Thread: Why the Federal Government Can't End Illegal Immigration

Why the Federal Government Can't End Illegal Immigration
Illegal immigration into the United States is a highly profitable proposition for both employers and the U.S. government, and it also benefits Mexico, which is the largest source country of undocumented immigrants into the US. The US and Mexican governments actively entice illegal immigrants to enter this country and to work illegally for profit-hungry U.S. employers. Poverty-stricken immigrants , who are often desperate to house and feed their families, respond to the financial enticements...and then are blamed by U.S. citizenry for illegally being in the US. The purpose of this 4-part article is to explain why the US federal government can't afford and doesn't soon plan to to end illegal immigration.

Part 1 - United States Borders Are Barely Enforced

Ten million illegal immigrants live in the US, according to estimates by academic and government agencies, although Bear-Stearns investment firm analysts claim that the US illegal immigrant population "may be as high as 20 million people." About 75% of undocumented immigrants arrive across the US southern border with Mexico, and hail from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Colombia and other Central and South American countries.
The bulk...about 50% of all illegals....are Mexican-born people.
Time magazine stated in 2004 that illegal immigration accelerated under the Bush Administration, with the US gaining 3 million additional illegal immigrant residents in 2004. A third of all illegal immigrants in the US live in California. Other states with large illegal populations are, in descending order, Texas, New York, Illinois, Florida and Arizona.
After more than 100 years in existence, President Bush dissolved the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)in March 2003 and absorbed it into the new Homeland Security Department, along with FEMA and dozens of other federal agencies created to help citizens and residents.
Until its dissolution, the INS had been part of the Justice Department since 1940, and before that, part of the US Labor Department. After the September 11, 2001 tragedy, the Bush Administration complained that the INS was insufficiently focused on deporting and expelling illegal immigrants, and thus asked that it be transferred to Homeland Security. The US Border Patrol is charged with the responsibility of enforcing illegal immigration across US borders. Until 2003, the Border Patrol was part of the INS, but was also folded into Homeland Security (as a separate agency from INS).
The massive US intelligence agencies overhaul passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in January 2005 required Homeland Security to hire 10,000 more Border Patrol agents, 2,000 per year starting immediately. The Border Patrol currently employs 9,500 agents who patrol 8,000 miles of border.
But Bush Administration ignored the law mandating the hiring of new agents. Said Congressman John Culberson (R-TX) to CNN's Lou Dobbs, "Unfortunately, the White House ignored the law, and only asked us for 200 more agents. That's unacceptable." Culberson was referring to the federal budget for 2006 in which President Bush provided funds for only 210 new agents, not 2,000 additional agents.
Both houses of Congress worked together twice in 2005 to bypass the White House, and hire 1,500 new Border Patrol agents......500 shy of that required by law, but far surpassing the mere 210 planned by President Bush.
The US-Mexico border remains significantly under-patrolled. On October 7, 2005, 80 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to the President, calling on him to enforce immigration laws, and deferring consideration of the White House's proposed guest-worker immigration program. "History has shown that enforcement provisions are ignored and underfunded..." said the Congressional letter.
Meanwhile, Congressman Culberson told CNN's Lou Dobbs on October 7, 2005, "We've got a full-scale war going on our southern border. You don't need to go to Iraq to see a war. We've got widespread lawlessness...We need boots on the ground...ASAP."

Part 2 - Widespread Poverty and Hunger in Mexico
According to the World Bank, 53% of Mexico' population of 104 million residents live in poverty, which is defined as living on less than $2 a day. Close to 24% of Mexico's population live in extreme poverty, which means they live on less than $1 a day.
The bottom 40% of Mexican households share less than 11% of the country's wealth. Millions live in extreme poverty,and children are compelled to work on the streets in order to help provide food for their families.
Unemployment in Mexico is realistically estimated near 40%, and there are no government unemployment benefits. There are also virtually no welfare benefits to provide the basics for poverty-stricken, often-starving women, children and families.

See part 3 & 4
http://usliberals.about.com/od/immigrat ... alImmi.htm

U.S. government officials should really be pressuring Mexican government to work on their system to provide benefits there and clean up their own act. They should impose sanctions on Mexico until it does take care of their own people. But we all know why this is not happening!

You are right about that. I don't think the article says enough about Mexico's oil. That is the number one reason Bush wants to take on the Mexicans. If he makes Mexico, Canada and the United States as one, he then would have control over both coutries oil. His family then would own more oil. Bush screws with countries that have oil.

It is all a prelud for the SPP>>>NAU>>>New World Order!

Originally Posted by Paige

You are right about that. I don't think the article says enough about Mexico's oil. That is the number one reason Bush wants to take on the Mexicans.

Bingo, Bush is all about oil. OIL runs in his veins. I have long thought that is why the U.S. has stayed away from the crisis in Darfur. Bush wanted to jump all over Saddam because he had oil. But Bush has done little for those people suffering and dying in Sudan and I believe it is due to oil. It took until May 2007, when the U.S. FINALLY announced fresh sanctions targeting Sudanese companies. And guess what, most of those companies are in the OIL business. SURPRISE!

Most of the money from Mexico's oil goes to the rich and nothing to the poor. Mexico refuses to do anything to help its people. From previous comments, most of the mexicans coming into american are not straving but come to america just for the benefits. From the number of day workers on the streets, we don't need illegals, people have just gotten lazy and no longer want to mow their lawns, paint their houses, etc. With the number diabetics increasing maybe people getting out and doing work around houses will decrease the number. Or we can hire the kid next door to mow the lawns and give them something other than be gangs or run up and down the streets. Getting rid of illegals will help american problems. We need to fix our problems before we worry about mexico's problems

Great post Beckyal! Kids who have something positive to do don't usually get in gangs, they also get introduced to learning the value of a dollar. I especially like the way you point out the health benefits of doing physical work. The truth is, our govt knows the same things you pointed out, but refuse to do the right thing because it's all about more M-O-N-E-Y for the corporate types. That's the American way?...

I'll tell you what...having lived in Southern Califonia, neck and neck with the illegals....I NEVER once saw a skinny one! As a matter of fact, most of the women are obese!!!!!!

Never saw any crossing the border that looked like they were starving.