Dallas News describes government assisted immigration fraud driven by the fact that since there weren’t enough Spanish-language teachers to instruct immigrants, schools had to import illegal immigrants to teach them.
Years after being advised by a state agency to stop, the Dallas Independent School District continued to provide foreign citizens with fake Social Security numbers to get them on the payroll quickly.
Some of the numbers were real Social Security numbers already assigned to people elsewhere. And in some cases, the state’s educator certification office unknowingly used the bogus numbers to run criminal background checks on the new hires, most of whom were brought in to teach bilingual classes.
The practice was described in an internal report issued in September by the district’s investigative office, which looked into the matter after receiving a tip. The report said the Texas Education Agency learned of the fake numbers in 2004 and told DISD then that the practice “was illegal.”
It’s unclear how long DISD had been issuing the phony numbers, and district officials didn’t know Thursday how many had been given out. But the investigative report and interviews with DISD employees indicate the practice went on for several years before it was discontinued this past summer.
The idea that public policy is driven by some kind of rational calculation of what is best for the “nation” may eventually give way to the view that policy is really the art of following the line of least resistance. The power of least resistance was illustrated by illegal immigrants seeking the weakest way through the rising border fence. It has had the effect of shifting the pattern of illegal immigration as a recent article in the Economist explains.
The reason so many immigrants are tramping through Mr Johnston’s neighbourhood can be found 12 miles to the south-west. Around Sasabe, steel cylinders have been sunk into the desert to create an imposing fence. That has blocked a popular migration route and driven people east. No More Deaths, a humanitarian group, has drawn up a map of migration routes based on how much water and food disappears. It looks like a leaf skeleton—a pattern of interlocking lines snaking north through the desert, then east to just above a checkpoint. From there, immigrants are driven to Tucson and Phoenix, whence they travel to wherever there are jobs.
By the end of this year the American government is supposed to have erected 670 miles of fencing along the 2,000-mile border with Mexico. Roughly half of the barrier is designed to stop everything bigger than a jackrabbit; the other half will let people through but stop vehicles. It is just part of a drive, stepped up in the past two years, to clamp down on illegal immigration and drug-smuggling. The Border Patrol is swelling from fewer than 6,000 officers in 1996 to more than 18,000 by next year. Unmanned watchtowers bristling with cameras and heat sensors are being developed. Finally, checks at proper border crossings are becoming more rigorous.
But lest anyone think the fence is starting to achieve it’s purpose, there are worries among economic and political interests that the fence may become too watertight. Businesses which depend on Mexican shopping demand or labor, politicians who depend on their votes, are all anxious for different reasons. The result is that the fence will never quite work, because not everybody wants it to. The line of least resistance will be to keep everybody happy. Illegal immigration will continue, but only the pattern will change. The Economist thinks the illegal immigrants will eventually stop coming across when conditions on both sides of the border equalize, with the laws of osmosis achieving what government will always fail to achieve.
complaints about illegal immigration will probably become more muted. Hispanics are slowly acquiring political heft to match their large presence in America; in some states, such as California and New Mexico, they are already powerful enough to punish tough talk. Perhaps more important, Mexico is changing. The country has zoomed towards a first-world birth rate. In the late 1970s the average woman could expect to give birth to five children; now she gives birth to two. As a result, the potential supply of border-crossers will gradually drop. … While the wage gap between America and Mexico persists, Mexicans will continue to “find themselves” in the American labour force, fence or no fence.
The government’s really there to help you. But it all depends on who “you” is.
There are really two different problems touched on here, and their relationship is based on a common reality, namely, illegally imported labor. The question of whether or not or how to stop illegal immigration is one thing. The deliberate flouting of the law by the Dallas School District is something else.
For me, the parallel relevant here is the willingness of watchdog agencies in several states charged with preventing vote fraught to look the other way while voting irregularities proliferate. That’s one thing; still another is that these purported violations of the law–not by voters not obeying the law but enforcement agencies not doing what they are charged to do–looks ominous. If, as seems to be the case, voting irregularities that have dogged the Obama campaign are simply going to be ignored, then we have a very alarming situation. There is no way complicity of enforcement agencies in illegalities committed by political parties is not going to lower American citizens’ trust in the democratic process.
Every nation that has this kind or problem is either a failed state or on the way to becoming one. And the reason is that without respect for the law at the top, there is no respect for the law at the bottom, and all political decisions are dependent on other types of manipulation: bribery at the best, thuggish threats of force, or even civil war at the worst.
Dallas needs teachers–this is like saying “I need money.” In either case, the consequent decision to play fast-and-loose with the law is the decision to throw under the bus the one thing that makes a democracy work: the citizens’ trust in the probity of its elected leaders. Once that trust is lost, there is only one way for a nation to go: down to political infighting and chaos, the only solution to which history teaches us being the arrival of the “strong man” who will enforce “law and order.”
I don’t need to tick off the examples which modern history provides of that solution.
The “immigration rights” crowd had better hope that Obama lied to them about his economic plans. If Obama is actually serious about raising taxes and throwing up protectionist barriers in the midst of a recession, then he may well bring on a depression. And, if that happens, illegal immigrants crossing the border are likely going to find America a very cold and cruel place, especially when the “reception committeess” greeting them consist of unemployed, scowling, sun-burned men carrying large-caliber weapons.
One of the many problems I have with illegal aliens is that a fairly substantial percentage of them are criminals who have been deported and who are returning, again and again and again, to mauraud in the soft underbelly of America. I’m hopeful that law enforcement in the U.S. is cracking down on these gang bangers and crooks — sending them out of the country when possible and locking them up here when they come back. But it seems to me that if you leave ANY kind of space large enough for a jack rabbit that entrance will in all likelihood be used by the desperate loser who has used it before … so why leave any spaces at all?
This importation of illegal alien labor was built on good times Wretchard.
FDR deported Mexicans, legal citizens of the US and illegal aliens alike, as much as possible.
When revenues fall, Government itself is broke, and bread lines form, power accrues to whoever can produce the biggest patronage coalition. An impoverished US and Mexico creates bright dividing lines over who gets what — Mexican or US citizens. Along with identity questions of English or Spanish, Mexico or the United States.
This is something Obama cannot vote Present on — he will have to choose, and choosing make enemies. There is no way round it.
The Republicans have been worried that enforcing our immigration laws might cost Hispanic votes. This concern never made political sense to me. In this recent election, Hispanics voted overwhelmingly for Obama, even though McCain promised he wouldn’t enforce our immigration laws any more than Obama would.
I think that a Republican promise to enforce immigration laws would pull a lot of voters from the Democrats. A lot of Democrats, especially young ones, are concerned about the steady loss of our country’s natural environment and wildlife. If the Republican Party argued loudly that unrestricted immigration will cause our country’s population to reach 400 million within 25 years, we would get so many environmentally concerned cross-overs from the Democrats that we could stop fantasizing about Hispanics who might vote for us just because they want to import all their cousins.
Besides, the Republican Party had distingished itself in previous decades as the party that was willing to enforce laws, to punish violators, to dismiss legal sophistries, to conclude cases with finality, to subject individual sob stories to larger considerations and to defend our country’s sovereignty. Those are attractive political principles of a party that manages and leads effectively.
…Sounds like identity fraud to me. Here in California, claiming you are another and placing that person in any danger of criminal or civil penalties is a felony. Lets hope it is in Texas.
For the past 14 years I have been married happily to a Lithuanian immigrant. She came into the USA on a tourist visa, worked illegally, met and married me, and so obtained a work permit, permanent residence and then citizenship. I brought over her teenage daughter, who now also is a citizen.
I know dozens of young Lithuanians here in the USA. I know some who are here legally, many more who are illegally, and some who were illegal but now are legal. I like all of them personally. They are nice, smart, educated, energetic, ambitious young people.
Those who are here illegally are waiting for and counting on the big amnesty that surely will be proclaimed soon. They have been paying their taxes carefully and are prepared to present all their tax returns to the amnesty clerks.
Despite their certainty about the imminent amnesty, however, many have given up and left in the past three or so years. When Lithuania became a member of the European Union, all Lithuanians were granted to live anywhere in Europe. Therefore lots of my good Lithuanian friends here have gone to live in the United Kingdom. My heart broke every time one of them left.
But I still think we ought to enforce our immigration laws.
I remeber Eisenhower’s ‘Operation Wetback’.
When I went to Canada recently, I had to show a driver’s license and a birth certificate.
Enough of this bs.
70% or more of the American people are sick of it.
Yet, we have in our poor judgement elected a President, who won’t show us his birth certificate, and let it be analyzed, to the highest power in the land, and doesn’t give a dang about illegal immigration.
We’ve been had, folks.
Regardless whether Obama chooses to enforce immigration laws or not, the big change that is coming (and has already started) is reverse immigration. As the availability of work falls, many (if not most) Mexican laborers will return to Mexico. The main reason they’re here is economic. Once that reason goes away, so will they.
One way to track this is through remittances to Mexico. They fell 12.2% in August, year on year:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2008/10/remittances-to.html
This is actually interesting from an economic standpoint. As demand falls, you’d expect wages to fall. But what is likely to happen is that supply will fall as well, keeping wages more stable even as the economy cools. This could actually be good news for legal, low-skilled workers – and they need some good news, what with the coming recession and all. Cranking up enforcement will also help, such as enforcing the “no-match” rule. Once employers are forced to get involved in enforcing immigration laws, you’ll see a flood of immigrants going the other direction.
OTOH, this will not be good news for Mexico. Elvis ha dejado el edificio.
(Picking up on Wretchard’s foreign language theme of late.
)
L3
Mike,
“My heart broke every time one of them left.”
I agree, we need to enforce out laws. After what you said though, somehow I welcome your friends who stayed.
What is needed is an interpretation of the 14th Amendment that rules out citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants. No anchor babies would mean no votes and the problem becomes resolvable. Unfortunately it will not happen. It is possible that a severe economic downturn will drive a wedge between the Black and the Hispanic wings of the Democratic Party. McCain sure couldn’t achieve it from the Latino side. Let us see if the pressure comes from the other direction now. Of course as I said elsewhere I now have no confidence in Washington to get control over our borders or any other problems. Wonder what the people at CBP, ICE and the Border Patrol will do in the new order?
There are plenty of reports of gang violence south of the border. According to this Daily Telegraph Article:
Since January, more than 1,300 people have been killed in execution-style hits or gunned down in fire fights, which often rage for hours in broad daylight and turn residential neighbourhoods into war zones. If the trend continues, 2008 will top last year’s toll of 2,500 deaths in drug-related killings.
You don’t hear so much about Americans at the Border. Too bad.
Americans are regularly abused. According to this article entitled US Warns Tourists of ‘Small-Unit Combat’ at Mexico Border
– Murder and kidnapping of Americans has become routine all along the US Mexican border. According to the State Department sometimes heavily armed attackers wear the uniforms of the Mexican police or military. According to Mexicans their military has even become part of the problem. The US Border Patrol has complained to the Bush administration about Mexican military incursions to no avail.
If there is silence about events at the border. The silence about killings north of the border is deafening.
And yet….
More Americans killed by illegal aliens than Iraq war, study says The liberal LA Times is now reporting that Mexico’s drug wars are now north of the borders–but soto voce.
Think about it. A man or woman killed in Iraq or Iran in the line of duty is a hero. But what is an American killed at home by an illegal alien because the government has failed in its sworn duty to guard the borders. This is a pact between the sovereign and the person has paid taxes and loyalty. The answer is to that question is pretty awful. And it bodes ill for the republic.
But is it true?
Yes, according Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa.When you start digging into the numbers the only ones that can be
sourced with the feds are the number of American murdered in 2005: 16692I have seen federal numbers for illegals held in jail ranging from 19.3% to 27% of the federal prison population.
Here’s a sampling of USA cities wanted for murder. What you’ll see is
that in big USA cities like LA or NYC most of the murderers are
Hispanic. Unknown are the % of illegals. In smaller cities the FBI will post the nationalities of the murderers. About 25% of the most wanted are illegals wanted for murder. This number agrees with
the percentage of illegals incarcerated in federal prisons. +-25% Pictures of top 10 most wanted in LA. Up until recent stories about crime in LA posted by the LA Times–the pictures included the nationality of the murderers. They were all foreign nationals and mostly Mexican.
Wanted for Murder in New York City.
Chicago wanted for Murder
Philadelphia wanted for murder
San Francisco wanted for Murder
New Orleans wanted for Murder
Pictures of suspects wanted for murder in Washington DC
FBI USA 10 most wanted. (two of 10 are Mexican nationals) Around 40% of the FBI’s wanted for murder are Mexican Nationals
There are currently no exact numbers on the number of Americans killed by illegals. Part of the reason is that the government deliberately obscures the number. I talked on the phone with the head of statistics for the US Bureau of Prisons. He said his office wasn’t allowed to publish the number of illegal alien murderers. Rather they were forced to put legal and non legal residents in the same category. He said further that most of illegals in the federal prisons were in for drug related charges. Most of the illegals in jail for murder were in the state prisons. I talked to ICE. They put out detailed numbers on illegal child molestors. However, they put out nothing on illegal murderers.
Part of the reason for the silence on the matter is that there is evidence to suggest that most Americans–but by no means all — being killed by illegals are black–as is the suggestion in this LA Times Article. Also this article from the LA Times. And here. This makes intuitive sense. We see stories regularly of drug gang killings in Mexico but we don’t see those same stories in the USA. The reason we don’t see those stories is not because its not happening. Rather we don’t see the stories about illegals killing blacks because that kind of story is terribly politically incorrect. The populations being displaced in downtown sanctuary cities especially are American blacks. That means that their criminal elements would be pushed aside by Mexican gangs as well. That’s also the story that the wanted for murder posters in all the major cities seems to suggest.
Why isn’t there an outcry in the black community? Beats me.
Nevertheless, the pattern of non reporting is starting to break. Discovery Channel has a series called Gangland that mentions ethnic cleasing of blacks by Mexican gangs. One woman in San Francisco who had her family killed by an illegal is even demanding the city to drop its sanctuary city status. Illegals themselves have become the targets of kidnappers Mexican style in Arizona where drug money from south of the border is often parked.
Reported Foreign Nationals on Death Row in the U.S.
To look at other USA cities go here http://stlouis.fbi.gov/ and replace stlouis with the city you want.
All that said the true number of criminal aliens is far higher than is revealed by criminal aliens in prisons. Most are simply waived through the courts.DHS Secretary Chertoff, has been quoted as warning that two million people in this country illegally have committed serious crimes. If you check the links you’ll notice that its McCain who cites Chertoff. See also here and here Here is more info from Judicial Watch.
However the number of illegals on death row is far lower. Sadly, so many small towns and villages across America have sent their warriors off to war half way across the world only to see communities fill up with illegal aliens.
The Center For Immigration Studies has provided a detailed account of the illegal alien gang problem
Oh there’s one other cost of illegals that has gone generally unnoticed.
Calling the Old Media: Five Million Illegals Have Illegal Mortgages in U.S.A.!
MALKIN: Illegal immigrant factor
Once again its helpful to provide some maps and stats: Look at the map where those who owe more than the house is worth. Notice any similarities to the unemployment picture and concentrations of illegals
Sadly Illegal Immigrants To Get Next Bailout
The liberal LA Times is now reporting that Mexico’s drug wars are now north of the borders–but soto voce.
The US Border Patrol has complained to the Bush administration about Mexican military incursions to no avail.
More Americans killed by illegal aliens than Iraq war, study says
Here is a sampling of US cities and FBI wanted for murder mug shots:
Pictures of suspects wanted for murder in Washington DC
FBI USA 10 most wanted. (two of 10 are Mexican nationals) Around 40% of the FBI’s wanted for murder are Mexican Nationals.
Pictures of top 10 most wanted in LA. Up until recent stories about crime in LA posted by the LA Times–the pictures included the nationality of the murderers. They were all foreign nationals and mostly Mexican.
the true number of criminal aliens is far higher than is revealed by criminal aliens in prisons. Most are simply waived through the courts.DHS Secretary Chertoff, has been quoted as warning that two million people in this country illegally have committed serious crimes. If you check the links you’ll notice that its McCain who cites Chertoff. See also here and here Here is more info from Judicial Watch.
The economic issues will be resolved in the usual messy, corrupt manner, with the wall being a minor nuisance that will get major exposure.
The legal issues of drugs, gangs, and violence will be dramatically helped by the wall and the upsizing in force.
The failure of the news media and Congress to separate out the second component from the first is suspicious. Even Tony Snow shortly before his death, outlined his opposition to the border wall. I don’t get it, but there it is. Clean up or slow the migration of drugs, gangs, and violence and I guarantee the regional economics will pick up.
The California welfare offices have operated in similar fashion, punishing its own bureaucrats if they complained that illegals were acquiring welfare benefits and that the system was overloaded.
The Democrats would always complain that average people were voting against their own interests when they voted Republican. It appears that now, quite a few Americans voted against their own interests by voting Democrat.
Also, stupid me, I was half expecting Republicans on the stump to ask the following question:
“Are we still a Nation?”
wow are we still a nation? wow an eye opener.