Why have borders?

Deportation of illegal immigrants increases under Obama administration

If we are not going to enforce the laws,we should do away with the borders all together.We were a nation of laws but since this administration does not see it that way,lets tear down the fence,let everyone in and let the taxpayers take care of them.
This morning,hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens are safe from deportation but are they now classified as "illegal?"

Deportation of illegal immigrants increases under Obama administration

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency expects to deport about 400,000 people this fiscal year, nearly 10 percent above the Bush administration's 2008 total and 25 percent more than were deported in 2007. The pace of company audits has roughly quadrupled since President George W. Bush's final year in office.

Full story at: washingtonpost.com

Deportation of illegal immigrants increases under Obama administration

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency expects to deport about 400,000 people this fiscal year, nearly 10 percent above the Bush administration's 2008 total and 25 percent more than were deported in 2007. The pace of company audits has roughly quadrupled since President George W. Bush's final year in office.

Full story at: washingtonpost.com

Key word here,"expects."
Back to the original question,why did the federal government not allow Arizona to enforce their law?Why have borders if laws are not enforced? It is pretty black and white,either enfoce the law or tear the fence down and let them in without question.
We are/were a nation of laws

Key word here,"expects."

We are/were a nation of laws

The key word "expects," in this case refers to mathematical extrapolation. That is, IF illegals continue to be deported at the current rate, THEN such deportations will be 10% above Bush levels.
Do you have reason to believe that the current deportation rate will decrease? Seems to me, if anything, it's more likely to Increase.

Also, you've said in two separate posts "We are/were a nation of laws." Then, I suppose you support Federal Judge Bolton's blocking of the provisions of the AZ law that she ruled in conflict with Federal law?

"U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton on Wednesday halted implementation of the parts of the law that require police to determine the status of people they stop and think are in the country illegally. She also forbade the state from charging anyone for a new crime of failing to possess immigration documents.

Bolton's ruling found that the Obama administration was likely to prevail at trial in proving the two provisions, and two other ones in the sweeping law, were an unconstitutional attempt by Arizona to regulate immigration. Arizona is expected to immediately appeal the decision to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco."

Arizona immigration: Immigration law blocked - latimes.com

I agree, we are & should be a nation of laws.

Deportation should increase if more illegals are entering the country regardless of who the president is, if immigration laws are enforced as they should be. Many think they are not. As far as judge Bolton's ruling goes, it is far, far from being law yet. Many, including me, believe (and hope) her decision will be overturned on appeal.

Key word here,"expects."
Back to the original question,why did the federal government not allow Arizona to enforce their law?Why have borders if laws are not enforced? It is pretty black and white,either enfoce the law or tear the fence down and let them in without question.
We are/were a nation of laws

Because a federal judge ruled part of the law as unconstitutional. The federal government alone is responsible for immigration control. States can't make up their own rules arbitrarily. Whether or not the judge's ruling was reasonable will be worked out in future appeals.

Walk the Walk "why did the federal government not allow Arizona to enforce their law?"

Because a federal judge ruled part of the law as unconstitutional. The federal government alone is responsible for immigration control. States can't make up their own rules arbitrarily. Whether or not the judge's ruling was reasonable will be worked out in future appeals.

Good point: AZ is not allowed to enforce their law for the same reason that Southern states were not allowed to enforce their segregation laws--because they were unconstitutional.

I agree that illegal immigration is a problem and needs to be stopped, just haven't heard any realistic or constructive solutions as to how.

All I hear is hate and fear-mongering and draconian suggestions that I find to be against everything this country stands for - like Nazi or Soviet Germany, not AMERICA.

I do think we should be cracking down on those who HIRE and profit from illegal aliens. Not just because I think it is a crime and because it enables the problem, but because they are also knowingly avoiding paying taxes and helping others avoid paying taxes that all of our coffers desperately need.

As far as Arizona's law, a police officer pulls you over, you have to provide a driver's license. If you get arrested or cannot produce valid US ID, they ALREADY check your immigration status.

AZ is forbidden to enforce Federal law in immigration issues.

Robbing a bank is a Federal crime, but state law enforcement handles those arrests.

Based on the ruling on the immigration issue state law enforcement should be prohibitied from dealing with bank robberies, too.

Just stirring the pot a bit!

I agree that illegal immigration is a problem and needs to be stopped, just haven't heard any realistic or constructive solutions as to how.

All I hear is hate and fear-mongering and draconian suggestions that I find to be against everything this country stands for - like Nazi or Soviet Germany, not AMERICA.

I do think we should be cracking down on those who HIRE and profit from illegal aliens. Not just because I think it is a crime and because it enables the problem, but because they are also knowingly avoiding paying taxes and helping others avoid paying taxes that all of our coffers desperately need.

As far as Arizona's law, a police officer pulls you over, you have to provide a driver's license. If you get arrested or cannot produce valid US ID, they ALREADY check your immigration status.

And, according to the interviews I've seen, with LEO in Arizona, they alreadysend the violators to ICE. This law would have had the local cops doing more work, for the same purpose. The governor is the one who seems to be out of touch...no doubt there is a problem, but this is not the right fix.

Arizona is not FORBIDDEN, as they already have state law enforcement working w/ federal on illegal immigration and arresting people for it (as they do on many things/crimes including bank robberies etc.).

The biggest issue I am finding is that the federal government does not have the money or resources to track down and deport every single illegal alien in the US - so they focus on those who are dangerous, committing major crimes, etc.

"A March study by the liberal Center for American Progress estimated that deporting the entire illegal immigration population and securing the borders would cost $285 billion over five years." Enforcement at heart of Ariz. immigration lawsuit - Yahoo! News

As I understand it, if this new law were to go into effect, limited resources would go to finding illegal aliens (whose only crime was being here illegally) instead of murderers, rapists, drug dealers etc.

It's sort of like having the WCSO crack down on jaywalkers in Seaside and the morons who drive golf carts down the roads and bike path instead of catching meth dealers, theives, and murderers. It's a priority issue.

I would much rather find long term, humane solutions - like making it difficult to be employed as an illegal alien, rent to them, own property etc.

Borders exist to clarify where one can and can't buy fireworks, liquor and lottery tickets. Duh.

How hard is it to enter the U.S. legally?

Even if we secured the border 100 percent, couldn't people just enter legally then never go back to their country of origin.

Enter legally, then, stay illegally.

That is why we need stricter enforcement IN this country. It is hard, probably impossible, to completely control illegal immigration, but the Arizona law would have helped.

The 9-11 hijackers all entered the country legally, but some of them overstayed their visas unnoticed.

Deportation of illegal immigrants increases under Obama administration

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency expects to deport about 400,000 people this fiscal year, nearly 10 percent above the Bush administration's 2008 total and 25 percent more than were deported in 2007. The pace of company audits has roughly quadrupled since President George W. Bush's final year in office.

Full story at: washingtonpost.com

Your words "expects to deport" I don't put much faith in, I really don't see the Obama administration deporting anyone...in fact I "might suspect" there will be more illegals arriving in our country...as it appears the only thing missing in their arrival ceremony is the red carpet and who knows maybe there is a red carpet hiding in all that stimulus money.

And remember...

They aren't illegal immigrants or undocumented workers, anymore. According to a new report, they are "displaced foreign travelers".

Gee Whiz, people...stay with the times...

Your words "expects to deport" I don't put much faith in, I really don't see the Obama administration deporting anyone...in fact I "might suspect" there will be more illegals arriving in our country...as it appears the only thing missing in their arrival ceremony is the red carpet and who knows maybe there is a red carpet hiding in all that stimulus money.

EG, in spite of your nitpicking the article's use of the word "expects," the Fact is that the Obama administration IS deporting illegal aliens at a rate that is 10% Higher than the previous administration. As I explained in a previous post, the word "expects" here refers simply to a mathematical extrapolation for the entire fiscal year.

Your post is unfortunately typical of "don't confuse me with the facts; I already know what I believe."

As an FYI, the number of illegals in the US has been on the decline since 2007 (due to the recession and increased enforcement) and the rate at which we deport them continues to rise.

Supposedly we've got about a million less illegals now than we did in 2007.

Is Judge Bolton an Ideologue?

Is Judge Bolton an Ideologue?

washingtonpost.com

I think that most Americans (who don't serve in the Congress or an Administration) want our borders secured far more than they want the current crop of illegals deported (or at least before they are deported.)

This Administration isn't the source of the problem. Before 'O', 'W' also refused to tackle the issue.

It is apparent that their bigger investors in, er, donors behind our politcos, don't want the problem solved or the borders secured. Obviously for the Congress, for 'W' and for 'O' the desires of the people who helped them acquire their position supersedes any mere needs of the population.

I think that most Americans (who don't serve in the Congress or an Administration) want our borders secured far more than they want the current crop of illegals deported (or at least before they are deported.)

This Administration isn't the source of the problem. Before 'O', 'W' also refused to tackle the issue.

It is apparent that their bigger investors in, er, donors behind our politcos, don't want the problem solved or the borders secured. Obviously for the Congress, for 'W' and for 'O' the desires of the people who helped them acquire their position supersedes any mere needs of the population.

The problem is the government governs against the will of the people.

The problem is the government governs against the will of the people.

An unfortunate cynical attitude.

One might take exactly the opposite position: that our elected representatives--in order to get re-elected--vote exactly how their constituents want them to. That is, we get the gov't we deserve.

An unfortunate cynical attitude.

One might take exactly the opposite position: that our elected representatives--in order to get re-elected--vote exactly how their constituents want them to. That is, we get the gov't we deserve.

I beg to disagree...I believe many in Congress feel that the American people are stupid, ill informed and that they (meaning Congress) only knows what is good for us. They have taken on an attitude of all knowing big egos and are running with it. I believe that many of us just accepted that our leaders that we elected were telling us the truth and were really out to serve the American people...we were lax and didn't notice that they voted a certain way because of a bribe or a promise of a better committee or perhaps a little extra gift for their district. Maybe all of the attention directed at Obama has served as a wake up call because we have now been exposed to the games that go on in our government...2010 will start the change and 2012 will hopefully put the American people back in charge of their country. When that happens we will have to be involved and watch our elected officials, no more just accepting them at face value, Now we need to hold their feet to the fire or as Nancy once said...Drain that swamp!

FYI - most of the incumbents in the upcoming elections are Republicans.

So does that mean we should be voting in new Democrats to really change how things have been going?

Key word here,"expects."
Back to the original question,why did the federal government not allow Arizona to enforce their law?Why have borders if laws are not enforced? It is pretty black and white,either enfoce the law or tear the fence down and let them in without question.
We are/were a nation of laws

the law appeases racism, and undercuts the constitution you love to slow dance with so frequently. yes we are a nation of laws, not a rabble of scared whiteys.

Deportation should increase if more illegals are entering the country regardless of who the president is, if immigration laws are enforced as they should be. Many think they are not. As far as judge Bolton's ruling goes, it is far, far from being law yet. Many, including me, believe (and hope) her decision will be overturned on appeal.

you cannot enforce immigration law with unconstitutional actions. you can hope and believe you win the lottery.

The problem is the government governs against the will of the people.

the will of the people has put innocents at the end of a rope