Mr. President, This is Not Border Control

Scott Gray

I began this year by writing several columns on the importance of tighter border control in America. With President Bush receiving a solid mandate for his second term, I was hoping that tighter border provisions would pop up along with the guest worker programs touted by the administration. Thus far, I have been wrong. America’s border with Mexico, one of the longest in the world where thousands of illegal immigrants slip across almost daily, is protected only by scanty guards and a rough “citizen patrol.” Quite frankly, this is an embarrassment for the strongest nation in the world.

The crux of the matter is that America can do far better at protecting its border. Currently, a few citizens have taken it upon themselves to patrol the border. However, they lack the power and resources to truly accomplish anything. Only the government can do anything to truly protect the border. Although much money has been poured usefully into technology, little has been used for increases in personnel or basic security measures such as fencing. While I do not believe that America should ever construct a wall on the Mexican border, it should create a secure barrier with fencing and personnel. America is not the “region” as Vincente Fox views it. North America has distinct nations with distinct needs.

America must endorse the philosophy that it welcomes immigrants, but it does not welcome a loose border. President Bush can use guest worker programs for the present illegal immigrants and he can make immigration a simpler process, but he should not leave the border open to all sorts of individuals. Although these workers may help some businesses, these businesses can be helped by legal workers who have been checked as they come across the border. Despite the corporate advantages, illegals have been charged for nearly a full quarter of violent crime in California and other border streets. Gang violence has increased among all Americans, particularly illegal immigrants.

However, if the border situation continues unchecked, common crime may be the least of America’s fears. Al qaeda documents have already pointed to efforts to recruit terrorists from Latin America and Mexico. If this is successful, countless terrorists could cross from Mexico into America with little to no problem. They have already done so with America’s border with Canada. Mexico could even be simpler. Mixed in with the poor workers could come bloodthirsty terrorists with instructions to kill Americans.

As Secretary of State Rice pointed out in her testimony before the 9/11 Commission, “America must be right 100% of the time. The terrorists must be right only once.” America has difficult odds in the battle for security. However, they should never merely give in to difficult odds. All it will take for the terrorists to be right one percent of the time, sneak across the border, and commit an act of terrorism.

President Bush has left a great open wound in America, a wound that could easily be bandaged by placing troops at the border and giving the border the same priority that other key matters of national security receive. However, he has not done so, and this is a great problem that must be corrected by the President. Border security should become a top priority in both the 109th Congress and at the very depths of the Bush administration. These public officials take an oath to protect the American people.

I have made the case for border security for more than a year now. The reasons are worse than obvious. Illegal immigrants are directly related to violent crime and the potential terror threat is apparent. President Bush can mobilize the National Guard at the border and he can talk tough with the Mexican government. Any gains by corporations can continue with a smart border program. President Bush has the opportunity to do this, but he has not done so. He has discussed the complexity of this problem, and politicians on all sides of the aisle of dodged the important issue of border control. However, watching those citizens attempted to patrol the border struck a chord with me. President Bush is the leader of the free world, the most powerful man in this international community. Protecting the border is something that should not be beyond his authority.