Number of People Crossing into Texas Illegally Down Sharply

WOAI radio ^ | October 8, 2008 | Jim Forsyth

[3AngelaD]

Figures released today by the Texas Border Coalition, a group of south Texas officials who oppose the proposed construction of that border fence, indicate that the number of people crossing into Texas illegally has fallen by more than fifty percent in the past four years, 1200 WOAI news reports. The largest drop in illegal border crossings has been in the El Paso and Marfa Border Patrol sectors, where the number of people arrested for illegal entry has fallen by more than 70% since 2005....

Texas officials credit expanded Border Patrol surveillance, backed up by the Texas National Guard and Operation Linebacker, a state program which provides millions of dollars of funding to border county sheriff's office to support border security operations.

Texas Border Coalition Chairman Chad Foster, the Mayor of Eagle Pass: "The $50 billion that the border wall will cost America is a waste," Foster said. ...

"In Texas, we are securing the border with more Border Patrol and smarter enforcement. We don't need a fence."

Foster called on Congress to slow illegal crossings even more, by enacting a comprehensive immigration reform proposal which requires undocumented workers to pay a fine and learn English, and which includes a temporary worker program. ...

[3AngelaD]

So, this fellow doesn't quite understand that fewer apprehensions is a good thing, and his solution, although he is careful not to say it directly, is amnesty. Demagogue. They already are building fence in Texas, a lot around El Paso, and no where have I read that the fence is going to cost $50 billion, unless he is talking about maintenance for the next 200 years. All Congress has provided for fence so far is $2 billion.

[ALASKA]

I just hope they leave the gate open going the other way..............

[Dallas59]

With amnesty coming under a possible Obama presidency....

[TKDietz]

“With amnesty coming under a possible Obama presidency....”

McCain is going to do the same thing. Both are for comprehensive immigration reform with some sort of amnesty component. We'll very likely see it happen before next summer, regardless of who gets elected.

[sazerac]

The democrats are going to continue destroying our economy and a wall will stop us from getting a job in Mexico.

[max americana]

> “In Texas, we are securing the border with more Border Patrol and smarter enforcement. We don’t need a fence.”

How exactly did this nimrod get his job at the Border Patrol?

[3AngelaD]

He’s not Border Patrol, he is the mayor of Eagle Pass.

[3AngelaD]

I think they will try again. I am not so sure they will succeed, especially with the economic situation as it is. It will be difficult to argue the cost of amnestying all of those people and giving them the right to access public benefits.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Maybe they don’t wanna be around if Obammie gets elected. They know Marxism when they see it. They’ve been around it all of their lives.

[clintonh8r]

One of the benefits of a crap economy.

[max americana]

Regardless, how did he get his job?

[TKDietz]

I bet they do it. They'll just make all these people pay a big penalty along with all the other fees they pay for every form they file and they'll bring in billions in fees and not have to waste manpower going after the illegals who aren't getting in trouble for breaking other laws. These illegals would not be eligible for any benefits they aren't eligible for now. Even legal permanent residents aren't eligible for most benefits until they have their green cards for five years, and I don't think they're going to make all these people be LPRs right away. I don't know what they are going to do exactly. I just know both candidates are for amnesty, as are an awful lot of businesses and an awful lot of our legislators. It's coming. I'd bet money on it.