In recent days, there have been numerous individuals insisting that the only way to solve the border problem that we face in America is with a "guest worker" (spelled "a-m-n-e-s-t-y") program coupled with stronger security at our borders. These same people say that it is unrealistic to even discuss the issue of placing a fence along our southern border in an attempt to control the flood of illegal aliens from Mexico, and Central and South America. Although the media insists on calling these people "immigrants", the proper terminology should be illegal aliens, because America allows approximately 1.1 million immigrants from around the globe to enter this country annually, by legal means.
The cost of this "Invasion" to America is immeasurable. The services that are provided free of charge by American taxpayers for emergency medical care, bilingual education, along with many other social services undermines this nation's ability to care for its own citizens. The cost of this "cheap" labor force is anything but cheap. Estimates range from 6,000 to 12,000 illegal aliens enter this country each day.
Currently, our elected representatives in Washington D.C. are debating on various pieces of legislation aimed at "solving" this illegal immigration crisis. The questions that every American should be asking this administration and Congress is "Why haven't you enforced the current legislation?" "Why do we need additional legislation to combat a problem that could be solved if you would enforce the existing laws?"
In 1986, under Ronald Reagan's administration, our government offered the first, and at that time, the only amnesty program for approximately 2.7 million illegal aliens. At the time this amnesty was introduced, the American people were assured by our government that our borders would be secured and that this would be the only time that amnesty would be offered. Fast forward to 2006, and we have the senate passing amnesty legislation and our President supporting actions that violate our current laws (imagine that, with our "Rule of Law" president) with his proposed "guest worker" program.
Recently, several sources have been reporting on the reason that our president has been reluctant to do anything about this illegal invasion. In March of 2005, Mexican president Vicente Fox, George W. Bush, and Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper signed the "Security and Prosperity Partnership" agreement, or SPP. With no oversight from congress or the courts, Bush decided that it was in the best interest of the United States to weaken its sovereignty and borders by entering into this agreement. So as not to be accused of playing the "blame game", it isn't like anyone in Congress seems to be very interested in what the president is up to with the SPP. According to the SPP website ( www.spp.gov ) working groups have been established to implement the "agreement" strategies. Although no one outside of these groups is certain what these strategies truly consist of, a broad overview of the direction this president intends to take this country can be discerned.
While an overwhelming majority of American citizens feel that it is in the vital interest of the United States' security to control our nation's borders, our president has a "better" idea. Click Here to view the SPP security agenda. It takes very little imagination to see that the ultimate goal of the SPP is to establish a "North American Union".
Fences alone are not the answer, but they are a crucial part of the solution to a problem that has been ignored far too long. Constructing a fence along the entire southern border of the United States would be a tremendous undertaking and could very well turn out to be an impossible task. The terrain along the U.S.-Mexico border, in many places, is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to cross. The majority of illegal aliens choose to cross the border in areas that are easier to navigate. Proposed legislation includes a provision for constructing approximately 700 miles of additional fence along the border. This would be roughly 33% of the border that would be more difficult to cross and would have a funneling effect on illegal crossings, which would aid the border patrol in it's efforts to control the border.
The House legislation would also make illegal entry into this country a felony. Many have proposed increased fines for companies that knowingly hire illegal aliens. Some have suggested jail sentences for those who hire illegals.
It will take stronger enforcement and penalties in the United States, coupled with changes in Mexico, to alleviate this criminal invasion. The "catch and release" policy that our border patrol currently uses makes a mockery of border security. For the illegal alien, it becomes a carnival-like "pitch 'til you win" situation where the adage, "If at first you don't succeed, try and try again" becomes the mantra.
A large amount of Mexico's income is derived from the untaxed, illegal wages that undocumented workers, here in the U.S., send back to their families in Mexico. This influx of capital strengthens the Mexican economy by enabling families to purchase goods that they would otherwise be unable to afford. As far as the Mexican government is concerned there is no downside to the situation. Apart from the lip service that Mexican authorities give concerning the work that is being done to stop their citizens from illegally entering the U.S., evidence shows that they are actually aiding these people in their efforts to migrate into this country. Border Patrol agents have reported repeated incursions by what appears to be Mexican military personnel transporting drugs along with illegal human trafficking . It is obviously apparent that the United States will receive little, if any, help from the Mexican government in devising a solution to this problem.
Many politicians, including California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, say that building a wall, or fence, would send the wrong message to Mexico. These same individuals are opposed to sending National Guard units to the border because, "It will send the wrong message." Well, my question is, "What message do we want to send these criminal trespassers who violate the laws of this country, refuse to assimilate into this country's culture, even to the point of refusing to learn the English language?" These individuals took to the streets recently demanding their rights while waving the Mexican flag!!! They are either confused as to what country they are in, or they have a much different agenda than that which the media and George W. Bush would have you to believe. If you would like just a sample of the reason why these illegal invaders held their "spontaneous" demonstrations, just visit this site: http://www.mexica-movement.org/granmarcha.htm and make sure to take it all in.
These demonstrations were organized for weeks, if not months, before their commencement. Spanish speaking radio and television stations announced the organizer's intent for weeks leading up to these demonstrations. The chances that there would be that many Mexican flags for sale here in the U.S. are about as probable as getting Ted Kennedy elected president.
Conditions in Mexico for many of these people seeking a better way of life here in the U.S. are deplorable. With little hope for changes that would be beneficial to them, many Mexican citizens risk everything for the prospect of coming to this country. It is a travesty that the criminal element, coupled with a corrupt Mexican government, has deprived these people of the ability to make a living in their own country and forced them to seek opportunity in America.
For those "fortunate" enough to actually gain illegal entry into the United States, little, true opportunity awaits them here. Business owners eager to exploit the newly arrived "immigrant", welcomes them with open arms and little else. Many times they are forced to work in unsafe and unhealthy conditions doing, as the president and his lackeys are fond of saying, "the work Americans are unwilling to do."
What this administration and the media fails to tell the American public is that Americans cannot afford to work for the cheap wages that businesses and corporations pay the illegal aliens. They also fail to inform the public that, once "legalized", the cheap labor force will cease to exist because the Mexicans will no longer be able to work for the paltry sum they are paid and pay the fines and taxes that will be required of them.
It is time that the United States looked after the citizens of this country. On second thought, maybe the cost of a fence isn't too expensive after all.