How can you say we haven't tried? It's law, it's on the books, law enforcement knows it. Employers hire illegals. Illegals ignore the law. the Mexican government and military and police are beyond corrupt, and it's too big a problem for Border Patrol and the police to fix. It's like stupid people. You can't make stupid people smart if they are bound and determined to be stupid. You can't make illegal immigrants obey the law and pay taxes if they refuse to. You just have to round them up and kick them out and keep them out. But the border has to come first, and that was most of Bush's speach, but it needs more than what he said tonight, though it was a good start. Until the border is fixed, you can't tackle the illegals already in the country. It's like stacking marbles in the corner. It's a full time job, with lots of overtime, and not a stinking thing to show for it.
Yes, we have laws on the books but they aren't being enforced. LEO is NOT allowed to ask if someone is a citizen or not. The day laborers stand in groups under the freeway and LEO drives by looking at them. No broken laws in just standing there. The existing laws haven't already been tried, groups like the ACLU prevent it.