Eugene Robinson: Border-First Hallucinations

from Truthdig:



Border-First Hallucinations
Posted on May 4, 2010

By Eugene Robinson


The notion that the first thing to do is “secure the border” between the United States and Mexico—and only then worry about comprehensive immigration reform—falls somewhere between hopeful fantasy and cynical cop-out. It’s a good sound bite but would be a ridiculous policy.

Fact-based analysis is increasingly out of fashion, however, and so the border-first hallucination has become popular among politicians and pundits reacting to Arizona’s new “breathing while Latino” law. The measure, which has sparked angry protests nationwide, orders police to act on “reasonable suspicion” in identifying, arresting and jailing undocumented immigrants.

Anyone who thinks such extremism could be quelled if the federal government would just “secure the border” really ought to visit Arizona and take a look. Or at least consult a map. Or even just read up on what is happening at the border—which, according to Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, “has never been more secure.”

Border crossings by undocumented immigrants have declined sharply over the past decade. With more Border Patrol agents on duty than ever before, apprehensions of would-be immigrants along the 2,000-mile border have dropped from a peak of 1.8 million in fiscal 2000 to 556,000 in fiscal 2009. Some of the decrease may be the result of tougher border enforcement, but the weakness of the U.S. economy also could be a factor. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/border-first_hallucinations_20100504/

Fact-based analysis is increasingly out of fashion. . .

Roy Bermudez, assistant police chief of the border city of Nogales, told The Arizona Republic that “we have not, thank God, witnessed any spillover violence from Mexico.” In Nogales, the busiest Arizona crossing, there is already a big, impassable fence (,however); the place is crawling with Border Patrol agents and other police. Most of those who cross illegally do so in remote areas, where they have to walk for many miles across scorched, unforgiving desert.

Violent crime is down statewide, as it is nationally. Border crossings by undocumented immigrants have declined sharply over the past decade. With more Border Patrol agents on duty than ever before, apprehensions of would-be immigrants along the 2,000-mile border have dropped from a peak of 1.8 million in fiscal 2000 to 556,000 in fiscal 2009. (Nonetheless,) The newspaper reported—citing figures from FBI crime reports and local police agencies—that crime rates along the border have been “essentially flat for the past decade.”

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