Mr. Barone writes that "...increasing numbers of well-educated Mexicans have no need to go to the United States to live a comfortable and even affluent life." I wouldn't argue with that, but there are still 10's of millions of Mexicans who live in abject poverty. When the U.S. economy picks up and/or the Mexican economy slips, a lot of those poor people will want to come here. Add to that the lure of eventual amnesty/citizenship, and I don't see the onslaught of illegal immigration from south of the border ending any time soon. Tougher laws and an enforced border would make a real difference, but such laws are sure to be gutted by activist judges and neither political party really wants to create an impermeable border.

Even if Mr. Barone's rosy scenario does come true, we will have to live with the negative consequences of decades of massive illegal immigration. In effect, we have imported poverty from Mexico on a grand scale. Once rooted, poverty is exceeding difficult to uproot.

Jeremy

Ditto Sir...

How long will it take us to recover from the embracing of lawlessness this represents:

--the negative effects of voter fraud,

--MS13, drunk drivers,

--murdered police,

--child porn and predators,

--drugs,

--hospital systems in chaos,

--school system chaos, etc...a

All that, not to mention the "others" who came into our nation along the same routes...

And of course, the monies that are sent directly back to Mexico from our Government.

Good news. The slipping below replacement birthrate (2 live births per woman is less than is needed) is the surest indication of, not only increasing prosperity but an interest in maintaining it.

Abu

The "over population" myth and resultant policies of the 1960's is how we got to where we are today, with not enough workers and tax payers.

Hmmmm...maybe we can go down there and work huh?

God bless

Michael, I would love to believe all that you have written but, I cannot. First though, with illegal immagration down, now would be the time to raise the fence. Personally I would prefer a hugh wall, a statement wall, but to many American citizens of the liberal mindset say no.

Illegal Mexicans raise their children, born in America to be Mexicans with American rights, this not only dillutes American culture, not only impugns real Americans, it breeds democrat voters as well. The democrat party should have gone along the way of the dinosaurs, the way of extinction. The socialism of the democrat party would have died out with the democrats, but first, second, and probably third generation Mexicans vote democrat. This allows the liberal mindset to continue their dream of a marxist utopian culture, with democrat leaders at the top, fat and powerful, looking down on their lowly flock, the American citizenry, wallowing in poverty and tyranny.

I would take solace in your column, and I hope there is some semblence of truth there. I for one however, will only believe it when I see it, and I am quite sure I will never see it.

NAFTA has fatten Mexico greatly, and this has come at an unfair cost, and an unfair price to Americans. Let us now get something for the unfair economic exchange. Let America build the wall, real shovel ready jobs, or if not the wall at least the full 2000 mile fence. Except for the fact that democrats are in controll, now would be the oppertunity to be seized, let us seize it.

PDK

I could not agree more.

The very act of illegal immigration violates the sine qua non principles of America...that we are a nation of equal protection under the law, and that We have the right to choose who we want to associated with and allow among us...

...that certainly not being those who violate our laws and nation from the beginning. To enter a home uninvited by the owner, is at best the crime of trespassing, and quite possibly a home invasion, legitimately repelled by force.

Thomas Jefferson put it this way:

"Born in other countries, yet believing you could be happy in this, our laws acknowledge, as they should do, your right to join us in society, conforming, as I doubt not you will do, to our established rules."

He said a mouthful...not only that they do so by our established rules, the first being how they arrive, but further, that they wish to join us at all rather than plunder us as an invader would...

Illegal immigrants are quite literally saying to us that WE do not have the right to accept or reject based on OUR criteria. They are expressing contempt for our sovereignty, our property rights, etc.

Is that the kind of person we want to join us here in fellowship of society? I think not, for they cannot be trusted to do what is good for the nation, but only themselves and the nation they bear true allegiance to, at the expense of others.

I say, "If you want to live among the law abiding, and reap the blessings of liberty, show yourself worthy of that liberty by being law abiding."

That's me.

God bless

I take exception to Mr. Barone's estimate of the number of illegal aliens in this country. The numbers 11 million and 12 million have been bandied about for over a decade, while the true numbers would more closely approach over 20 million. Furthermore, to depend on the credibility of a Pew Hispanic Center statistic of the current rate of illegal entries is foolish. Illegal immigration from Mexico and Central America exceeds 100,000 per year by FAR! Even Mexico admits that fully over 10% of their ENTIRE POPULATION is living in the U.S. illegally. What's even more infuriating is that, with the financial mess this country is in, Mexico is whining about having to contend with all those Mexicans who are returning back to their home country and in need of social services.

Not only that, but Janet Napolitano and her counterpart, John Morton, of ICE have both doctored statistics on the rate of illegal immigration numbers, making it appear as though illegal immigration is down when in actuality, it remains high and will continue to remain high until our government gets serious about enforcement.

I believe Michael we are up against sophistry.

This is problem #1 for our country.

All other problems can be resolved by enforcing the immigration laws of this country.

Effectively close the border. That is what the National Guard is for -- Guarding the Nation.

Then deal with the 20 million here illegally. It's called a "plea Bargain". Give them 90 days to come forward and be identified, and put on the tax plan. Based on idividually circumstances of education, work status, and clean criminal record (apart from the obvious violation of immigration and tax laws for which they are seeking a plea bargain) they will be allowed to pay a significant/large fine, stay for a limited period of 12-18 months with detailed review at that time.

Those who make a Plea Bargain get no path to citizenship. They may choose to get in line behind all those doing it the right way - and apply for a Green Card.

At the end of 90 days, any illegal found here will be fingerprinted and deported, and never allowed back in the US.

Carrot and Stick. The criminals, and reconquisttas will not come forward and will eventually be found and deported. Those that are willing to work and become assiminlated into our society as Americans, are given a chance to contribute legally.

Close the border now while the tide is low!

PDK

RE: I believe Michael we are up against sophistry.

Sir...you are a much kinder man than I.

For my money, they are rogues, the lot of them, and should be treated as such.

In Texas we have what is called "The Castle Doctrine"....we are not particularly fond of aiding and abetting either.

God bless

"Where the principle of difference [between political parties] is as substantial and as strongly pronounced as between the republicans and the monocrats of our country, I hold it as honorable to take a firm and decided part and as immoral to pursue a middle line, as between the parties of honest men and rogues, into which every country is divided." --Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 1795. ME 9:317

I'll just cut and paste as I wrote in response to the Linda Chavez column:

This woman is as stupid as a stump! I LIVE in Arizona and this biatch is telling lies just like the SOB we have in the WH.

Hey Linda--- try going here and SEE what these scumbags have done to our state.

http://www.marstonchronicles.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=490&Itemid=1337.

The pictures are undeniable; even a libtard like you can get it IF YOU CARE TO! When there are signs posted by the federal gubmint a full 60 miles inside OUR border telling us is is dangerous to be there and to stay out, I say it's time we rise up and defend our own borders, State by State. We don't need your, or the federal gubmint lies, to tell us what's happening in OUR State. You are a liar, plain and simple.

It appears Barone is just another Chavez.

Sounds great, Michael, but it's all rosy rhetoric calculated conjecture until we SECURE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER AND ENFORCE THE LAW!

This country is collapsing under the weight of millions of immigrants mostly illegals from Mexico and their astronomical birth rate, idiotically supported by the gullible American tax payer.