posted on March 21, 2005 01:15:49 PM new
U.S. Undocumented Population Surges
Illegal Mexicans Account for Bulk of Growth, Says Report
By GENARO C. ARMAS, AP
The U.S.-Mexico border is a busy area for federal agents who track illegal immigration.
WASHINGTON (March 21) - The nation's undocumented immigrant population surged to 10.3 million last year, spurred largely since 2000 by the arrivals of unauthorized Mexicans in the United States, a report being released Monday says.
The population of undocumented residents in the United States increased by about 23 percent from 8.4 million in the four-year period ending last March, according to the analysis of government data by the Pew Hispanic Center, a private research group.
That equates to a net increase of roughly 485,000 per year between 2000 and 2004. The estimate was derived by subtracting the number of unauthorized immigrants who leave the United States, die or acquire legal status from the number of new undocumented immigrants that arrive each year.
The prospect of better job opportunities in the United States than in their native countries remains a powerful lure for many immigrants, said Pew center director Roberto Suro, pointing to a reason often cited by other researchers.
''The border has been the focus of federal efforts (to cut illegal entry) and has not produced a reduction in flow. Certainly that's an indication of ongoing demand,'' he said.
The population is growing at a similar pace as in the late 1990s even though the U.S. economy today isn't as robust, Suro said.
Assuming the flow of undocumented immigrants into the country hasn't abated since March 2004, the population is likely near 11 million now.
The report considered ''undocumented'' immigrants primarily as those here illegally; those in the United States on expired visas; or those who violated the terms of their admission in other ways.
Also included are a small percentage of immigrants who may have legal authorization to be in the United States, including those with temporary protected status and those applying to seek asylum.
The Undocumented
10.3 million
Undocumented resident population of U.S.
485,000
Average annual increase in population since 2000
81
Percent of total from Latin American countries
*Data from March 2004
Mexicans by far remain the largest group of undocumented migrants at 5.9 million, or about 57 percent of the March 2004 estimate. Some 2.5 million others, or 24 percent, are from other Latin American countries.
Overall, the U.S. foreign-born population, regardless of legal status, was 35.7 million last year. Those of Mexican descent again comprised the largest group - more than 11 million, or 32 percent.
Controlling the flow of immigrants over the porous U.S.-Mexico border will be a central topic of discussion when Mexican President Vicente Fox meets with President Bush in Texas on Wednesday.
The number of U.S. residents with Mexican backgrounds has increased by nearly 600,000 annually since 2000, with more than 80 percent of the new arrivals here with proper documentation, the Pew center estimated.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other government officials have raised concerns about border security amid recent intelligence that al-Qaida terrorists have considered using the Southwest border to infiltrate the United States.
Bush, meanwhile, has also promoted a guest-worker program that would allow migrants to work in the United States for a limited time as long as they have a job lined up.
Critics of the plan argue that such workers drive down wages because they often work for lower pay and fewer benefits that native-born residents.
''The best way to approach this is attrition by enforcement - better enforcement of the borders and of worksites,'' said Steve Camorata of the private Center for Immigration Studies.
The Pew report found undocumented immigrants increasingly fanning out beyond longtime destination for foreign-born residents. In 1990, 88 percent of the undocumented population lived in six states - California, New York, Texas, Illinois, Florida and New Jersey.
By 2004, those states accounted for 61 percent of the nation's undocumented population. The top state is California, where nearly one-quarter of the undocumented reside, followed by Texas (14 percent) and Florida (9 percent).
Next on the list were New York (7 percent), Arizona (5 percent), Illinois (4 percent), New Jersey (4 percent), and North Carolina (3 percent).
Arizona and North Carolina are two of the fastest-growing states in the nation overall and have metropolitan areas booming with new construction, restaurants and service-oriented businesses - job sectors that often hire undocumented workers.
AP-NY-03-21-05 12:00 EST
I GUESS YOU ALL REMEMBER THE GUY IN THIS WHITE HOUSE TELLING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HE WAS GOING TO SEAL OUR BORDERS. NOW THE ONLY THING THIS WHITE HOUSE IS SEALING IS CHEAP LABOR FOR INDUSTRY.
Its a new poll on AOL but see the results so far below.
How much of a priority should curbing illegal immigration be?
High 83%
Medium 9%
Low 8%
Are you surprised that 10 million U.S. residents are undocumented?
No 72%
Yes 28%
Total Votes: 6,272
posted on March 21, 2005 01:35:40 PM new
Yes, I can believe such a high percentage want our borders close even more. But NEITHER party supports that. And some lefties here don't either.
And the ACLU has threatened to file lawsuits against any citizen groups in the southern states that want to work along with our border patrols to keep them out too. Thank you ACLU for working to all them the illegal 'right's.
posted on March 21, 2005 03:36:33 PM new
Linda K, you off all people must remember the promise this White House made to America. Didn't this White House promise sealed borders with 10,000 new border guards.
THAT BORDER PROMISE IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHY I ASK PEOPLE NOT TO BELIEVE PEOPLE LIKE LINDA K OR ME. CHECK OUT WHAT THIS WHITE HOUSE IS SAYING AND DOING YOURSELVES.
posted on March 21, 2005 06:04:04 PM new
Funds were just approved to an additional 2000 agents. In the mean tine the ACLU and demos are protesting civilians patroling the Arizona / Mexico border.
A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
- Bill Cosby
posted on March 21, 2005 06:08:26 PM new
I know...that's what's so laughable - and sad at the same time.
The ACLU is there to PROTECT the rights of the people crossing our borders illegally. Sorry...but THAT'S NUTS IMO. Recently they've been doing the same with the accused terrorists. It's like 'whose side are they on anyway'. Imo, not ours.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on March 21, 2005 08:38:56 PM new
But Bear, this White House promised 10,000 new Border Guards not 2,000. I don't believe 2,000 will even cover the guards that are retiring or being called up for duty in Iraq.
I believe I can back up what I just said if need be.
Now give us the whole story Bear. You say 2,000 new Border Guards I haven't seen that number I must have missed it. Enlighten me with some facts. 2,000 new guards over what period of time? How many years? Facts like that is what we need to know.
I know that some people are blowing smoke about things like new technology in the air and on the ground. Lets stick to what this White House's track record is about securing our borders in the last 4 1/2 years and today.
You say the "the ACLU and demos are protesting civilians patrolling the Arizona / Mexico border." What are they and where are they protesting? Since you say the ACLU along with Democrats are protesting. Give us the whole story and show us what both groups are saying in protest.
Bear I want to believe your statements but I really want to know more. Waiting for your reply.
posted on March 21, 2005 08:57:42 PM new
peepa - do you EVER find it just a little unreasonable that while you don't give proof/links for all the 'stuff' you post....you expect others to do so for you? So you can believe them? LOL that's funny.
Again, I'd like to see YOUR proof, so I can believe you as to just where the WH made a promise of 10,000 border agents during it's campaign for election.
Then...you might want to read todays Washington Times to get some of your information from on the ACLU protecting the illegals yourself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on March 22, 2005 06:59:40 AM new
Linda K, You of all people should remember this White House saying they were going to secure our borders with 10,000 new border guards over a 4 or 5 year period. Although the rest of us remember you want facts. HA HA HA!!!!
SO QUIT BLOWING SMOKE AGAIN!!!!!!! YOU JUST DON'T LIKE ME EXPOSING THIS WHITE HOUSE FOR WHAT IT TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IT WAS GOING TO DO AND WHAT IT REALLY DOES.
Now about Bear saying the ACLU ALONG WITH "DEMOS" are protesting against American citizens patrolling our wide open southern border. I already knew the ACLU was involved. What I need from Bear is to enlighten me about what the "DEMOS" were saying in PROTEST about our wide open southern border. I am waiting for Bear's reply.
LINKA K'S REPLY IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHY I ASK PEOPLE NOT TO BELIEVE PEOPLE LIKE LINDA K OR ME. CHECK OUT WHAT THIS WHITE HOUSE IS SAYING AND DOING YOURSELVES
posted on March 22, 2005 08:06:14 AM new
The key word here is Undocumented Is it because they don't know the real numbers and are fudging on the total. There could be bias in those figures just to rile up the American public. Find true numbers and maybe we can believe that story.
With the border in Mexico so long it will take an army to protect us. What do you think they should do? Do you have a solution? The mexicans cross the borders so that they can find work as there is none in Mexico and if the workers in the US will not pick the fruit or vegetables then someone has to do it. Imagine bigpeepa if the American worker was making the minimum wage picking fruits and vegetables how much you would pay for an orange, or tomato. You would never beable to afford to eat. Our fields up here are full of mexicans planting and harvesting cabbage. Now that is a tough job. Bending over all day long. There are no Americans that would work that hard in those fields not even for the minimum wage.
Give us your solution for protecting the mexican border?
posted on March 22, 2005 10:36:32 AM new
Hey Bear you got caught again. So many people on this board catch you and Linda K spreading your BULL ROAR and SMOKE SCREENS its laughable.
THAT'S WHY I ASK PEOPLE NOT TO BELIEVE BEAR,LINDA K OR ME. ALL THE READERS ON THIS BOARD NEED TO DO IS GET REALLY INFORMED. THEN THEY WILL SEE FOR THEMSELVES THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS WHITE HOUSE.
Libra63, I believe you are a very nice old lady that worked hard to raise your family and really care about family values. I don't believe your a wicked person like I believe Bear and Linda K are.
But when in the same post you say, "The key word here is Undocumented Is it because they don't know the real numbers and are fudging on the total." and then say "Our fields up here are full of Mexicans planting and harvesting cabbage." I believe you are eating too much of that Minnesota cabbage and its making you blow so gas big time.
Once again you and I don't have the power to seal our borders. Since our borders are Federal Borders its the job of this White House and the republican controlled Congress and Senate to secure our Federal borders. So far all this White House and their Republican backers have secured is CHEAP LABOR.
About food prices, I would be glad to pay a little more for a head of cabbage if by doing so it gave a American a good paying job. Also about food prices I don't think the cost of cabbage would cost much more if you factor away the billions of dollars costs burden the American tax payers have pay because of illegal immigration.
posted on March 22, 2005 11:36:58 AM new
bigpeepa I do not live in Minesota. We live in an area that raises cabbage for Sauerkraut that is why the cabbage fields.
It is also the job of Mexico as the Canadian border is protected by both Americans and Canadians.
I worked in a Hospital in a spanish section of Waukegan where adults came in and their adult children had to translate for them. Illegal aliens have been coming for years, not just the last 5, and it isn't going to stop. They would die trying to get into the US as evident of the trucks filled with them.
Again I ask you how do you protect a border so long and so open. You can't put up a fence. There is no woods. It is all flat land and they can cross anyplace. There is a few designated areas but what about the ones that aren't
Linda, you can't pull that article because they have taken it off. If you Yahoo search and enter the authors name it comes up but if you click on it is gone.
posted on March 22, 2005 11:51:17 AM new
""""When Roger Baldwin founded the ACLU in 1920, civil liberties were in a sorry state. Citizens were sitting in jail for holding antiwar views. U.S. Attorney General Palmer was conducting raids upon aliens suspected of holding unorthodox opinions. Racial segregation was the law of the land and violence against blacks was routine. Sex discrimination was firmly institutionalized; it wasn't until 1920 that women even got the vote. Constitutional rights for gays and lesbians, the poor, prisoners, mental patients, and other special groups were literally unthinkable. And, perhaps most significantly, the Supreme Court had yet to uphold a single free speech claim under the First Amendment.
"We must remember that a right lost to one is lost to all. The ACLU remembers and it acts. The cause it serves so well is an imperative of freedom." --- William Reece Smith, Jr., former president, American Bar Association
The ACLU was the first public interest law firm of its kind, and immediately began the work of transforming the ideals contained in the Bill of Rights into living, breathing realities.
HOW THE ACLU CHOOSES ITS CASES
The ACLU is frequently asked "Why did you defend that person or that group -- Nazis in Skokie, Illinois, the Ku Klux Klan, the Black Panthers?" The ACLU defends the right of people to express their views, not the views that they express. And historically, the people whose opinions are the most controversial or extreme are those whose rights are most often threatened. Believing that once the government is empowered to violate one person's rights it can use that power against everyone, the ACLU works to stop the erosion of civil liberties before it's too late.
The ACLU cannot take on every worthy case. Instead, our lawyers select cases that will have the greatest impact, cases that will have the potential to break new ground and to establish new precedents that will strengthen the freedoms we all enjoy.
HOW THE ACLU WORKS
The ACLU is a 50-state network of staffed affiliate offices in most major cities, more than 300 chapters in smaller towns, and regional offices in Denver and Atlanta. Work is coordinated by a national office in New York, aided by a legislative office in Washington that lobbies Congress. The ACLU has more than a dozen national projects devoted to specific civil liberties issues: AIDS, arts censorship, capital punishment, children's rights, education reform, lesbian and gay rights, immigrants' rights, national security, privacy and technology, prisoners' rights, reproductive freedom, voting rights, women's rights and workplace rights.""""
And this is what some neocons are against....how anti-American.
posted on March 22, 2005 12:07:54 PM new
Libra - My question on peepa providing a link of his own...was because I was trying to get him to post just WHO said they'd add 10,000 more border agents. Not because I didn't know...but because I believe ol' peepa himself doesn't know.
He rants about 10,000 and only getting 2,000 [after bear's post] so it appears to me he either didn't realize that it was to be 2,000 a year for 5 years...OR he was PRETENDING not to know that. Maybe he looked it up after making that statement and found out he was wrong.
Just because SOME Federal agency says something....doesn't mean those words came from the President in his campaign promises. There's always that little 'twist' he gives issues.
None-the-less my point was he wants links to prove statements, but he doesn't provide them himself. He wants HIS questions answered...but even when lefties try to talk to him....he just blows them off too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Four More Years....YES!!!
posted on March 22, 2005 03:58:12 PM new
I know Linda. I tried getting information on the writer that wrote the article but I couldn't find anything.
This could be a great discussion if we had more information. I know that border crossings have to be maintained but in Mexico there are so many places that they can walk across that the Federal Government cannot possible patrol all those places.
I feel that they have done their best between Canada and the US and vise versa with the new equipment they have and closing some of the little used ones, but Mexico is a different story. It isn't a new problem either it has been going on for years.
posted on March 22, 2005 05:33:00 PM newHey Bear you got caught again. So many people on this board catch you and Linda K spreading your BULL ROAR and SMOKE SCREENS its laughable.
FYI, It's 2000 Borger Agents PER YEAR, Pres Bush (NOT THE WHITE HOUSE) proposed, nothing was ever said about 10000 Agents [n]AT ONE TIME[/b]
A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
- Bill Cosby
[ edited by Bear1949 on Mar 22, 2005 05:36 PM ]
[ edited by Bear1949 on Mar 22, 2005 05:38 PM ]
posted on March 22, 2005 07:33:38 PM new
Sure Bear, just like all the other laws this White House signs and then never funds. The good thing is we will all be watching. I sure hope all you posted will come true but based on this White House's record I doubt it will ever become a reality.
posted on March 22, 2005 07:43:35 PM new
Hey Bear below is an article published just 19 hours ago. It disputes your claims.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - Page updated at 12:00 a.m.
Illegal immigration continues, study finds, despite tight security
By Michelle Morgante
The Associated Press
SAN DIEGO — The tightening of homeland security since 2001 has not stemmed illegal immigration into the United States, according to a report released yesterday that showed the number of illegal immigrants growing by roughly 485,000 people a year.
An analysis of government data by the Pew Hispanic Center, a private research group in Washington, showed an estimated 10.3 million illegal immigrants living in the United States last year, an increase of about 23 percent from 8.4 million in 2000.
"The numbers are astounding," said Cathy Travis, a spokeswoman for Rep. Solomon Ortiz, a Texas Democrat who has pressed for greater funding for border security and immigration control. "Until we match our budgetary priorities with our national-security priorities, this is going to be the case."
Critics of illegal immigration said there is little political will to stop the trend, despite the lessons of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, because businesses benefit from the cheap labor.
"There's been a greater amount of lip service, but there hasn't been a greater amount of attention to border security," said T.J. Bonner, president of the union representing Border Patrol agents. "It's a shell game, and the American public are losers in this game."
The union has sharply criticized the Bush administration's proposed 2006 budget, which would provide $37 million to hire 210 Border Patrol agents. The intelligence-reorganization bill Bush signed last year called for hiring 2,000 more agents a year over five years.
Currently, there are fewer than 11,000 agents to patrol more than 6,000 miles of the nation's perimeter around the clock, Bonner said.
Harry Pachon of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute in Los Angeles said the growth in illegal immigrants has risen with the U.S. economy, as American businesses such as Wal-Mart look to contractors who rely on illegal immigrants "to fill jobs no one else will fill."
Earlier this month, Wal-Mart agreed to pay the government $11 million to settle charges that it used hundreds of illegal immigrants to clean its stores.
Arizona and North Carolina have some of the fastest-growing populations of illegal immigrants. Both have metropolitan areas booming with new construction, restaurants and other service-oriented businesses — job sectors that often hire illegal immigrants.
Mexicans remain the largest group of illegal immigrants by far, at 5.9 million, or about 57 percent of the March 2004 estimate. About 2.5 million others, or 24 percent, are from other Latin American countries.
Pachon said immigration reform must be part of the answer. Immigrants who are forced to wait years to legally bring over family members have a strong incentive to look instead to smugglers.
Immigration will be a central topic when Mexican President Vicente Fox meets with President Bush in Texas tomorrow.
Bush has promoted a guest-worker program that would allow migrants to work in the United States for a limited time. Critics of the plan say it will drive down wages for legal workers and encourage illegal immigrants.
Rep. John Hostettler, an Indiana Republican who chairs a subcommittee on immigration and border security, said the government has failed to punish employers who hire illegal workers or sufficiently fund efforts to find and deport illegal immigrants.
"The idea that we're going to completely seal the border, even with the National Guard or 20,000 to 30,000 Border Patrol agents, is a little naive," he said.
posted on March 22, 2005 07:51:33 PM new
Oh BTW Bear I already mentioned that I already knew the ACLU is involed in the souther border mess. But you said the "demos" were also involed with the ACLU protest. My question again to you is please enlighten me and show me what the "DEMOS" are prostesting about. I will be waiting for your reply.
posted on March 22, 2005 08:05:24 PM new
Bear here is another article that Congress has linked border security money with the Iraq WAR. What a joke that is we all know where is money will go and it ain't our Southern borders. Like I said before the only security this White House has provided is to insure CHEAP LABOR to industry.
Politics - U. S. Congress
House Adds Border Security to War Funding
Tue Mar 15, 4:34 PM ET Politics - U. S. Congress
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - The House on Tuesday added to the $81.3 billion war spending bill a provision to tighten border security, a measure criticized by Mexico but praised by some lawmakers as a way to thwart terrorism.
Latest headlines:
· Baghdad Shopkeepers Kill Three Militants
AP - 1 hour, 1 minute ago
· A Look at U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq
AP - 1 hour, 27 minutes ago
· Navy Seals Sue AP, Reporter Over Iraq Photos
Reuters - Tue Mar 22, 7:08 PM ET
Special Coverage
House Republicans said the measure — attached to the spending bill by voice vote — would enhance national security and, therefore, should be included in the war spending package.
"American citizens have a right to know who is in their country," said Rep. Lamar Smith (news, bio, voting record), R-Texas.
But Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (news, bio, voting record), D-Texas, said that while she backs the package to support U.S. troops, the "anti-immigrant" bill is "a poison pill" and should not have been attached.
The border security measure would:
_Require states to verify they aren't giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.
_Give judges broader power to deport political asylum seekers whom they suspect may be terrorists.
_Allow construction of roads and barriers for border security without regard to environmental protections.
The White House supports the House-passed bill but it faces stiff opposition in the Senate, where lawmakers have concerns about several of its provisions. Senators who have been pushing comprehensive immigration reform see the House-passed bill as a piecemeal approach.
Mexico has criticized the U.S. push to complete the building of a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border south of San Diego. The bill would waive environmental hurdles.
The House had approved the border security measure as a stand-alone bill in February. But by attaching it to the emergency war spending package, the House ensured the Senate will address it when House and Senate negotiators meet to write a final version of the legislation.
Most of the spending package is devoted to paying for combat and reconstruction efforts in Iraq (news - web sites) and Afghanistan (news - web sites). Swift passage with bipartisan support is expected this week in the House. The Senate isn't expected to craft its version until next month.
Combined with previously approved funds, the package — the fifth emergency spending plan before Congress since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks — would drive the totals spent so far on Iraq, Afghanistan and operations against terrorists worldwide beyond $300 billion for fighting, aid to allies and reconstruction assistance.
As debate began Tuesday, Democrats offered a slew of amendments, most of which were rejected, and used the opportunity to denounce the war in Iraq and the Bush administration's post-invasion strategy. They also criticized the White House for lapses in accountability.
"I say the war was wrong, unholy and the administration has brought death, destruction, chaos and corruption to Iraq," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich (news - web sites), D-Ohio.
Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., offered an amendment that would require Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to lay out for Congress a "strategy of success" for Iraq, including goals and a timetable for achieving them. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
President Bush (news - web sites) has asked for $81.9 billion and the House is poised to give Bush much of what he requested.
While the House version is roughly $600 million less than the president's proposal, it would add $1.8 billion for buying body armor, medical supplies, night vision devices, communications equipment, weapons, ammunition and armor kits for combat vehicles. That brings the total for defense-related expenses to $76.8 billion.
The House version also halve Bush's request for $4 billion for foreign aid and State Department programs.
The bill also would provide about $590 million to build a U.S. embassy in Baghdad and $580 million for peacekeeping missions. It also would provide $590 million to train police and battle narcotics in Afghanistan, and authorize an increase in the one-time death gratuity from $12,000 to $100,000 for families of troops killed on active duty.
posted on March 22, 2005 09:24:49 PM new
How do you stop this bigpeepa
At Mexican Border, Tunnels, Vile River, Rusty Fence
By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr.
Published: March 23, 2005
EXICALI, Mexico, March 22 - When United States Customs officials discovered the latest tunnel under the border here last month, they were stunned. With a cement floor and an intercom system, the passage ran nearly 200 yards from a house on one side of a rusty metal fence, under two streets and an apartment complex, to emerge in an unassuming tract home in California.
Though more elaborate, the tunnel is not unlike the 13 others found during the 1990's, built by drug cartels. But everything in the world after Sept. 11, 2001, has taken on a different hue. Today such tunnels are where the failures of drug policy, border control and immigration reform meet ever pressing issues of national security. American officials fear the tunnels could be used just as easily to smuggle terrorists and explosives as cocaine or illegal immigrants.
That confluence of worries forms the backdrop for a meeting on Wednesday in Texas between President Bush, President Vicente Fox of Mexico and Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada. But where issues converge, the interests of the United States and its neighbors may not.
For Mr. Bush and Congress, security tops the agenda. For Mexico, it is a freer flow of migrant workers. For Canada, it is the imperative of foreign and domestic policies that increasingly diverge from Washington's conservative consensus.
Senior Bush administration officials said Tuesday that the leaders were not expected to announce any concrete agreements after the one-day meeting at Baylor University in Waco. Instead, the men will announce a new framework and timetable for resolving a host of sticky trade and security issues, among them letting more workers cross borders legally for jobs and improving cooperation against terrorists.
A year ago, Mr. Bush proposed greatly expanding a guest-worker program for Mexican laborers. But to Mr. Fox's great dismay, the idea has faded. In the last two weeks, American diplomats have made it clear that Congress is unlikely to act unless Mexico does more to tighten up the border and reduce the rampant crime on its side.
"What Mexico needs to understand is that migration is viewed largely as a security issue in the United States, and they appear to think that that is not as important as we do," said Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who has taken a lead in the debate on a guest-worker program.
Perhaps nowhere is the inexorable nature of the northward migration of Mexicans - and the vulnerability of the United States to infiltration, whether by migrants or by terrorists - more apparent than in Mexicali and in its sister city, Calexico, Calif.
Investigators say they doubt that the builders of the elaborate tunnel here would have spent an estimated $1 million just to smuggle migrant workers. It is more likely, they said, that the tunnel was built to smuggle lucrative drugs like cocaine and heroin, but another line of investigation is that its builders might have intended to sell passage to terrorists.
"You have this gaping hole that could be used for anything," said Michael Unzueta, the acting special agent in charge of the San Diego office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Meanwhile, the alarms have been sounding in Washington about the dangers post-9/11 of a porous, 2,000-mile-long border. James Loy, the deputy secretary for Homeland Security, said last month that intelligence reports showed that terrorists from Al Qaeda were likely to try to enter the country from Mexico, across whose border at least 300,000 people flow every year virtually untraced and with impunity.
Porter J. Goss, the director of central intelligence, told the Senate Armed Services Committee last week that the United States was vulnerable to terrorists infiltrating through its backyard.
But for President Fox, a tighter border that keeps Mexicans from desperately needed jobs is not necessarily in his interest. Last week, in a sharp divergence from Washington, he publicly decried a measure passed in the House of Representatives that would mandate completion of a long-stalled security wall between Tijuana and San Diego.
Far from being completed, he said, the wall should be knocked down. "No country that is proud of itself should construct walls," he said.
posted on March 23, 2005 06:49:10 AM new
Peepa,, you fell to you knees, pleading for me to post links to the articles I mentioned. I did.
Then you start posting more articled that allegedly proves you point. So one can only conclude the articles you have posted are a compilation of "words" cobbled together from "other" articles in a sad attempt to prove your point.
ONCE AGAIN, post the links to those articles,
Again, Put up or Shut up.
A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones that need the advice."
- Bill Cosby
posted on March 23, 2005 01:08:27 PM new
Sorry Bear you LIE again. I asked you to prove the below words from you.
Bear's words, "In the mean tine the ACLU and demos are protesting civilians patrolling the Arizona / Mexico border."
Once again I already knew the ACLU is protesting the issue about our southern borders. That is COMMON KNOWLEDGE and the only answer you gave.
Now I would like to hear your proof about the "DEMOS" protesting civilians patrolling parts of our southern. Yes sir, I would really like to hear FROM YOU what the democrats are saying about civilians feeling they have to SECURE OUR BORDERS WHEN ITS THE JOB OF THIS WHITE HOUSE TO DO SO.
So far the only words I have heard from Democrats is words of protest about the piss poor job this White House is doing to SECURE our borders. Remember this White House has now had 4 1/2 years to SECURE OUR BORDERS.
About you telling me to shut-up. Lets see, today I heard some interesting comments from another up standing republican and Moral leader Tom Delay. Lets see, should I shut-up about Tom Delay NAY I don't think so. If I find the time I will post a few interesting points and words from the Honorable Tom Delay.
ITS NICE TO SEE THAT MORE AND MORE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THROUGH THIS WHITE HOUSE.
posted on March 24, 2005 08:26:18 PM new
Hey,Hey,Ho,Ho Bear, I am still waiting to hear from you what the "DEMOS" said in protest about our broken southern borders.
The only protest I have seen lately is the one from your White House. Your president called the guys and gals trying to guard PART OF OUR SOUTHERN BORDER "VIGILANTES" alone with his buddy President Fox of Mexico.
as to just where the WH made a promise of 10,000 border agents during it's campaign for election.