I've often said of government officials concerning illegal immigration: "They just don't get it."
I need to change that. I don't get it. I've had it up to here trying to figure out what's so difficult about assessing the magnitude of the problem.
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Those officials – from the president on down – for a variety of reasons, won't acknowledge there really is a problem that needs immediate attention.
I know, I know. President Bush went to Arizona to make "the speech" about the illegal problem – though he didn't call it that – and if you knew nothing about the situation, you were probably impressed by what he said. It sounded, after all, sincere and reasonable. Perhaps it was sincere, but reason was severely lacking.
He said the border situation is dangerous. Uh-huh.
I hope that wasn't the first time he noticed, but it's been that way and getting worse for years. More manpower has been needed, promised and not provided. The same for more technology, holding facilities and deportation logistics.
His speech was long on promises in these areas, but we've heard it before. After criticism, he's spoken about it again, but I don't buy it.
Mr. President. Actions speak louder than words.
We hear blather about people wanting a better life and work and caring for their families. We hear they fill jobs Americans won't. We hear a lot of political correctness and not many facts.
As long as the president was concerned about the dangers to the Border Patrol, why didn't he talk some facts about the attacks on them by illegals?
Those assaults have doubled this year over last in the Tucson and Yuma sectors. According to the Arizona Republic, the increase is due to increased drug smuggling and the attacks range from ambushes and rock throwing to gunfire. T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, says they're sitting ducks.
The president could have asked Sigifredo Gonzales Jr., sheriff of Zapata County in Texas and chairman of the Border Sheriff's Association. He says the border isn't secured and "... Homeland Security has done nothing to help us." He also told the Washington Times that his greatest fear is terrorists and dirty bombs being smuggled in.
Funny, the president didn't say anything about that. What happened to the war on terrorism? Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told Human Events that he's seen "evidence" of Islamic illegals (items left on the trails) and he says because it's an issue of "intelligence," officials have said nothing publicly about it.
Gee, we've been talking and writing about this for years – do they really think people don't know? Sorry. It just makes officials look stupid. Plus, quite frankly, I don't like being played for a fool.
The president said nothing about the horrendous cost to state and local governments because of illegals in terms of housing, social services, health services, education and, of course, crime. Yes. Crime. They're not all innocent farmers looking for work.
How about the three illegals near Willcox, Ariz., not far from the border? They were arrested for vandalism and mayhem, aggravated assault, kidnapping and burglary. Their crime spree included smashing windows, attacking a man with a bat and a knife, and beating an 8-month pregnant woman with a hose – in her own home!
How about the teacher in North Carolina killed by an illegal alien drunken driver in July? That driver had three prior drunk-driving charges.
And what about the 100-mile an hour crash in that same state in November that involved three vehicles, killing an 18-year-old student in a head-on crash and injured a woman in another vehicle that was sideswiped? The drunk driver? An illegal.
Astonishingly, Republican congresswoman Sue Myrick wants tougher penalties on illegals convicted of drunk driving.
It's known that North Carolina has one of the easiest systems to get fraudulent drivers licenses.
Why isn't Ms. Myrick screaming about that? Why not keep these criminals out of the country in the first place?
Census figures estimate more than 300,000 illegals are in that state. A recent poll shows 90 percent of residents consider illegals a major state problem.
Folks, the last time I looked, North Carolina was not a border state.
The president neglected the criminal aspect of illegals, and he also conveniently left out the clear fact that it's already against the law to hire illegals. He said nothing about criminal charges against employers.
Why not?
Soon a major trucking facility will be operating in Missouri. It'll be the hub of shipping traffic between this country and Mexico, moving goods easily in and out across the border.
Let's see now ... I guess that means that not only will U.S. truckers be moving those goods, but so will Mexican drivers, in Mexican trucks with Mexican plates, owned by Mexican companies. Just think, all those vehicles making that long journey from our southern border to the heartland of our country – and it'll be perfectly legal.
It's a nice deal for merchandise manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Trucking is more efficient than air or ship since once the vehicle is loaded, it's a straight shot on our interstate highways.
Those foreign truckers won't need U.S. driver's licenses. They'll have their own, which will be legal on our highways. There's been not a word as to their English skills, their knowledge of our driving and other laws. Nothing about background checks, no specifics made public as to any restrictions on their movements other than pick-up and delivery routes.
Not a word to assure Americans that these truckers will stick to the routes and not just "disappear" into our country. Not a word as to what would be done when that happens.
You know it will happen. It's just a matter of time – it won't be long. As a matter of fact, there's been very little said about this at all. Wonder why?
There was an awful lot left out of the president's immigration speech, but he went into great detail about his plan for "temporary workers."
He never mentioned a plan to sell us the London Bridge, which is in Arizona.
Mr. Bush was quite clear it was not amnesty.
It's a plan to enable people who have already broken federal law by being here, are breaking laws by working here, and more than likely are breaking other laws as they advantage themselves with our generosity, to become citizens.
Of course, he didn't exactly describe them that way.
He wants them to register, stay here and work for six years, then go home so they can come back.
Voila! A citizen! And he said it with a straight face.
Sure, they'll go back. Sure, their American children will be required to leave.
Where's that bridge again?
The president was so adamant about his plan not being amnesty that you know he knows it's the Achilles heel.
Wake up, George. We know it, too.
Don't do it.