[AuntB]

"But Border Patrol agents told News 10 that in area's to the east, there are many holes in border security. San Diego residents, who fear terrorists could easily take advantage of the security gaps, say that when patrols are on shift changes, illegals by the dozens cross in those lightly-secured areas."

And here's what Rumsfeld said a few days ago:

This is a partial transcript of the Lou Dobbs program on CNN from 11/16/04

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0411/16/ldt.01.html


DOBBS: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is warning of the threat of terrorists entering this country through the same routes as those used by illegal aliens. Secretary Rumsfeld, traveling in South America, warned that enemies look for weaknesses and take advantage of them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The risk is that some of these human-smuggling routes into our country from this hemisphere could be used just as easily for terrorists.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOBBS: And three million illegal aliens are estimated to be entering this country this year.

Secretary Rumsfeld also said the United States has to be, as he put it, smarter and quicker in securing our borders. The federal government's failure to secure those borders is leading individual states to take action. Arizona's Proposition 200, which limits state benefits for illegals, passed overwhelmingly two weeks ago. Now at least half a dozen other states are considering similar measures.

[Ginifer]

Secretary Rumsfeld is Department of Defense and not responsible for controlling the borders (he has enough dealing with the WOT). He may believe that it is very important to stop illegal immigrants from coming across the border; but it is Secretary Tom Ridge and Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security that are the ones responsible for security on the borders.

On March 1st 2003, DHS became responsible for:

* Providing immigration benefits to those individuals who are entitled to stay in the U.S. on a temporary or permanent basis.

* These benefits include the granting of U.S. citizenship to those who are eligible to naturalize, authorizing individuals to reside in the U.S. on a permanent basis, and providing aliens with the eligibility to work in the United States.