Thread: Experts Debate Wisdom of Troop Surge at Mexican Border

Expert Questions Troop Surge at Mexican Border
Saturday, April 4, 2009 7:04 PM
By: Dave Eberhart, Newsmax

WASHINGTON – As President Barack Obama continues to mull returning thousands of National Guard troops to America's Southwest border, one expert says the surge is unnecessary – pointing to plunging apprehension rates of illegals, more U.S. Customs and Border Protection boots on the ground than ever, the lengthening border fence, enhanced electronic surveillance and increased cooperation by Mexico.

Edward Alden, Bernard L. Schwartz senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, told a Heritage Foundation audience this week that despite all the brouhaha, apprehension rates now on the border are at their lowest level since the mid-1970s.

“We are on track this year for about 550,000 apprehensions,â€

Since illegal immigration is a federal matter, we should put the National Guard on enforcing those laws. We don't just want to stop more illegal aliens from coming in, we want to send back the ones who are here too.

Put them on the border and in the interior to hasten the deportation of illegal aliens until they are all deported. This will allow immigrants who are following the rules to come in and free up that backlog. It's the prudent thing to do.

Edward Alden, Bernard L. Schwartz senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, told a Heritage Foundation audience this week that despite all the brouhaha, apprehension rates now on the border are at their lowest level since the mid-1970s.

Like we are going to believe anyone from the Council on Foreign Relations!

He needs to watch FOX news and see the gaping holes in the fences, the extention bridges on the Rio Grand ...he is lying...last week they aprehended 80 illegals at one time in one group...how many do they miss? alot you can bet on it!

[quote]“It would be a huge mistake to put federal troops down on that border,â€

The difference is their military on the border would allow illlegals to go ahead and cross the border...our military on the border would mean stopping all of their citizens from entering.