Too Little Too Late on the Border?

After five years the Bush Administration is moving to do something at our southern border in the name of homeland security. We forget, however, that the terrorists who drew blood on America in 2001 and before entered the US from the Northern border.

Everyone agrees the immigration situation is out of control. 11 Million illegals in the US, most of which are working and sending an estimated $15 Billion home each year to Mexico. The Mexican government's policy on immigration encourages Mexicans to cross the border, bring their families, retain their culture and language and send all the money home. The US then cares for their ill and elderly, provides food to their poor, educates their children and receives no taxes from the illegal immigrants. That's a pretty sweet deal for President Fox and the Mexican nation.

Today Michael Chertoff the Secretary of Homeland Security said his department is drafting a plan to determine how "once and for all" to deal with illegal immigration, migrant smuggling and gang violence in states along the U.S.-Mexican border. What?

How about a deportation, a "worker program" or amnesty for the 11 Million. Apparently - THEY WON'T WORK. Chertoff said he wanted to take time to analyze the immigration problem before sending more agents to the border or buying "a lot of newfangled gadgets" without taking a broader look at the problem. However, he sent a letter Sunday to Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, pledging some immediate help - mostly in the Phoenix area - to try to halt what he called "the violent human smuggling trade."
Chertoff said federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would work with Arizona public safety officers to share information, investigate human smuggling rings, patrol the city's bus station and highways, and transport migrants.
He told Napolitano that the department is "moving forward quickly and aggressively" and those working on the more comprehensive plan have "ardent goals and short deadlines."
Napolitano called Chertoff's letter a good start toward better federal-state coordination. But "clearly this is not going to be enough," she said.
Of the 1.1 million border arrests nationwide so far this year, 516,109 have been in Arizona. The state has struggled with increased illegal immigration in recent years because of stepped-up border security in California and Texas.
Earlier this month, Napolitano and New Mexico Gov. Bill , I'm running for President in 2008, Richardson each declared states of emergency for four counties in their states. The declarations allowed the governors, both Democrats seeking re-election this fall, to spend a combined $3 million in state emergency money for more law enforcement and security along their borders.
The Homeland Security Department says that since Sept. 11, 2001, Arizona has seen a 25% increase in the number of federal agents policing its border. Arrests have increased dramatically, the department said.

We will see what happens, but the liberal left wants as many Mexicans in the country as they can find to "do the work Americans won't do" and to secure the Hispanic voting block - a block they lost much of in the 2004 Presidential election.

For me, I say build the fence as proposed in Congress. Fly the spy drones. Work out a way for all of the Mexican nationals in the country to remain here if they want, but make them register, pay taxes and keep their money here in the US. $15B would pay for the fence many times over and might add to the GNP that Mexico is currently enjoying without any outlay of funds. UNtil then Mr Bush:
Sr. Presidente crece un elemento principal y para la inmigración ilegal. Ellos roban el dinero y los recursos las personas buenas que eligieron usted ganan y pagan por cada día.
Translation:
Mr. President grow a backbone and stop illegal immigration. They are stealing the money and resources the good people who elected you earn and pay for every day.