Thread: Immigration Reform on Hold Until Cartels Are Stopped

Immigration Reform on Hold Until Cartels Are Stopped

Copyright 2009 Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)
March 22, 2009 Sunday
EDITORIALS; Pg. B2
781 words
MICHAEL COLEMAN

Over the past 10 days, the previously listless national conversation about immigration reform has taken a notable turn. In fact, it's hardly about curbing illegal immigration anymore; it's about containing the savage violence that's raging just south of America's border with Mexico.

The Associated Press, citing unnamed sources disputed by the administration, said the Department of Homeland Security is considering moving resources from immigration enforcement - such as money to target employers who hire illegal immigrants - to fighting drug cartel crime.

During his campaign, President Barack Obama pledged to pursue immigration reform. He reiterated that promise - sort of - in response to a question I asked him March 11.

"We've started to talk to ... both parties involved here in Washington about prospects of taking legislative steps, but obviously we've got a lot on our plate right now," Obama said, referring to the economic mess. But he also said another pressing concern - Mexican drug violence - had prompted him to consider sending the National Guard to the border in the near term.

In other words, the economy and the threat of blood running in American streets because of out-of-control Mexican gangs are more important - at least immediately - than embarking on the notoriously difficult challenge of overhauling U.S. immigration laws.

Americans can probably accept that. Vicious drug murders complete with severed heads and grotesque mutilations have a way of grabbing the collective consciousness. Mexican cartels have perpetrated the killings of more than 8,000 public officials, police, journalists, lawyers and innocent bystanders since President Felipe Calderón declared a war on drugs in his country in late 2006. Americans, even those in border states, didn't worry much about the killings at first. But as Journal staff writer Rene Romo pointed out on last Sunday's front page, the violence is getting closer and closer to home.

Of 6,000 drug-related killings across Mexico last year, more than 1,600 happened in Juárez, just across the Rio Grande from El Paso and Sunland Park, N.M., Romo reported. Mexican border towns near Texas, Arizona and California are being similarly terrorized.

A recent series of excellent and thoroughly depressing articles in Rolling Stone vividly portrayed the viciousness of the violence, the difficulty in recruiting honest and capable police to fight it, and the paralyzing fear that now pulsates through some Mexican communities.

The fear on this side of the border, of course, is that the bloody war among Mexican gangs and law enforcement could spill over into the United States. So far, that hasn't happened. And President Obama and Congress say they want to make sure it doesn't.

Obama, during the March 11 White House interview, mentioned sending National Guard troops to fortify the U.S. side of the border. That hasn't happened yet, but last week the president did vow to send more federal muscle down south, including Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents to intercept illegal shipments of guns headed for Mexico. Experts estimate as many as 90 percent of the guns involved in Mexican drug killings come from the United States.

Obama plans to travel to Mexico next month to meet with Calderón and discuss how the two countries can work together to stem the bloodshed.

Meanwhile, members of New Mexico's congressional delegation are more aware of the problem than most in Washington, and they are clamoring for more money and resources. The all-Democratic delegation wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano last week, urging her to create a Border Enforcement Security Task Force in New Mexico. The teams bring together agents from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, ATF, the FBI, as well as state and local officials to target illegal trafficking of drugs, guns and cash.

Incredibly, there are nine such teams now in existence - including four in Texas. Last I checked, New Mexico is a border state. Seems we might have use for a BEST team.

"Violence is raging in Mexico, and we want to make sure New Mexico law enforcement agencies have all the tools they need to tackle drug-related activities along the border," Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said last week.

So, for now - with the economy in shambles and mayhem unfolding daily on America's southern doorstep - Obama will probably get a temporary reprieve on his promise to embark on comprehensive immigration reform.

But America's immigration problems won't fix themselves. With inattention, they will just get worse. And they will still await Obama's leadership when Mexico's raging drug war finally recedes from our border.

E-mail: mcoleman@abqjournal.com

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NO REFORM whatsoever until ALL illegal aliens are kicked out of the US! Militarize the border now, prevent drugs and illegal aliens from coming over and don't stop! I'd rather have our military guarding our borders rather than some other country's borders.

Every single illegal alien stopped by law enforcement in the US must be deported. Re-entry will be nearly impossible with the military at the border. That should encourage illegals to bring their kids back with them or risk never seeing them again! Once deported, NO re-entry ever, don't matter if their kids are citizens or not.

I absolutely agree Miguelina!

Just for starters, we already KNOW that there are massive numbers of illegal aliens in this country who are connected to the drug cartels in one form or fashion.

There is absolutely no way to tell WHO that might be and the days of arguing about the "innocent" landscaper or hotel maid are long gone. We just don't know anymore.

So yes.........it should now be federal mandate for LE, at all levels, to hand ALL illegal aliens over to the federal authorities and........no ifs, ands, buts, or questions asked.......they will be deported.

No need to deport illegals and leave their illegal families here. Just enforce federal law against illegals receiving welfare and deport the whole family.

Three previous presidents deported aliens, to make sure that Americans could find jobs. Now President Quisling wants to legalize the illegals so that the 'Crats can lock up control of Congress - and this while Americans are becoming increasingly desperate.

Originally Posted by azwreath

I absolutely agree Miguelina!

Just for starters, we already KNOW that there are massive numbers of illegal aliens in this country who are connected to the drug cartels in one form or fashion.

There is absolutely no way to tell WHO that might be and the days of arguing about the "innocent" landscaper or hotel maid are long gone. We just don't know anymore.

So yes.........it should now be federal mandate for LE, at all levels, to hand ALL illegal aliens over to the federal authorities and........no ifs, ands, buts, or questions asked.......they will be deported.

Ditto AZW!

Just thought of something which scares me.

What if millions of mexicans & other claiming to be mexican seek asylum (not that millions live on the border, but they will all claim to live at the border)?

Can't play the race card then can they? Refugees taking jobs away from illegal aliens. Both groups from the same country. What oh what will laraza do? Whom will they advocate for?

Originally Posted by miguelina

Just thought of something which scares me.

What if millions of mexicans & other claiming to be mexican seek asylum (not that millions live on the border, but they will all claim to live at the border)?

Can't play the race card then can they? Refugees taking jobs away from illegal aliens. Both groups from the same country. What oh what will laraza do? Whom will they advocate for?

La Raza would advocate for both, and demand Americans support the ones who do not have jobs. You know, for their race everything, for us nothing.