From what I understand, most LEO are instructed to not get involved in illegal border crossers. In some area's they cannot apprehend illegals on the basis that LEO's suspect they are border-busters...they can however stop the illegals for some other crime-related reason and take it from there. What typically happens is LE is told to let them go. It varies from area to area...I know in my part of the state, illegals cannot be detained by the law unless they commit another crime. States and counties are not financially equipped to deport. Thats the job of the INS. INS tells the LE to take names and let them go and the illegals vanish into the American urban-scape. Our entire system is exploited and taken advantage of, while US, the law abiding tax payers get stuck footing the bill for squatters. I think some duties of the INS should be disolved and the funding go to the individual states so that state and local LE agencies have the means to track, enforce and deport illegal aliens.
I don't think you can get around the fact that the Constitution places defense of the borders in the hands of the federal government. Our problem is that both major political parties, who between them enjoy exclusive ownership of the government and the exclusive right to make and carry out policy, have decided to let the illegals in and never mind either the law or what we think.
Lyndon Johnson started all this, never forget that. And the reason he passed the 1965 bill was because of the Civil Rights Act of 1965, and the political consequences of it that he predicted.
He can't be dug up and hanged enough to suit me. But at least we can take down his library and burn his papers.