Key question in immigration debate: Is U.S. border secure? (2013, drivers license)

[Buzzm1]

Key question in immigration debate: Is U.S. border secure? - The Washington Post

Someone must be living in a bubble, separated from the real world......

UNITED STATES BORDER (Source DHS/CBP)
FY -- Apprehends - BP Agents - Ratio.....Apprehension Rate
1987--1,190,488-----3,181-----374.2.........1 out of 7
1988--1,008,145-----3,766-----267.7
1989----954,243-----3,783-----252.2
1990--1,169,939-----3,715-----314.9
1991--1,197,875-----3,635-----329.5
1992--1,258,482-----4,026-----312.6
1993--1,327,259-----3,965-----334.7
1994--1,094,717-----4,217-----259.6
1995--1,394,554-----4,786-----291.4
1996--1,649,986-----5,863-----281.4
1997--1,412,953-----6,817-----207.3
1998--1,555,776-----7,890-----197.2
1999--1,579,010-----8,259-----191.9
2000--1,676,438-----9,212---- 182.0.........1 out of 6
2001--1,266,213-----9,821---- 128.9
2002----955,310----10,045------95.1
2003----931,557----10,717------86.9
2004--1,160,395----10,819---- 107.2
2005--1,189,075----11,264---- 105.6
2006--1,089,902----12,349------88.3
2007----876,704----14,923------58.7.........1 out of 5
2008----723,825----17,499------41.4
2009----556,041----20,119------27.6
2010----463,382----20,558------22.6
2011----340,252 ---21,444------15.9.........1 out of 4
2012 ... 371,000 est. ...(356,873 Southwest Border ONLY) a 9% increase

UNITED STATES BORDER DRUG INTERCEPTS
(Source DHS/CBP)
FYEAR----MARIJUANA (lbs)----COCAINE(lbs)---HEROIN(oz)-----METH(lbs)
1999-------1,170,941------------29,672-------------771-------------xxx
2000-------1,316,849------------23,203-----------1,209-------------18
2001-------1,166,764------------18,535-----------1,491------------144
2002-------1,234,329------------14,334-----------2,516------------229
2003-------1,350,809------------14,892-----------3,852------------356
2004-------1,347,356------------14,819-----------2,316------------977
2005-------1,208,663------------11,903-----------3,206------------728
2006-------1,369,602------------12,885-----------2,758------------594
2007-------1,859,299------------14,242-----------1,866------------342
2008-------1,642,420-------------9,272--------------735----------- 483
2009-------2,591,215------------10,907-----------3,056------------951
2010-------2,413,214------------10,459-----------4,655------------941
2011-------2,529,685-------------9,963------------8,394---------1,846
2012-------xxxxxxxx-------------xxxxx------------xxxxx---------xxxxx

originally, according to the 2007 agreement, 700 miles of double-layered fence were supposed to be constructed at the border ... unfortunately, this agreement was sold out in the back rooms of Congress ... and the result was 350 miles of mostly Pedestrian fence (less 37 miles of the originally planned double-layered fence), and 300 miles of Vehicle Barriers. Continue fencing the border, double-layering the present Pedestrian fence, where necessary, replacing the Vehicle Barriers, with a fence, where needed, as well as constructing a substantial amount of new fence where needed most.

A smaller amount of fence, but even this reduced amount and quality of fence helped immensely in slowing down the invasion by illegals.. We just need a lot more of it.

The Pedestrian Fence (P.F.) and Vehicle Barrier (V.B.) miles, (06/04/2011)
(Source DHS/CBP)
Apprehensions---2005-----2011---BORDER ---P.F.-----V.B.
San Diego------126,879---42,447------66------46.2-----0.4
El Centro---------55,725---30,191--- --71------44.0----14.2
Yuma------------138,492----5,833----118------46.8----44.5
Tucson ----------439,053--123,285----262------76.4---138.0
El Paso----------122,624---10,345 ---268------63.7---101.2
Marfa -------------10,532----4,036----510-------4.6------0.0
Del Rio -----------68,547---16,144----268-------3.4------0.0
Laredo ------------75,268---36,053----171-------1.2------0.2
Rio Grande Valley134,136---59,243----316------45.3------0.0
Apprehensions---1,171,386--327,577--1992----350.0 --300.0

In anticipation of amnesty, border crossers, in the Rio Grande Valley, are increasing at an alarming rate.

Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector Monthly Apprehensions Of Illegals--- 316 miles
----------OCT---NOV---DEC---JAN---FEB---MAR---APR---MAY---JUN---JUL---AUG---SEP
FY2013---**----**-----**
FY2012--6203--5513--4285--5514--6707--9622-11161-11583-10108--9023--**-----**
FY2011--3630--3624--3349--3485--4232--6810--6508--5954--5410--5277--5973--5004

**NOTE: apprehension numbers for the last five months have not yet been provided by DHS/CBP, and they refuse to release further numbers until they, themselves,release their own FY2012 Border Report, which is already three months overdue.

The Border Patrol says they have operational control of 873 miles of the 2,000 mile Southwest border.
Less Than Half of Southwest Border Secure, Government Report Says | Fox News

Per GAO
129 miles of border under full control
873 miles of border under operational control

[Tom Lennox 70]

With all due respect to our hardworking and patriotic Border Patrol agents and other law enforcement authorities....in my mind if I am to accept the Obama amnesty plan then by securing the border that will mean the US-Mexico border will have to look like the DMZ in Korea, the West Bank barrier in Israel, or the Berlin Wall back during the Cold War......if the border cannot be as secure as the Korean DMZ, the West Bank and Gaza security walls, or the Berlin Wall then I will not accept the amnesty plan.

This is the WRONG appproach. I disagree adamantly with the argumetn that these illegals aren't going anywhere. Why have so many left Arizona and Alabama after the laws there? We need to make life as difficult, inconvenient and uncomfortable as possible for illegals this involves passing laws making English the official language of cities, counties, and states and punishing those who aid and abet illegal aliens and those who rent houses to or hire illegal aliens. it should also be illegal to pull up to a Home Depot and get day laborers if the person hiring them for a private job does not check for their citizenship status and there shouldbe undercover police posign as illegal aliens at day labor centers, and police posing as illegal aliens trying to get jobs and drivers licenses. It actually DOES work somewhat making them feel insecure and unwelcome.

This amnesty will only increase their sense of entitlement and their arrogance against the American people and against legal immigrants.

[Tom Lennox 70]

File:Israel-Palestinian Wall Ich Bin Eine Berliner.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

File:BarbedWireFence1.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Oldglory]

Buzz, thanks for providing those stats. It is true that even though congress voted to build about 700 miles of the double-layered fence very little of it was completed because it wasn't funded. The "virtual" fence had all kinds of flaws in its technology so that project was abandoned. What we are left with is nothing much more than a cattle fence in many places. No wonder our border is still unsecured.

We have over 2,000 miles of border with Mexico. Even with the increase in the Border Patrol without much of a physical barrier to assist them it is still very porous and easily breached. I'd like to know what "operational control" means in regards to the 873 miles that is mentioned. That still leaves well over 1,000 miles that isn't under control.

[All American NYC]

Border is not secure.

[IBMMuseum]

With apprehension numbers steadily going down, are the increasing numbers of Border Patrol agents just letting illegal aliens get through their sectors? Source your "estimate" for 2012, ahead of any released numbers. The Rio Grande Valley sector is seeing a higher ratio of OTMs ("Other Than Mexican"), primarily for being a preferred crossing of Central American illegal aliens.

The article you link as a contrast (but do not quote) provides some good information. I sourced a new report from the Migration Policy Institute more than a week ago, which no one else here has commented on. In a poll topic a couple months back, I asked opinions on the current amount of crossings.

Certainly if you disagree with Federal statistics, please source where you are getting your alternative numbers...

[WIHS2006]

The Democrats do not want a secure border!

Anything border security related that they propose is either lip service or a band-aid on a gaping wound just so they can say "oh look we improved border security" when in reality they did squat. For example the Democrats love to say "We hired x Border Patrol agents" but neglect to tell you that they imposed so many rules and restrictions that they cannot do their jobs anymore.

[All American NYC]

Originally Posted by WIHS2006

The Democrats do not want a secure border!

Anything border security related that they propose is either lip service or a band-aid on a gaping wound just so they can say "oh look we improved border security" when in reality they did squat. For example the Democrats love to say "We hired x Border Patrol agents" but neglect to tell you that they imposed so many rules and restrictions that they cannot do their jobs anymore.

That has been Obama's policy since 2008.

[Buzzm1]

Sent to major newspapers and all members of Congress

Dear Editor/Congressperson,

We, the people, need your help.

For the past 7 years, as evidenced by this link: Forums for Justice - government of the people, by the people, for the people - Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol http://bit.ly/zp4AW9
we have been diligently tracking the monthly border apprehensions in the nine Southwest Border Patrol Sectors, using Excel spreadsheet data, emailed to us, by the DHS/CBP office in Washington DC.

DHS/CBP is now, despite numerous requests, stonewalling the release of this information

If we are going to have an honest debate about illegal immigration reform, the importance of this information cannot be understated, or remain in question. Let the facts be known.

In anticipation of legalization, border crossers, in the Rio Grande Valley, are increasing at an alarming rate.

Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector Monthly Apprehensions Of Illegals--- 316 miles
--------OCT---NOV---DEC---JAN---FEB---MAR---APR---MAY---JUN---JUL---AUG---SEP
FY2013---**-----**-----**......
FY2012--6203--5513--4285--5514--6707--9622-11161-11583-10108--9023--**-----**
FY2011--3630--3624--3349--3485--4232--6810--6508--5954--5410--5277--5973--5004
FY2010--4235--3690--2989--3651--4845--7145--7137--7483--5593--3830--5328--3839
FY2009--5090--4259--3341--4576--5206--5479--6107--5294--5093--5514--6027--5008
FY2008--5989--4696--3974--5217--6879--8545--9419--7961--6316--5561--6107--4819
FY2007--5772--4549--3649--5798--6172--8431--7645--7736--5791--6225--6331--5331
FY2006-10060--9111--7128--9533-10444-13080-11264-11649--7516--7109--7020--6614
FY2005--7813--7512--7214--9136-10147-13176-14635-14796-13109-12208-12713-11727
FY2004--5414--5053--4636--8102--8732-10149--9618--8916---7423--8826--8542--7536
FY2003--6024--4218--3814--7630--7905--7498--6560--7095--6153--7042--7737--6073
FY2002--4784--3744--3843--8035--8438-10153-10310--9473--8109--7523--8762--6753
FY2001--6634--5975--4280-10102-12298-12890-11366-11204--8151--9191--9426--6326
FY2000--8416--7371--5808-15443-16814-17995-15005-12390--7764--9842--9073--7322
FY1999-10921-10801-7954-17980-19499-21909-17720-14784-11895-12430-11936-11322

**NOTE: Monthly apprehension numbers for the last five months have not yet been provided by DHS/CBP, and they refuse to release further numbers until they, themselves,release their own FY2012 Border Stats, which is already three months overdue. DHS/CBP's failure to release the FY2012 Border Stats, precludes receiving any Excel spreadsheet FY2013 monthly apprehension data.

Please encourage DHS to release the Excel spreadsheet FY2012 Monthly Border Apprehension Numbers -- up until the past few years they were always released in late October, after the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year. The previous release (FY2011) was delayed until December, 2011. The growing delay on the FY2012 Report is uncalled for and unnecessary. We, the people, demand this information, especially in light of the looming immigration reform discussion. Do not allow the DHS/CBP withhold information that is of great public interest.

Excel spreadsheet data from past months, and past years, are available upon request.

Thank you,

[Benicar]

Originally Posted by IBMMuseum

With apprehension numbers steadily going down, are the increasing numbers of Border Patrol agents just letting illegal aliens get through their sectors? Source your "estimate" for 2012, ahead of any released numbers. The Rio Grande Valley sector is seeing a higher ratio of OTMs ("Other Than Mexican"), primarily for being a preferred crossing of Central American illegal aliens.

The article you link as a contrast (but do not quote) provides some good information. I sourced a new report from the Migration Policy Institute more than a week ago, which no one else here has commented on. In a poll topic a couple months back, I asked opinions on the current amount of crossings.

Certainly if you disagree with Federal statistics, please source where you are getting your alternative numbers...

Using "border apprehensions" to gauge illegal border crossings has always been highly ineffective. How can they count, or even assume to know how many are entering this country illegally, if they are never caught? They have no idea how many illegal aliens are crossing our borders undetected. As usual, it's all a guesstimate. But, common sense dictates, if this country is offering amnesty to all "non-violent" illegal aliens, they will flood our shores to get in line for the big giveaway.

To my knowledge, there's no shortage of weed, coke, or meth, most of which enters this country from Mexico. I don't dabble in drugs, so I certainly could be wrong. But, I do know people who smoke weed, and they haven't mentioned a shortage. When a credible source reports illicit drugs are no longer entering this country, then I'll believe our border with Mexico is secure. However, given that many powerful people profit from the illegal drug trade, I won't hold my breath.