I thought that Bush Did Not Care About Sealing the Borders- Mickey Kaus Revelation!!!

That was the Gospel I was hearing from my frends on the right that opposed immigration reform. I went ot great efforts to show the Bush plan and that indeed it was being implemented and indeed was on schedule.

Even Immigration Reform Opponent Mickey Kaus (a moderate Dem) has to point this out today in his post.


Perplexing Party Line: Net immigration from Mexico to the U.S. is down by half, says the NYT. Is that due to the economy or stepped up enforcement? According to the Times' fourth graf, "Mexican and American researchers" say it's the economy and lack of jobs.

That's the party line of pro-legalization forces, who would like to deny that stepped-up enforcement can have, and has alraedy had, a big impact. But then the Times buries paragraphs like this:

The enforcement buildup along the border, which started during the Bush administration, has made many Mexicans think twice about the cost and danger of an illegal trek when no job awaits on the other side, scholars said.

A little comment. That is not exactly the position of pro-legalization forces. Pro-Legalization forces that supported immigration reform always had strong border measures as a priority.

Imagine Mickey if you had supported Immigration reform we would have not only border enforcement but internal enforcement via Worker ID, Computer Check and vast sanctions on employers.

A fact Mickey fails to contemplate (publically at least).