Securing Our Borders

While we concern ourselves with the war in Iraq, we should also not forget that our borders are pourous. Even after the sweeping changes made with the DHS, there is still ample opportunity for anyone to enter the Untied States. Whether its thru producing counterfeit passports or running across the border, we are still at risk.

An interesting yet widely ignored development this week concerning our border security.
A U.S. Border Patrol entry Identification Team site was overrun Wednesday night along Arizona's border with Mexico.
I seriously question the ROE for our troops and border agents. Of course the article doesn't mention what the border raiding party had for weapons. Nor does it offer any insight to the ROE and whether our troops were reliving the Beruit ROE Syndrome. The National Guard is supposed to provide National security. Someones has a HUAS if they believe that they can protect without the right to defend with equal or greater force.

Take a look at this article and tell me how, in common sense reasoning, can these two be subjected to criminal prosecution while on duty?
Two border agents face heavy prison time for injuring a drug smuggler they thought was armed: In one of the most disturbing stories of the year, two U.S. Border Patrol agents were sentenced to prison terms of 11 years and 12 years for shooting a drug-smuggling suspect in the buttocks as he fled across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Former U.S. Border Patrol agent Ignacio Ramos embraced his wife, Monica Ramos, two days before he was sentenced to 11 years in prison (Courtesy El Paso Times)

On Feb. 17, Alonso, 37, an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Naval Reserve and a former nominee for Border Patrol Agent of the Year, responded to a request for backup from Compean, 28, who had seen a suspicious van near the border town of Fabens, Texas. (source)

And here's a fine example of how profiling fail miserably. The fact is that according to the article, an illegal alien who claimed to be a citizen of Mexico persisted in this false claim for nearly a week until, for reasons not explained in the article, finally admitted that he had provided a false name and was even lying about his nationality.

Whatever measures are put into place there's always someone who can side-step them. We cannot completely and with 100% accuracy deter, catch or thwart terrorists or illegal immigration into our country. While I believe that everyone has a right to legally enter the United States of America, I firmly believe that if you've entered illegally, you need spanked and put out the kitchen door. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.