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Monday, July 18, 2005
Our Opinion: Non-Mexican illegal entry poses threat

Tucson Citizen

Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from countries other than Mexico are being set free in the United States, while the political and social focus remains on illegal immigrants from Mexico.
Some of these "other than Mexicans," or OTMs as they are officially known, hail from 35 "special-interest" nations with terrorist ties.

The Border Patrol arrested 644 people from those nations in fiscal 2004, and it already has nabbed more than 450 this fiscal year, The Associated Press reported.

Many are freed on their own recognizance after authorities decide they pose no threat. They're supposed to report later for court dates. Most don't.

In all, about 465,000 illegal immigrants from around the world have received final removal orders - been told to leave the United States - but remain at large.

Smugglers have helped others - including about 200 from Lebanon - to infiltrate the United States since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The next such attack "absolutely" will be waged by someone who has crossed the border illegally, warned Eugene Davis, a retired deputy chief of the Border Patrol sector in Blaine, Wash.

"To me, we have no more border security now than we had prior to Sept. 11," Davis told the AP. "Anybody who believes we're safer, they're living in Neverland."

The problem with OTMs is that the United States has neither space to detain them nor money to deport them. So they are given permission to stay until a court date, but very few appear in court.

Dangers posed by such people far outweigh the problem of impoverished Mexicans who risk death in the desert to find a better life here.

One Lebanese man admitted raising at least $40,000 for the Hezbollah terrorist group during his illegal stay in our country. And intelligence indicates that al-Qaida is eyeing our borders as a way in, Homeland Security officials say.

We long have lamented the government's failure to reform our ineffective immigration policies. In this age of terrorism, the need for improved national security is paramount.

In passing Proposition 200 last November, Arizonans expressed dissatisfaction with costs incurred as a result of illegal immigration by Mexicans.

But that cost could pale in comparison with the tragic toll terrorists could exact.