[Once-Ler]

Those are some interesting figures and I appreciate you providing them in defense of your opinion. They would be a fantastic challenge against my assertions if I had made a claim that border security was strengthened under Bush. I did not.

Here is why internal enforcement has deteriorated. Yes, the law can be enforced, but will you like the result?

Consider a strategy tried in 1998, one that had all the makings of success. In Operation Vanguard, authorities focused on the meatpacking industry in Nebraska. After comparing records at every plant in the state against Social Security numbers, they notified the employers of about 4,700 suspect workers. The program worked so well that 3,500 workers disappeared.

The long-range plan was to repeat the experiment industry by industry and state by state. This, immigration authorities logically concluded, would persuade employers that it's more economical to hire legal workers. With jobs drying up, illegal immigration would slow. All of this would be done without disruptive raids or wholesale deportations, such as those voted by the House of Representatives in January. But the plan worked too well.

Unions, immigration advocates, the industry and Nebraska's politicians stampeded to protest. Plants couldn't find workers. Livestock demand dropped. Nebraska's economy was disrupted, and immigrant families were torn apart. In a year, Vanguard was gone.

You don't know what you're talking about when you say that enhanced border security would somehow make it hard for the criminal invaders to leave. There is no one challenging them as they leave through appropriate, LEGAL crossing points.

I have not crossed the Mexican border but I know some people who have and they tell me passports were required. A valid passport was necessary for my family to go to Niagara Falls last year. They asked us questions and looked over the car before we were allowed to enter.

If the Mexican government doesn't want the illegals back they can not enter through legal channels and would sent back likely be arrested on our side. Those with criminal records in the US would certainly be taking a chance returning to Mexico through legal channels.

[Spiff]

Those are some interesting figures and I appreciate you providing them in defense of your opinion. They would be a fantastic challenge against my assertions if I had made a claim that border security was strengthened under Bush. I did not.

My point was that while Clinton's interior enforcement numbers were pathetically low, President Bush's numbers are so bad that it made even Clinton look good. The point is that we aren't enforcing our immigration laws. The only thing "broken" or "outdated" about them is that they are not being enforced anymore.

I have not crossed the Mexican border but I know some people who have and they tell me passports were required. A valid passport was necessary for my family to go to Niagara Falls last year. They asked us questions and looked over the car before we were allowed to enter. If the Mexican government doesn't want the illegals back they can not enter through legal channels and would sent back likely be arrested on our side. Those with criminal records in the US would certainly be taking a chance returning to Mexico through legal channels.

You don't need a Passport to leave the U.S. Only to return.

I know of no instance where Mexico has refused to allow re-entry of an illegal alien. Name one.

Beside the fact that they are ALL criminals, those with a further criminal history should have more to worry about staying here then they should have being caught trying to return home. Why would we EVER want to be more welcoming to a criminal fugitive than their home country?