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Per a Fox News article I linked to earlier, enforcing existing laws is not working very well. This appears to be due to a combination of inadequate enforcement resources and legal difficulties in prosecution.

Could it be that for the past ten years we have had no concerted effort to enforce our existing laws? What if we really started? Couldn't we throw some real resources into enforcement? I bet that would stem the influx and then we could work on deporting them. First offer them the chance to go home with no questions asked. Only then could they get any kind of work permit. Then, those that stayed would be prosecuted and barred, after deportation, of ever coming back.

The one thing about this issue is that it has been turned into a cultural issue due to the fact that all we are discussing is hispanics. Aren't there many others that should deserve the same chance as they? This is one reason this rankles me so much and it is clear this is a political move on Bush's part. If he were truly interested in being a compassionate president on immigration he would be talking about Poles, Russians, Asians, etc. as well.

For a long time, both the major political parties have allowed the situation to fester based on their own calculations of what was to their advantage - The Rats wanted lots of new Hispanic voters and the Pubbies wanted the cheap labor. Thus, lax enforcement. I really do not know if better enforcement would work or not. I do know that civil libertarians (including lots of conservatives) would go apesh*t if the President suggested a national ID card and giving all police the mandate to check it. Since it is against the law to racially profile, you and I and everyone else here would be subject to police demanding to see our "papers" at any time.

You and Carry_Okie have been beating me up and insisting that all illegals must go home before applying for a guest worker permit. Even if the illegals would go for it, that would be a nightmare to administrate as well as a nasty hit on the economy while all the "undocumented" types went home to get their cards.

This is primarily a Hispanic issue because Mexicans can walk into the country. Asians (who actually are a significant part of the problem) and Europeans need transportation to get here. It is generally easier to catch ships smuggling people than hordes of individuals on foot.

Again, Carry had a really good idea but I think we can explore it some more: How do we encourage these people to go/stay home?