around.
4 - Bliffle
Sometimes GWB is tough of felons, and sometimes he's soft. Looks like a flip-flopper to some.
5 - Dave Nalle
Bliff, there are many different kinds of criminal. Being considerate of those who have committed no crimes against person or property and hard on those who murder, rape and rob is pretty damned far from being a flip-flop. It's called good sense.
Dave
6 - gonzo marx
how about felony identity theft?
how about forgery of federal or state documents?
millions of these illegals use forged or stolen paperwork, and that number will skyrocket if the Bush 5 years and ya have Amnesty program goes through...
millions will suddenly come up with the documentary "proof" of their being here forever..
or don't those count as "crimes" to you?
Excelsior?
7 - Bliffle
"...there are many different kinds of criminal. Being considerate of those who have committed no crimes against person or property ..."
What crimes are left? Speeding? Jay walking?
8 - Arch Conservative
The immigration border debate has been a raging inferno lately.
The problem of how to stop the flow of illegals coming across the southern border is a real poser..
Earlier to the solution just came to me......... so simple... just one word that I am surpised no one has mentioned yet... at least not that I've heard yet............ a single word solution that if employed corretly would surely stem the tide of illegals within days of implementation........
what is that word?
LANDMINES!
you think i'm fucking kidding? well i'm not
9 - zingzing
yes, let's place landmines all around bing's house. no one gets in, no one gets out.
we can call it "bing's solution! or, cambodia, pt. 2!"
10 - JustOneMan
Hey arch thats a great idea! A couple of pictures of a few illegals on the front page of Norte de Ciudad Juarez Newspaper - looking like sorta like a blob of bean dip, guacamole and salsa...that will have them runnin for the border!!! In a southerly direction...
11 - zingzing
you two are sick, sick people with no respect for human dignity (or life).
the way you pat each others' backs is also pretty nasty. ever heard of frotting? not sure if i spelled that right. anyway, look it up. i'd wikipedia it. probably under "frot."
12 - JustOneMan
#1 Gordon Gefiltefish
You omitted a big hole in your statements...the Dems are equally liable...they also believe that the illegals will become voters someday...the fools that they are....this is lunacy...close the borders...show a military force at the border...and fine and arrest employers harboring this criminals
13 - Arch Conservative
I lose respect for thier "human dignity" when they act on thier lack of respect for my countries laws zing.
Don't wanna get blown up? Simple. DON'T CROSS THE FUCKING BORDER ILLEGALLY!
Figures you'd know what frot means zing.
Frot you!
14 - JustOneMan
Hey Ring Ding..."why can we all just get along"...
Dont you mean "farting"?
"You're like a steamed vegetable, only smarter!"
Sponge Bob Square Pants
15 - JustOneMan
Ring Ding whats with you and all of your "gay" tendencies...I mean references???
Hmmmmm...not that theres anything wrong with that?
16 - Dave Nalle
how about felony identity theft?
how about forgery of federal or state documents?
If someone was harmed, someone should be punished. How about punishing the people who forge the documents and giving the immigrants who really don't know what they're getting into a break?
millions of these illegals use forged or stolen paperwork, and that number will skyrocket if the Bush 5 years and ya have Amnesty program goes through...
Well, that makes no sense at all. If the Bush plan goes through then no one will NEED forged documents.
millions will suddenly come up with the documentary "proof" of their being here forever..
or don't those count as "crimes" to you?
I draw a line between actions done which cause harm to other individuals and actions intended to advance one's own interests with no intention or consciousness of harm. If all crimes were treated exactly the same we'd be executing people for traffic violations.
Dave
17 - zingzing
bing-my gf told me about it one day. she also told me about the "rusty trombone" and the "donkey punch" that day. she's like that.
jom-just gettin' off on you two strokin' your egos.
and, bing again-so, are you happy to see dead mexicans rotting in the no-man's-lands? sick puppy.
18 - JustOneMan
Mexicans??? We dont need no stinkin Mexicans!
Ding-Dong-- its a matter of risk and reward...if the chances are that you might die...I think they would think twice...
Heres one for you left-louies...how comes we are all over WalMart for being the big bad employer for not providing insurance for employees (eventhough they were never obligated by law to do so)..but the same politicians dont offer legislation to boycott Mexican imports or put a BIG luxury tax on Mexican vacations...well what do you have to say???
19 - zingzing
yer being racist and inhumane.
there already is a chance that they might die trying to get over here.
and what do walmart and mexican vacations have to do with each other?
20 - zingzing
and don't say a damn word about race-bating. "stinkin mexicans" and your "put landmines in their path" bullshit already makes that a moot point.
21 - zingzing
baiting.
22 - JR
Dave Nalle: Bliff, there are many different kinds of criminal. Being considerate of those who have committed no crimes against person or property and hard on those who murder, rape and rob is pretty damned far from being a flip-flop. It's called good sense.
That sounds pretty reasonable. If only the Bush administration weren't so zealously going after drug users, to the point of squelching Mexico's efforts at decriminalization.
23 - Dave Nalle
You don't have to convince me, JR. The War on Drugs makes no sense at all as a matter of natuonal policy. It's another example of pandering - in this case to the grey haired AARP types who fear drug-crazed hordes of young rampaging in the streets and stealing their social security checks. Completely irrational, but fear is always easy to play to.
Dave
24 - Bruce De Cell
I would like your permission to put your article on our website.
Thank you.
Bruce De Cell
Board Member www.9-11FSA.org
25 - Dr Politico
Bruce De Cell,
I appreciate your interest. If you go to my website, www.PartisanTimes.com, there's an "Email Me" link on the left side. Just drop me an email so I can contact you personally.
Dr Politico