Many conservatives who favor some form of immigration reform also favor strong border security. Liberals oppose any efforts to tie immigration reform with border controls. Makes perfect sense. As Jay Leno says, the new phrase for "illegal alien" is "undocumented Democrat."
In an effort to allay conservatives' concerns, or maybe simply to belittle the opposition, the administration claims that the borders are already secure. But along came the drones, and they told a different story. See latimes.com, Radar shows U.S. border security gaps. Excerpts:
According to internal reports, Border Patrol agents used the airborne radar to help find and detain 1,874 people in the Sonora Desert between Oct. 1 and Jan. 17. But the radar system spotted an additional 1,962 people in the same area who evaded arrest and disappeared into the United States.
In contrast, the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, estimated in January that the Border Patrol had caught 64% of those who illegally crossed into the Tucson sector in 2011. ...
Government says 64%, drones say 49%, but who's counting? More:
The Obama administration contends America's borders are more strictly policed than ever, with nearly 365,000 apprehensions last year. Republicans have demanded more guards, drones, fencing and other security measures before legal status is granted to the estimated 11 million people believed to have entered America illegally or overstayed their visas.
Good fences make good neighbors. But with the out-of-control spending that has already taken place, expecting a good fence might be like wishing for world peace. A worthwhile alternative might include an effective drone system and good electronic surveillance, but equally important would be a fully staffed border patrol under orders to do the job.
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