Other Columns by Thomas D. Segel
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It happened again last weekend. The Rio Grande Valley of Texas made the news when more than 100 illegal aliens from Brazil were apprehended and then released by the Border Patrol. Why is this worthy of reporting? The main reason... Brazil is identified by our government as a country that could be host to terrorists. This means any illegal entry by people from that country should automatically trigger some serious response by our Homeland Security forces. Instead, these suspect illegals were released on their own recognizance, with a promise they would return for their deportation hearings.

Until recently officials have been telling us that 90% of those illegal immigrants released with instructions to return for court dates have vanished into the American heartland. Now the same officials are saying that only 70% fail to reappear at court hearings. Perhaps they feel the lower percentage of "no-shows" will ease citizen concerns about a border open to all who wish to cross into the United States.

As incidents involving illegal immigration continue to be reported, more and more citizens are becoming angered at the lack of governmental response. People such as Phillip Jones of San Antonio, Texas write, "They should put up a fence or patrol with reserves and volunteers or both." Ray Arnett of Stockton, California says," Build an 18 foot, 100,000 volt electric fence around the United States". He would also build guard towers manned with automatic weapons. When all of that was in place he would have... "Federal, state, county and city governments coordinate a massive sweep of the nation to round up every illegal alien and then transport him or her to their countries of origin"

Jewel Sheldon, in an email responding to my last article on this topic says, "Forget the damned vegetables, I can get along without them. I'd like to see every illegal in this country deported. We were able to feed our citizens and most of the world before illegals and we can do it again."

Stacy Roberts, another California friend, writes, "The guys in power -- both parties -- are not interested in prosecuting the people who hire these illegal aliens. If they would crack down on that front we would see fewer illegal immigrants. Look at what happens when the police crack down on the Johns as well as the hookers...the problem shrinks tremendously."

Out of Ohio, Bill Draper suggests huge fines against employers. "If you want to stop this massive flow of illegal people", he says, "Try fining companies in the thousands of dollars per incident. If it keeps happening the businesses could be closed."

Earl Lee is a national district chairman for AMVETS. He feels National ID Cards should be issued to all citizens. "We should also make it a crime to hire anyone who doesn't possess a card. First offense -- 30 days in the slammer."

Suggestions such as these abound. One reader would have us liberate Mexico and another would bring in immigrants from Northern Ireland and let them homestead along the border. The idea is they would stop any illegals attempting to cross their land.

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