To say it's the federal government's job to protect the border and give an utter and complete pass to the state governments who are causing the problem, is BS.
If I lived in California the first thing I'd be trying to change is the local and state laws that facilitate the illegals. Would they be coming to California in such numbers if:
- the could not qualify for any government benefits
- if they had to produce proof of citizenship for any government action and failing so would be arrested and turned over to the INS
- If their children were not allowed to go to school
- If they were denied any medical care beyond emergency room treatment accompanying with a call to the INS.
- If they had to provide proof of citizenship to vote, register vehicles, etc.
California makes it very attractive to an illegal...and we blame the President for that.
BINGO!
Yes the enitre thing is a big mess.
New illegals pouring in since the 1986 citizenship amnesty.
Yet they take their partial facts from the MSM and they blaim Bush.
Shirley you'll recall when Arnold made his statement about closing the borders, he came under intense media pressure, only to recant later and say that he only meant to suggest that we needed to keep track of the 'undocumented'.
It's the desire to get along with the leftists in the media and this state (California) that is a measures one's 'conservativeness'. Neither Arnold nor Bush have the cred to kick leftist ass.
The Left (by nature) is collective and cohesive on all things 'communitarian'. The right should be about the individual, the state, and the nation,--the sovereignty of each as defined by our laws.
It is the Federal government's job to secure our borders. State government's can also help.