No, I'm not saying that...I'm saying indirectly more is happening on our borders in terms of WMDs, dirty bomb materials, etc - There are absolutely ways to do this without having to check every single back pack (and granted clearly no system is 100% secure). -
If it was easy to secure this border, it would already be secure. You make it sound like it will be easy to do, so easy we can do several other related tasks at the same time with a lot of the same manpower. If it will be easy to secure the border would you mind explaining why it has not been done?
No, it is not easy in the least (and no border will ever be 100% secure - though it seems like a minority on the right seem to think this is possible...or that this border security problem just developed under GWB).
Additionally I don't agree that it will be a lot of the same people running the different tasks/policies of a comprehensive immigration reform package. Border agents (along with NG) will be responsible for the border security....while construction crews will continue to look to build fences / walls were appropriate (this notion that GWB Administration is completely against walls or fences is simply false. VP Cheney clearly stated yesterday not only do they agree with them in certain places but some have been built already).
Those doing the paper work and database responsibilities for all new temporary workers will not at all be the same as the border agents (NG) and or those constructing new fences / walls.
Those manning the additional UAVs and other technologies will not be the same as those responsible for temp worker program, or the construction crews on the border...while certainly there will be some overlap here within the border agents (but that is why an additional 6,000 will be added).
Furthermore creating a system (and incentive) for those illegal here now to come forward and show they want to be supporting citizens of this great nation along with going through whatever assimilation programs are needed is exactly the process to me that needs to begin.
For those that have criminal records they will be held until a time when we feel it is secure enough to ship them back. That seems fair enough to me considering your valid concerns about simply sending them back...before our border is at a secure enough level that we deem appropriate.
If President Bush would present his plan the way you do, I think many more would be in support of it. I am not sure if this is what you want to happen or if this is how you understand it will happen, but I have not heard anything that suggests President Bush supports a fence other than in the urban areas and around POAs; fences have been and already are being built there. I hope he does plan to build fences in at least the hot spot areas.
Those who are supposed to enforce immigration laws now and are not doing such a swell job of it are the same ones that will be expected to enforce any new immigration policy. They will be overwhelmed with new illegals flooding in while trying to deal with the current bunch if the border is not secured first.
I think much of the dissent is caused by the President not making it clear that border security is at the top of his list of border issues. I have been listening to him carefully for assurances and explanations of how all this is supposed to come about and I have not been assured by what he has said. I have the impression that he has been skimming over talking about border security while pushing for a guest worker plan. I think any plan to legalize illegals without a secure border in place will fail. I could be wrong- but so could you.
You and I will have to agree to disagree on some of this, I still want to see the border secure before we start legalizing illegals. I do think if the border was secure, there would be more support for a plan to deal with the illegals.