I spoke with a local I.C.E. Agent today who had the following to say. I call every now and then to see what these folks think about legistlation and to see what they think about the situation as a whole. I let them know that I am not with the media and give them my name.

The proposal to do background checks on all those illegals who are permitted to stay in country is a joke. Mexico,like most third world countries, do not have a system in place for these background checks to take place. The agent said they would actually have to travel to each and every hometown of the illegal in question. They, of course, don't have the manpower to do this. This means these background checks are nothing but fluff, something to make us feel good. We will have no idea what crimminals will be coming or staying here.

He said that they were told from the "top" not to enforce our immigraion laws in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and this would continue until these areas were re-built.

He said the amnesty of 1986 allowed more than 2 million illegals to enter the country when they had estimated that only 200,000 would come in.

He said illegals cross the border during shift changes, thus making it near impossible to catch the hundreds who come over at this time.

He said they are coming in waves now due to the possibility of amnesty.

He said the $2000. fine is a joke because illeagals are more than willing to pay this fine, rather than having to pay their travel expenses back to here.

He said the proposed increase in border patrol agents, the feel good mantra, is nothing but smoke and mirrors. They will be authorized on paper, but never funded fully or acted upon. Sounds good to the public though.

He said there has been no employer sanctions since 1995 and that most employers do not take taxes from illegals pay.

During the 2000 election he said, again, that they were directed from "the top" to not enforce our immirgration laws during the electioin. Said this directive came from top officials from BOTH parties.

Said the Agricultural Worker Program is a joke. Illegals are required to work at least 90 days. They will work 90 days and then take off for better paying jobs, which means more illegals are needed to fill these positions, which means an endless stream of illegals continue to come into the country to do this work.

Lastly he said that he writes often to our elected officials and what we are hearing on t.v. just isn't true. Said we hear that there are eleven million illegals here, said that number should be doubled.