Michael Cutler: "Secure Borders - In Whose Lifetime?"

By Andrew Cochran

Michael Cutler asked me to post his comments:

I read the article, "DHS touts success of anti-gang operation," with interest, because I have often made the point that each year more Americans lose their lives, either directly or indirectly as a result of the crimes committed by criminal aliens who are operating within our borders. The arrest of nearly one thousand violent aliens is a welcome bit of news in the otherwise bleak immigration story, where the enforcement of these critical laws is concerned. I am encouraged that the leadership of DHS has seen fit to make these violent gangs a priority. However, I have also read that there are more gang members in the United States than there are sworn police officers throughout the United States. A significant percentage of the gangs are comprised of aliens. With only 2,000 special agents employed by the DHS for the entire country it is obvious that if we had more agents more of these violent criminals as well as terrorists could be more effectively pursued. Certainly there would be no shortage of meaningful work for additional agents.

The last sentence of this report was particularly disturbing. To quote,

"He (Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security Secretary) added that DHS officials have been working with members of Congress during the past few weeks "to develop our full set of measures with respect to border control."

We are rapidly approaching the fourth anniversary of the worst terrorist attack ever committed in the United States and Mr. Chertoff touts the fact that within the past few weeks DHS has been working with Congress to develop a a strategy to confront border control?!

Last year the Border Patrol claimed to have arrested in excess of one million illegal aliens. The number of illegal aliens in the United States has swelled to at least 12 million illegal alien and possibly, (probably?) many more. 30 percent of the federal inmate population is comprised of aliens and we are in the midst of prosecuting a war on terror and a war on drugs yet it is only within the last few weeks that DHS has been working with the United States Congress to deal with this crisis? Why has it taken so long for the administration to deal with this issue that threatens the security of our nation? I hate to be repetitive, but I think it is important to consider a quote from the first two sentences of the preface of a report entitled, �9/11 and Terrorist Travel, A Staff Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States,�

�It is perhaps obvious to state that terrorists cannot plan and carry out attacks in the United States if they are unable to enter the country. Yet prior to September 11, while there were efforts to enhance border security, no agency of the U.S. government thought of border security as a tool in the counterterrorism arsenal.�

I find it outrageous that what should have been one of the most obvious issues to be on the "To-do list" for our government especially in the wake of the terrorist attacks is first now being addressed! Now that they have "discovered" this issue, how much more time will our leaders squander as they attempt to devise a solution to this crisis? How long will it take for them to address the failures of the immigration system that have gotten us to this point? Will they, hopefully, re-implement foreign language training for law enforcement personnel at ICE as was required for the former INS and expand it to include more than the Spanish language training that was previously mandated? (You cannot investigate people you cannot communicate with.)

Each day thousands of illegal aliens succeed in gaining entry into the United States across our borders with Mexico and Canada. They also enter through ports of entry whether they be airports or seaports and some of them also jump ship or stowaway on vessels. Among all of these people who are surreptitiously entering the United States are criminals and possibly terrorists. It would appear that the administration and politicians from both the Democratic and the Republican parties are more concerned with providing the cheap and docile (exploitable) labor that various industries in the United States crave than they are with protecting our nation and our citizens from criminals and terrorists.

Perhaps I am being unfair, after all, they are finally discussing this issue. As a young boy, I recall my mom telling me that "Talk is cheap." She also used to say that "Actions speak louder than words." I wish we were well past the talking stage and well into the implementation of meaningful changes phase.

I know that Mr. Chertoff is relatively new to his position as the leader of DHS. I hope he quickly assesses how critical these issues are and gets the administration to do what is essential, before we are attacked again!

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