by Earl Mcgill

Created on: September 20, 2009   Last Updated: September 21, 2009

Before tackling the subject of "illegal" immigration in the United States, I should point out certain specific border issues that will not be included. Drug, gun and human smuggling are criminal acts separate from the "illegal" immigration issue; therefore, this article will only deal with those "illegal" immigrants who enter the United States to seek work.

I've placed the word illegal in quotes because in spite of what political and media hacks tell us, there is no such thing, per se, as illegal immigration. Illegality occurs only after the period of time covered by a particular documentation has elapsed. Crossing the border at other than an authorized government checkpoint is illegal but most "illegals" enter the United States at government checkpoints.

If you're thinking that this nitwit is making a nit-picking distinction, try this: Go to the border and walk into Mexico. Are you an illegal? No, you're a "tourist." The same applies to the Mexican folks you keep bumping into at casinos and sales warehouses such as COSTCO. They are "tourists." They only become "illegal" when they work for a casino or warehouse without valid documentation.

The difference is not simply (as the hacks would have you believe) a matter of semantics. An "illegal" immigrant, one who does not have valid work papers, may have entered the United States any number of ways. Most undocumented workers enter the U. S. legally, they just don't go home when their papers say they're supposed to.

Recognizing this basic fact, it should be clear that the billions spent on border fences and other deterrents for controlling "illegals" is wasteful, not only in spending but also in the allocation of manpower necessary to thwart border-related criminal activities. Because of the enormous waste or resources, it isn't much of a stretch to argue that many of these border controls are actually counter-productive to the security of the United States.

The proposed 700-mile fence fails to take in alternatives. Of course, once the fence is installed and in operation, border "illegals," like Cubans have been doing for decades, will take to the sea. It will be a terrific upgrade. Instead of being referred to by the pejorative, "wetbacks" they will become "boat people."

Absurd beyond argument is the proposal that we should send all the "illegals" back to where they came from. The logistics of such a maneuver boggles the mind. The only conceivable way this could even be possible would be to hire millions of "illegals"

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