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    Administrator Jean's Avatar
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    CA: National Guard to begin reducing border force

    National Guard to begin reducing border force

    Apr 14, 2007

    By: MARK WALKER - Staff Writer

    SAN YSIDRO -- As planning begins to reduce the number of National Guard troops along the border with Mexico, less than 1,000 of 6,000 new U.S. Border Patrol agents that the Bush administration wants in place by the end of next year have been hired.

    As of March 17, the Border Patrol has only been able to hire and train 593 new agents or 9 percent of the administration's goal, according to Javier Rios, a Border Patrol spokesman in Washington.

    Screening new agents and a lengthy training process have resulted in the relatively small number of new hires. By the end of 2008, the administration wants a Border Patrol force of about 18,000 agents, up from the 12,000 in place when the president ordered the troops to the border last June.

    Guard commanders in California and other states assigned to the border duty are starting to put together plans to reduce the troop presence.

    There were 1,389 members of the California Guard's air and ground units on the border last week, a number that probably will fall to between 1,000 and 1,100 by the fall, said Lt. Col. Jon Siepmann, a Guard spokesman in Sacramento.

    "This has always been a temporary mission," he said, adding that the assignment officially ends in December 2008. "Our end strength (later this year) will be based on what the Border Patrol says it needs."

    Governors across the nation, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, initially resisted the Guard assignment, saying it came at a time when Guard units and their families were stressed by frequent deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

    As the border mission has gone on, those assignments haven't waned, and the Defense Department last week said that up to 12,000 Guard troops from four states other than California could be headed to Iraq early in 2008.

    The border assignment has been a success, according to the administration and the Border Patrol, which say the number of people trying to enter the U.S. illegally has fallen dramatically.

    Along the 60-mile San Diego border sector, apprehensions fell by more than 6,500 people in a 12-month period ending April 1 with 67,926 arrests compared with 74,463 in the previous 12-month period, according to Border Patrol statistics.

    Cat and mouse

    Attempted illegal crossings into the U.S. are still a daily part of life along the border.

    As an example: A few yards from where a California National Guard crew last week bulldozed a hillside just over the line that separates Tijuana from the U.S., a half-dozen homeless people were gathered in a drainage spillway, seemingly oblivious to the noise and work going on around them.

    The group was actually several feet inside the U.S., living in a makeshift encampment. A member of the group who identified himself as Jesus Gonzales said he had been there for several weeks, weighing whether to try to make his way farther into San Diego County.

    The Border Patrol says that kind of cat-and-mouse game is a regular occurrence near the San Ysidro crossing on Interstate 5, the nation's busiest land crossing.

    "There are always people who will play that game," James Jacques, a supervisory Border Patrol agent in San Diego, said of the group. "It becomes a question of how much time and resource do you want to spend running back and forth chasing people who can move a few feet and be back in Mexico?"

    It was another example of the oddities encountered along the border, where Guard troops have been serving as extra eyes and ears, as well as on construction and support crews.

    Instead of trying to arrest the homeless group, the Border Patrol relies on cameras, sensors and spotters to make sure the squatters stay put.

    Working as members of what the Guard calls "entry identification teams" is one of the primary jobs for the Guard along the 1,983-mile border with Mexico. Only a very few carry arms under guidelines that the administration established.

    The spotting task goes on day and night at places in this region that the Border Patrol has given nicknames such as Tin Can, Arnie's Point, Washer Woman and Smuggler's Gulch, the latter a large, rugged expanse where attempted crossings are commonplace.

    Guard drawdown

    As the patrol struggles to find and qualify recruits to send to its academy in Artesia, N.M., Guard officials are beginning work on identifying who in its ranks to pull off the border mission, dubbed by the Bush administration as Operation Jump Start.

    Just how many troops will remain by year's end and by this time next year is uncertain, the Guard's Liepmann said.

    California's border is divided into two primary enforcement sectors, San Diego, where 455 Guard troops were assigned last week, and El Centro.

    The far eastern portion of the state is covered by Border Patrol agents based in Yuma, where Bush appeared last Monday to push his immigration reform legislation and praise the Guard for its efforts.

    "Fewer are trying to come across; we're deterring people from attempting illegal border crossings in the first place," Bush said.

    Capt. Kim Holman, a public affairs officer assigned to the San Diego sector, said the Guard troops are using the border assignment as a "real world" training opportunity.

    "We think we have done a lot to improve the situation," she said last week. "We're very proud of the reduction in apprehensions because we think that shows our help is working."

    Agents and their Guard assistants assigned to the San Diego sector work out of six stations along the border and from two inland sites, covering 7,000 square miles overall.

    The sector is anticipating getting at least 22 more agents soon from the pool of the newly hired, said agent Adan Cortez, who was working the San Ysidro area last week along with several Guard troops.

    Cortez said he believes the Guard's presence has helped reduce attempted illegal crossings because smugglers and people acting on their own know the border is being much more closely monitored.

    Besides acting as spotters, Guard troops have filled desk jobs and are helping to build a secondary fence to augment an existing paneled barricade that is easily scaled. The California Guard also has a fleet of eight helicopters based at San Diego's North Island Naval Air Station that are used to conduct patrols and ferry agents in and out of remote areas.

    Chris Bauder, president of the Border Patrol union that represents the approximately 1,650 agents that make up the rank and file of San Diego sector, said the National Guard has helped. But the union official said the various attempts to curb illegal immigration over the years haven't succeeded.

    "There's no question that there are more resources down on the border, but from our perspective, U.S. border strategies remain a failure," he said.

    'Helping out'

    Back where the homeless Mexicans were making camp last week, Guard engineering crews are working to reduce the slope of an area where the secondary fence is under construction.

    It's the same kind of work that Guard troops have been helping with in this region since the Clinton administration launched a program called Operation Gatekeeper in 1995. Guard troops also have aided in drug interdiction efforts for years.

    All of the California National Guard troops working on the Bush border initiative volunteered for the task, including Sgt. Nick Diaz, a medic from Los Angeles who spent most of 2005 as an Army ambulance driver in Tikrit, Iraq.

    Diaz has been on the border assignment for the last nine months but has yet to have been called on to treat anyone. It's boring compared with his experiences in Iraq, he said.

    "But I also know that we're helping out down here," he said, adding that he can go home and see his family when not on duty.

    If guardsmen spot an attempted border crossing or some other illegal activity, they report it and the Border Patrol dispatches its agents to make the arrest.

    "Our mission is not to stop or apprehend illegal aliens," said Guard Master Sgt. Michael Drake. "It's to help the Border Patrol stop the number of attempted entries, reduce the flow of drugs and erect new barriers."

    http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/04 ... _14_07.txt
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  2. #2
    Senior Member Skip's Avatar
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    Comments On This Story

    Note: Comments reflect the views of readers and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff.

    We are Losing the War wrote on April 15, 2007 1:09 AM:"We need to take troops from wherever possible and put them on the lines against the enemy. We need to pull the troops from Iraq and put them on the border before we lose the fight. Who cares about another countries security, when we can't even manage our own. Stay tuned for the enemy crossing into Mexico and then up through the border. I'd rather fight them at the border, then fight them in my neighborhood. Insanity and Anarchy are some bad habits our nation has aquired. Vote for Tancredo."

    Patriot wrote on April 15, 2007 1:13 AM:"We should send all the businessman and homeowners who hire these illegals down to the border to do this job. When they understand what their actions have done to our community, they will think twice about undercutting their honest competition by using illegal labor. Part of our problem is the honest companies have been put out of business because they won't hire illegal aliens to compete. That's not capitalism, it crosses the line. Treat them the same as crackheads, because they are crooks."

    Are You Kidding? wrote on April 15, 2007 2:43 AM:"Uhhh...I think what we really need to do is increase the border presence ten-fold. And then some. Oh, by the way, I think the National Guard mission should change so the goal IS TO STOP AND APPREHEND ILLEGAL ALIENS. Our country is being invaded right now, and the last thing we want to do is to let up on the border. What are you people thinking?!?!?!"

    Skip wrote on April 15, 2007 4:23 AM:"We really need to bring our troops home from Iraq and station them on our Southern Borders. It is time to get serious. That guy in the picture, living in the storm drain could be the next guy preparing your food at your next fast food restaurent."


    While others sleep, Jesus Gonzalez, who says he's homeless, sits in a storm drain on the U.S. side of the international border between Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, California on Wednesday. The border fence goes over the open area of the drainage where a man stands in the background. Gonzalez said that he and several other homeless people live in this tunnel and sometimes he tries to go further into the United States. He also said they go back through the tunnel to Tijuana to get food and supplies.

    Border Insecurity wrote on April 15, 2007 7:02 AM:"Bush is a joke!"

    Susan wrote on April 15, 2007 7:32 AM:"I fail to beleive that apprehensions or those trying to cross the border have decreased. The reality is that with a possible amnesty in the future it is prompting more to try and cross. Remember that for every illegal caught, 3 more evade arrest. Nothing has changed. This story along with the lastest poll showing the majority in CA favor amnesty, proves to me that we are still being bombarded with mis-information. It's not working in this house!"

    Skip wrote on April 15, 2007 7:44 AM:"How many miles of the 700 Mile fence have been completed?"

    David wrote on April 15, 2007 7:57 AM:"I think you writers along with Bush think we are a bunch of idiots. Seal the borders and that ends our problems. We can all pick our own fruit and everything else the "bleeders" say we Americans won't do."

    Gary wrote on April 15, 2007 8:07 AM:"If Border apprehnsions and crossers are really down this year, then why are people applying for Taxpayer Identification Numbers in record numbers? Is it because they all just became honest and want to pay their fair share?"

    fedup wrote on April 15, 2007 8:39 AM:"......and to think that Kennedy started this in the 1960s'! It has been downhill ever since then, the only way to get the problem under control is to secure the OUR border and deport all of the ILLEGALS. "

    Adam wrote on April 15, 2007 8:43 AM:"We need to bring our National Guard Troops home from the Border and station them at Driver's License checkpoints in Escondido!"

    Enemys Galore! wrote on April 15, 2007 9:30 AM:"The enemy of the American people are: globalist Bush and his neo-cons, a large % of congress and government bureaucrats, multinational corporations, Mexican government, US citizen Agents of Mexico, radical Muslims, and scores more. Back to Mexico and the border. See Stop Spp ... to read about and view the root cause of the Mexican invasion. What to do? Pester your elected officials and tell them to stop the Mexican invasion and no to the North American Union."

    Interior Enforcement wrote on April 15, 2007 9:30 AM:"The National Guard should return to our communities to do immigration enforcement. National Guard check points and sweeps in our communities would do a great amount to stopping this relentless invasion."

    Gary in Murrieta wrote on April 15, 2007 9:54 AM:"Why would anyone want to be a Border Patrol Agent, after what Our Government did to Ramos and Campean? They were hung out to dry and to this day they are still sitting in Prison. Meanwhile the Illegal Alien Drug Smuggler is free to go back to his work, and who know he may even win a 5 Million-Dollar lawsuit against the Federal Government (U.S. Taxpayers)."

    Susan wrote on April 15, 2007 10:00 AM:"I wish newspapers in general would check their facts before being so quick to publish stories that reflect their opinions. These are the latest statistics from JUST the Tucson sector, Border Patrol for the month of March 2007- ONE MONTH, ONE AREA. 52,164 illegals apprehended trying to cross the border, 626 vehicles carrying illegals or drugs confiscated and 99,366 pounds of Marijuana confiscated. For every illegal caught, the Border Patrol estimates 3 others enter the US undetected. That's 156,000 that entered this country illegally in one month JUST in the Tucson sector. "

    NUMBERS DON’T LIE - TUCSON SECTOR wrote on April 15, 2007 10:31 AM:"52,664 are the number of illegal aliens apprehended by the Border Patrol, Tucson Sector from March 1-31, 2007. That averages 1,650 illegals arrested every day of the month. Almost 53,000 illegals caught in just one month in just the Tucson sector. Do you realize how many get through? The Border Patrol estimates that for every one caught, 3 get through. The numbers are staggering and what you hear our president mouthing is apparently not true!"

    MVet wrote on April 15, 2007 10:43 AM:"They can plan to cut and run in the United States, where are borders are still very unsecured for Illegal Aliens, Drug Runners, and who knows what else, but we cannot effectively plan an exit strategy in Iraq, what is wrong with this picture?"

    Ask wrote on April 15, 2007 10:45 AM:"Just another reason the federal gov't needs to assist California financially! "

    pablo wrote on April 15, 2007 10:47 AM:"Another “Mission Accomplished.” Not a crazy as it sounds. W and Karl Rove are running rings around the Democrats. They have the dopey Dems betraying their constituents? Hillary, Obama, Edwards and the other Democrat presidential candidates can not justify to blacks and other lower to middle class American citizens, (mostly Democrats) that they have their interests at heart while at the same time they are supporting amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants who are doing the jobs that used to be available to Americans? The dopey Dems can not justify supporting bringing more non-citizen guest workers in to make sure the supply of hard working poor is always plentiful and cheap for unscrupulous employers? It is so anti American worker, anti legal immigrant worker, so anti Democrat. Are these so-called Democrat leaders so dumb, so blinded by their own egos and ambitions, that they don’t realize that they are being trapped to go against their traditional supporters, being suckered by W and Karl Rove. Don’t they realize that the one and only initiative that Bush can possibly get passed and then only with their complicity will stack the deck, set the stage for Bush’s 30 tear old half Mexican nephew George P. Bush (google him) to be elected the third Bush POTUS when he is old enough (35 years). Either as a Republican or if need be a Democrat it wouldn’t matter to Rove or W. How dopey are they? "

    DANNY wrote on April 15, 2007 11:00 AM:"how can they be reducing the guard numbers when they havnt even put the 6k they were supposed to at the border yet! what a joke! THERE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE TILL DEC. 08!!! ITS STILL 2007. "

    Support Our Oops wrote on April 15, 2007 11:11 AM:"Bush can't seem to do any better with the border patrol than with Katrina. All drugstore cowboy drawl, no hat. Hundreds of billions of dollars every year on an illegal and immoral war and it's no wonder Bush hasn't yet trained more than 16% of the border patrol agents he "planned" for the border. Bush is too busy making his family and friends super rich."

    Militia Replacements wrote on April 15, 2007 12:06 PM:"Time for the militia and minutemen to patrol the border!"

    Heady wrote on April 15, 2007 12:22 PM:"The US Gov just doesn't have the resolve to accomplish what they say. Welcome to the united states of mexico and the us. In the meantime, the people of both countries are suffering along with all the rest of the "3rd world countries" What's up? Zeig Heil."

    Border apprehensions on the rise in Cochise County wrote on April 15, 2007 12:23 PM:"Gustavo Soto, a spokesman for the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector, said agents at the Naco, Douglas and Willcox stations captured more than 13,000 illegal immigrants last month, a 30 percent increase from March 2006. "

    Skip wrote on April 15, 2007 12:26 PM:"U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol apprehended 31,649 illegal aliens and seized 18,713 pounds of marijuana between from between April 18 – 24, the most recent period for which statistics are available. In Tucson Sector, the most active Sector in the nation, CBP Border Patrol agents apprehended 12,434 illegal aliens. It has been widely reported, but not verified that 52,664 are the number of illegal aliens apprehended by the Border Patrol, Tucson Sector from March 1-31, 2007. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2006_2.xml "

    Skip wrote on April 15, 2007 12:27 PM:"This fiscal year to date, CBP Border Patrol has apprehended 704,239 illegal aliens and seized 848,543 pounds of marijuana in border security operations. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2006_2.xml"

    Howiek wrote on April 15, 2007 12:59 PM:"Skip! You asked how much of the 700 fence has been built? Zero so far, Congress approved the fence but didn't fund it! And never will!"

    taking military troops? wrote on April 15, 2007 1:19 PM:"Thats a dumb idea. Our soldiers and sailors are stretched to the limit and you think its easy to just add a few thousand to the border. You join the military if you want to be on deployment indefinitely!"

    ONE WAY wrote on April 15, 2007 1:29 PM:"One way to stop people from coming over is to stop giving them free aid. If you come here and you don't have jobs or aid here and you have to hide from the law...why would you come? It takes a community coming together."

    Skip wrote on April 15, 2007 1:36 PM:"I am in the Military. Only 2 more years to go."

    American woman wrote on April 15, 2007 1:45 PM:"President bush has no intention of securing the border. The article points out that the hiring process is not going well. Hmmm....I wonder why. Could it be because of the way the administration has treated the agents already working? Maybe young men and women don't like the idea of not being able to do the jobs they are hired and trained to do. Maybe they fear having the same thing happen to them as has happened to Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. These two border agents are serving ridiculously long prison terms for doing their jobs. They have been incarcerated for nearly 100 days now, serving 11 and 12 year-sentences for shooting an illegal alien in the side of the buttocks. Both are kept in solitary confinement while a degenerate Mexican drug smuggler illegal walks free! I personally regard Border Patrol as a noble undertaking...just as satisfying and challenging as any other law enforcement position, but if the possibility exists that one might be deemd a criminal for exacting his duties, I don't blame anyone for backing away. President Bush is the lowest of the low when it comes to policing our border with Mexico. There is an alliance in place between the two governments that will never be revealed to the taxpayers of America...at least not before it's too late. For those who call the Minuteman movement a vigilante group, the National Guard is doing exactly what the Minutemen and women do at the border, and that is, "observe and report." I recommend that folks contact the Minuteman Project website and arrange to spend a day or two on the border, or rally with the group. No children under 18 years of age. Here's some food for thought: Say we have the usual number of BP agents at the border. Let's use the figure, 13,000, which is more than we have now. A percentage of these will not be boots-on-the-ground types, so lets reduce the number of men and women on the border to 11,000. Divide that number between the Northern and Southern borders. Let's just pick 7,000 agents South and 4,000 agents North. Then let's divide the Southern agents into 3 shifts=less than 2400 men and women to cover the entire 2,000+ miles of border. Take away the 400 who work inland. So lets' just guess each agent has his/her one+ miles of border to watch. Thankfully, we have sensors and special cameras, etc. to help locate intruders, but a mile is a long way to go when a siting is made or reported. Not only that, but it takes more than one agent to handle groups of illegals. They usually travel in groups...sometimes quite large. My point is that this is a daunting job, and a very dangerous one. Why would the government discourage our agents from using force where needed? I am sick of hearing how sad it is that so many die trying to make the long trip across the desert, mountains and river to commit the criminal act of breaking into a sovereign nation. The National Guard may stand down, but the Minutemen and women will stand our ground...and by the way, there aren't enough of us!"

    Bleeding Heart wrote on April 15, 2007 1:52 PM:"You sound like a bunch of rascists with all this talk about "illegal aliens" and "drug dealers". Please people, these are undocumented immigrants and unlicensed pharmacists. "

    To Pablo wrote on April 15, 2007 1:53 PM:"Thanks for the lead on GPB. GWB's close ties to Mexico are bothersome. Did GPB claim dual-nationality during Mexico's 5-year reclamation period? I could not find anything on that."

    Melvin wrote on April 15, 2007 2:01 PM:"Seriously, do you guys really know what your talking about? Some of you demand a "tougher stand" against illegal immigration by demanding community "sweeps", check points, etc. Great, I respect your right to demand such things, but not in this country. Move to Russia, they will be more willing to employ such "enforcement" tactics. Do you guys really think that our government would simply seat back and let illegal immigrants enter if there was it an economic benefit from their labor? Honestly. Look beyond the rhetoric and try to take on this issue from a different perspective. You oppose illegal immigration, fine. But at least show some factual data that covers comprehensive perspective, not your mere ill-conceived opinions. Now, bring your ignorant responses to my comment."

    Gary in Murrieta wrote on April 15, 2007 2:04 PM:"The assistant chief of the Border Patrol's San Diego sector says apprehensions here are down 95 percent, from 100,000 a year to 5,000 a year, largely because the single strand of cable marking the border was replaced by double -- and in some places, triple -- fencing. HERE IS THE SOLUTION : A TRIPLE BARRIER FENCE ACCROSS THE ENTIRE SOUTHERN BORDER. The money that it costs to build the fence will be recouped in lost taxes and costs for social services in just a few years. Then we really can have comprehensive immigration reform and a work program if we deem that we need it. Immigration laws were designed to protect America, and we cannot leave it up to Illegal Aliens to respect our laws as we are doing now."

    To Bleeding Heart wrote on April 15, 2007 2:09 PM:"Your American friends buying drugs from these "unlicensed pharmacists" share as much responsability. Supply and demand. Funny, you and most of your friends here are probably retired and collecting social security, not knowing that "illegals" are paying for you to stay at home and post these hateful comments (see Gary's comment above at 8:07 a.m.) "

    Skridle Fiddle wrote on April 15, 2007 2:21 PM:"Remember that Ronald Regan said, "Mr Kruchev, take down this fence!" Exactly. And take down this ridiculous fence on the border with our NEIGHBOR, MEXICO. We are not talking Communist East Germany here boys and girls. We are talking about our future partner in THE NORTH AMERICAN UNION!! STOP WITH FENCES AND ARMIES on our border. Get real and let's RELAX THE BORDER!! These SO-CALLED "illegal aliens" are good people who just haven't gotten some silly little piece of paper yet and which they won't need anyway as soon as AMNESTY AND LEGALIZATION happen. Which will be soon. To be accurate, they are paperless immigrants. THERE WILL BE A COMMON CITIZENSHIP when the North American Union is set up and then all Canadians, Mexicans and United Statesians will be NORTH AMERICANS.!!! Never happen you say? Don't be foolish. Before NAFTA was adopted one could hear the same hue and cry, but IT WAS ADOPTED. Way back on Jan. 1, 1994!! Same will occur for the NORTH AMERICAN UNION. Common currency, common citizenship, the metric system and VOILA ~ we will FINALLY be in the 21st Century with a vastly improved economy and HUMAN RIGHTS for all, not just the few!!!!"

    To : To Bleeding Heart wrote on April 15, 2007 2:23 PM:"Gee I feel hurt. What exactly was hateful about my comment at 8:07 a.m.?"

    Skip wrote on April 15, 2007 2:30 PM:"Don't let anyone fool you ,we have to pay for the Illegal Aliens somehow. The recently released Heritage Foundation Report states that "Overall, households headed by persons without a high school diploma (or low-skill households) received an average of $32,138 per household in direct benefits, means-tested benefits, education, and population-based ser*vices in FY 2004. If expenditures for interest and other financial obligations relating to past government activities are added to the count, expenditures rise to $36,989 per household. If the cost of public goods is added, annual total expenditures on benefits and services come to $43,084 per low-skill household." That is at least 3 to 4 times that the Illegals pay in Taxes (if any at all).""

    AEQUITAS wrote on April 15, 2007 2:47 PM:"FINALLY, FINALLY some sanity is setting in! It is NOT the National Guard's purpose to be used as a border patrol. Rather they are a state milita intended for natural disasters, such as earth quakes, to control looting or to put down massive rioting. If they are federalized by the President, it should be for their use in a DECLARED WAR, which has not been done under our Constitution. As presently used, the Guard is being used illegally and this should be tested in court!! How silly border patrolling is anyway. The borders will always be porous and that is only one avenue among many for aliens to enter the USA. Most have overstayed their visas or were held and released for a hearing at a port of entry, never to be seen again. It is estimated that there are TWENTY MILLION PLUS people in the USA without papers. Most are NOT from Mexico, although the number from Mexico is high (maybe 40%.) The better part of valor is to be real and grant them amnesty with a road map to legalization and then citizenship!! And this process is in the works and will be adopted because it's in the best interests of American businesses and ultimately our citizens. If we could, which we can't, deport all of the 20 million + undocumented immigrants, our economy would suffer a severe setback, leading to hyperinflation and disaster. And that is why they will never be deported, but will be legalized. "

    To : AEQUITAS wrote on April 15, 2007 3:01 PM:"Sure let's just give away America. Will you feel the same when the number of Illegal Immigrants is at 40 Million. It won't take long now at the rate we are going. If too many of the third world's poor, destitute, and uneducated come here, then we will turn into just like the countries they are escaping from. There are probably half a billion people who would love to come here tomorrow if we let them. Can you pay to support them?"

    Hey Skridle Fiddle wrote on April 15, 2007 3:30 PM:"Nikita Krushchev "retired" in 1964, and died in 1971. He wasn't around for Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speach on June 12, 1987, which was adressed to Makhail Gorbachev. This same level of ignorance informs your entire argument. Did enjoy the "paperless immigrants" part, however. Please keep your "worthwhileness impaired" comments to yourself."

    Syl wrote on April 15, 2007 3:47 PM:"In order to have a successful North American Union, the countries involved must be fairly equal. I admit we have a lot in Common with Canada, but we have nothing in common with Mexico. Oh wait I almost forgot, we do have 15% of the Mexico's citizens illegally living in the United States. Should that count?"

    Gary wrote on April 15, 2007 3:52 PM:"RE : Gary wrote on April 15, 2007 8:07 AM:"If Border apprehnsions and crossers are really down this year, then why are people applying for Taxpayer Identification Numbers in record numbers? Is it because they all just became honest and want to pay their fair share?" >>>> LOL .... Maybe it is because the want their EARNED INCOME CREDIT (EIC). Did you know that Illegal Aliens can claim their dependents in Foreign Countries to obtain EIC?"

    Skridle Fiddle wrote on April 15, 2007 4:02 PM:"The exact quote is: "Come here, to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” —Speech at the Berlin Wall, June 12, 1987" And so whatsky? Point was made and is just as valid. Who cares as to the precision of the quote? Here we have a nameless little man tossing little sarcastic insults as his mode of argument and indulging in pedantic sophistry. And on top of it all, the little man (or whatever it is) wants to be a censor too! Funnnnnnny. "

    To Syl et al ~~ wrote on April 15, 2007 4:07 PM:"It doesn't matter what you happen to think is the proper criteria for the establishment of a North American Union. Do yourself a favor and read the history of NAFTA and see that all the yowling and howling against it (including that of Ross Perot) did NO good. It was adopted. Spurious arguments don't count. The opinions of world-class economists, such as Alan Greenspan, do! "

    DEPORT THEM ALL! wrote on April 15, 2007 4:12 PM:"Eisenhower did deport the illegal aliens. We must do the same. This last batch of illegals will never be good Americans. Folks like AEQUITAS are socialists. America was not build on socialism. But like the similar forces that tore down Rome, illegal immigrants are not honest, and the mythical AEQUITAS never represented them. These dishonest traitors scream racism whenever any interior enforcement is done. Their goal is to weaken American and covert its wealth into their gain. If successful, a new dark ages will fall upon humanity!"

    To : To Syl et al ~~ wrote on April 15, 2007 4:16 PM:"Our Government will not be able to sneak the NORTH AMERICAN UNION on us. There is the Internet these days and the people are more informed. Even though I considered myself to be a Republican, I now view George Bush as a Rogue president. I just hope we can hold put until his term comes to an end. I am so dissatisfied with our Government right now I would even take Hillary if we had a choice."

    Stealth Blogger wrote on April 15, 2007 4:17 PM:"The Bush administration has repeatedly demonstrated its woeful inability to fulfill any promises it makes!"

    RE : Who cares as to the precision of the quote? wrote on April 15, 2007 4:24 PM:"RE: The border assignment has been a success, according to the administration and the Border Patrol, which say the number of people trying to enter the U.S. illegally has fallen dramatically.>>>>>>>> Just what I was thinking ........ 52,664 are the number of illegal aliens apprehended by the Border Patrol, Tucson Sector from March 1-31, 2007. Just the Tuscan sector. Not the entire Southern Border. That averages 1,650 illegals arrested every day of the month. Notice how they quote the good statistics for San Diego County and virtually ignore the bad news for the rest of the border. "

    Skridle Fiddle wrote on April 15, 2007 4:31 PM:"You "would even take Hilary..."?? Read this: "In a statement posted to her official Senate web site on Wednesday, Hilary Clinton said that the DHS should "issue a formal statement reassuring immigrant victims of Hurricane Rita and Katrina that they can seek help from relief agencies without fear of deportation or being turned over to immigration authorities." Hilary is liberal and will support amnesty and legalization! Same as George Bush, except he's not quite a liberal. Both sides of the aisle support amnesty and legalization and are sympathetic with the paperless immigrant when it comes right down to it and after all the campaign rhetoric is history."

    TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES wrote on April 15, 2007 4:52 PM:"Let's NOT forget the era of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. Probably the most terrible monsters that ever existed! The Holocaust and the slaughter of millions of innocent people in concentration camps. All because of a pathological hatred of Jews and Gypsies. Well, the same lynch mob mentality infests our current discourse and is motivated by the same kind of hate and venom. Mobs of Germans attacked Jews shamelessly and who will ever forget Krystal Nacht? Beware of the same hatred against Latinos, as now manifested by the "Minutemen", the KKK, the neo-Nazis and other such outfits!!!! Such is the truth. Let's not have to pay the consequences. Remember, as the old saying goes, "Those who does not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." (George Santanya.)"

    To : Skridle Fiddle wrote on April 15, 2007 5:05 PM:"RE:You "would even take Hilary ..."?? ... Thanks for pointing that out to me. You are right, and WE ARE SCREWED! Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton announced Thursday that Raul Yzaguirre, a prominent Hispanic activist and former president of the National Council of La Raza, would co-chair her presidential campaign and lead its outreach to Hispanic voters. Raul Humberto Yzaguirre (born July 22, 1939 in San Juan, Texas) is an American civil rights activist and open borders globalist . He served as the president of the National Council of La Raza, the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, from 1974 – 2004."

    HILLARY CLINTON wrote on April 15, 2007 5:19 PM:"QUOTE : Our current immigration laws need to be reformed: we need a better solution to the question of illegal immigration which recognizes the conflict between the need to enforce the law, and the reality that too many employers are using undocumented workers today. I hope that this year President Bush and the Republican Senate leadership will finally support this legislation so that we can begin to address in a comprehensive way the significant challenges of illegal immigration that are confronting our nation. IN OTHER WORDS : "LET'S JUST MAKE THEM ALL LEGAL " Problem Solved ! http://clinton.senate.gov/issues/immigration/ "

    To AEQUITAS wrote on April 15, 2007 6:07 PM:"Numbers are WRONG there chumley out of the 20 million there are estimated 17 million from Mexico, central & south America. And by making them all legal as you say, will put some 15 million new welfare reciepients into the system. This of course would cripple our system. We can take immigration if its legal, but to say anyone who breaks into our coutry is or should be a citizen, is like saying if I break into your home I can saty, eat your food, sleep in your bed & drive your car. Mexico needs to help the Mexicans, Canada the Canadians & so on. As for the border we can EASILY watch it. We have enough drones & electronic survailence to do the job, our cgovernment just choses not to. Instead they sacrifice 12 American citizens A DAY to the hands of illegals."

    again to AEQUITAS wrote on April 15, 2007 6:11 PM:"So basiclly you want the US to suffer so Mexicos corrupt 3rd world govt can prosper? As always its Mexico first with you huh? And if your really pro-illegals hopefully you & those you love are part of todays 12."

    Ray wrote on April 15, 2007 6:22 PM:"Patriots, you are just now finding out that Bush and all your so called "conservative Republicans" are lying to you,don't you see they just need you during election times? Waldron just did it to you, Bilbray did it mnot too long ago and Hunter needs you. Get the point and use common sense next time you vote. "

    To truth and consquences wrote on April 15, 2007 6:43 PM:"were the Jews illegally there? Please answer this question so I can understand. People that are saying hate are either: 1. anchor babies or illegally here 2. Don't live in the barrio 3 Don't deal with the problem every day. I don't have a problem with legal immigrants as my grandparents were but I do have a problem with illegal immigrants."

    Karl wrote on April 15, 2007 6:48 PM:"Truth or Consequences you have got to be kidding. Comparing people who want to secure our borders with people who slaughtered many thousands of Jews is down right despicable. How many illegal aliens have been murdered by the Minutemen?"

    Nick wrote on April 15, 2007 6:50 PM:"After reading some of the comments today, I can honestly say, that I can't believe the number of extremely stupid people we have in our Country. I've never seen so many bleeding heart, lefty liberal, human rights champions, just give America away to the ILLEGALS because they're people too. You guys make sure when your done opening the doors to the south (because your all such compassionate humanitarians), that you visit every soldiers grave that gave their life for this Great Country and spit on it. That way all those dead soldiers don't take it personally and know that you you think they collectively died in vain for a Country that apparently isn't ours to defend. Make no mistakes my friends, we are at war in our own Country. We are being ILLEGALLY INVADED on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis. The clock is ticking and time is running out for the sovereignty of the Good Ole U.S of A. Freedom is Never Free! Bring our troops home and put them on the Mexican & Canadian borders now. Deport those in this Country ILLEGALLY and secure our borders. It's almost too late. "

    Mary wrote on April 15, 2007 7:54 PM:"More people have died in Ted Kennedy's car than have been killed by the Minutemen. "

    just to get readers wrote on April 15, 2007 7:55 PM:"We all know that the NCT likes to headline this BS because it's the only way to get people all riled up and reading. "

    Roberto wrote on April 15, 2007 8:31 PM:"How can the National Guard be leaving! The Border is not secure yet!"

    To : just to get readers wrote on April 15, 2007 8:37 PM:"That is not the only reason! Just remember the thousands of readers who actually read the newspaper and do not use the internet. They are bombarded with stories like this one, and stories about Polls that say that all Americans love and embrace Illegal Aliens and want to give them amnesty. Those are the people I worry about."

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