WANTED: GENUINE DEBATE

It must become the central issue of the 2008 elections if we're ever going to have a real dialogue and find a real solution.

The issue? Illegal immigration.

See today's USA Today's article Despite new technology, Border Patrol overwhelmed ... key excerpts are below:

... 11,000 men and women who serve as the borders front-line defense are overwhelmed. Despite an influx of new technology, such as underground sensors and cameras that pan the desert, agents catch only about one-third of the estimated 3 million people who cross the border illegally every year...

... Most of the illegals are poor Mexican laborers looking for work. But officials are alarmed that a growing number hail from Central and South America, Asia, even Mideast countries such as Syria and Iran. In 2003, the Border Patrol arrested 39,215 so-called "OTMs," or other-than-Mexicans, along the Southwest border. In 2004, the number jumped to 65,814.

... James Loy, deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, told Congress last week, "Several al-Qaeda leaders believe operatives can pay their way into the country through Mexico and also believe illegal entry is more advantageous than legal entry for operational security reasons."

These statements should concern us all ... and the American public deserves to see and hear a genuine debate by level-headed public officials on what they believe should be done to end this national security risk. The problem is, when was the last time that happened during a presidential election?

Footnote:
You may agree or disagree with George W.'s guest worker proposal, but at the very least it's sparking debate. And until the President's proposal is fully flushed out and formally proposed we should withhold judgment.

But while I'm a supporter of the current administration, clearly not enough has been done in the past 4 years (and especially after 9/11) to protect our borders.