[txdoda]

Furthermore, this keeps the money flowing to Mexico, which has so far not been very cooperative because it relies on the income from its emigrants,regardless of their legal status. Keeping the money flowing legally would enable us to get more cooperation out of Mexico in dealing with the problem of illegal immigration, people smuggling, and non-Mexican immigration through Mexico.

Why is it up to the US taxpayers to foot the bills for mexico's illegals so they can then keep mexico's economy pumped up ???

Last I saw mexico ranked about 14th economically in the world out of more than 200 countries.

How *cooperative* do you think mexico's PRI party is going to be when they are *back* in power come 2006 ??......Keep in mind any *deals* made with Fox we have to *expect* the PRI to then honor (honor being their weakest link....they don't even *honor* their own citizens)

[livius]

Border control would be a lot easier if Mexico would enforce the border from its side, but it doesn't.

Mexico is never going to be truly cooperative, but I think there's a better chance of at least minimal cooperation if the income keeps flowing. In addition, it is not in our best interests to have a truly impoverished country right next door to us.

As for the PRI, the PAN has been little better; in fact, Fox has been much more aggressively obnoxious than even many former PRI presidents.