Feb. 07, 2007 - 22:47 MST

GET THE CARRIER

There is an article in this morning's paper that somewhat tells what the situation is and what is being done to cope with it -- a little bit. Under the heading of "Legislature 2007" (Colorado) It is by Alan Gathright of The Rocky Mountain News and printed in Feb. 7 issue. Herewith in full it is quoted:

PATROL TARGETS HUMAN SMUGGLING

"The Colorado State Patrol is gearing up for a new 24-trooper unit to crack down on the flood of illegal immigrants flowing through the state."

"With troopers intercepting on average 500 suspected illegal immigrants a week, State Patrol Chief Mark Trostel told lawmakers Tuesday the focus will be on busting human smugglers."

"Given a shortage of jail space to hold illegal immigrants and the sheer number of offenders, the unit won't be raiding businesses or assisting local police agencies, he said."

"We're going to have plenty of business out on the highways," Trostel told a joint House Senate Judiciary committee hearing."

"Rep. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, said she'd heard complaints from frustrated troopers that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials were reluctant to pick up suspected illegal immigrants arrested in the past."

"Trostel said collaboration between state and federal authorities has improved and they're completing an agreement outlining their new enforcement partnership."

"We can't take 500 (immigration suspects) a week. We'd inundate ICE immediately," he said."

"A key goal is to halt smugglers' reckless practice of cramming vans and trucks with illegal immigrants, endangering the occupants and others on the road," Trostel said."

"In November, three men and a pregnant woman were killed when a van packed with 14 immigrants spun out of control in a snowstorm on Interstate 70 near Idaho Springs. The driver, Jose Franco-Rodriguez, 23, who faces 14 felony counts , had been deported at least twice before."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So, why hasn't Homeland Security and ICE hired and trained enough men to handle the impossible influx of illegals across our Southern Border ? Perhaps if ICE could handle that number of illegals the State Patrol would turn them over.

Too bad that all too often people are killed in an accident such as the one quoted in the article before a perp can be apprehended and charged and tried.

What is the answer, hard for me to even guess on a state level, let alone trying to comprehend the amount of illegals crossing in other border states and boating around and coming ashore as well.

20/20 hindsight doesn't work as the biggies and the politicians from the time before I was born turned their backs on illegals.

Guest workers won't cut it as far as I can see, braceros, some of them who did finally become citizens are outraged at the influx. The amnesty of some years back hasn't stopped the inflow either.

I will say again that if I lived in a country where I couldn't get decent work in order to support my family, I would hike and cross the border to a place where I could work. I can see no blame on the illegals, they are doing what they can to support their families.

But I will say that this is a problem building from before the time I was born almost 86 years ago, and is building faster and faster as time goes by.

Looks as if for now, a slowdown in immigration will occur in my state as our State Patrol goes by the rule of GET THE CARRIER

Blog