U.S. border patrol comes under fire

[Terran]

Just like the guns and drugs coming into this country. They can stop it they want to but it's in their best interests to let it go on. Its impossible to stop the drugs....

[darth los]

Its impossible to stop the drugs.... Because in the end, people want to get high. That's always been the case and always will be. Adults should be able to make those decisions for themselves, imo.

[Terran]

Im sure youve heard about the cocaine submarines right?

[BillyRay]

No. But you have to know the situation. You might not mean any harm but try climbing the white house fence and ask Obama a question. You will be shot on site. No questions asked. The border is a similar sort of shot on site zone. Your analogy seems a little appley-orangey to me, Darth ol' buddy. Look, I understand that undocumented immigration puts extra pressure on an already strapped social services network. I also realise that not everybody sneaking over the border is looking for honest work and a better future for their families. There's smugglers and criminals sneaking over too. And the Border Patrol has an extremely difficult job trying to stem the tide. But shoot on sight? Is that really our best option? Maybe I'm just being a bleeding heart. Wacky idea: Couldn't we just, y'know, work with the Mexican government? If Mexico is such a shithole that hordes of people are streaming across the border, shouldn't we look at WHY Mexico is such a shithole? And maybe, MAYBE, work on actual solutions that don't involve barbed wire and shooting kids? Or maybe it's like you said, Darth: They can stop it they want to but it's in their best interests to let it go on I guess I just don't know what I'm talking about.

[Tricky]

I'm not a Border Patrol officer, either. Does that mean it's okay to fatally shoot a 14-year old, who may not have even been among the group throwing rocks? If they're anything like these 14 year olds...

[acealive1]

If they're anything like these 14 year olds... i gave u my story earlier, they're VERY touchy no matter what.

[Publius]

I'm not a Border Patrol officer, either. Does that mean it's okay to fatally shoot a 14-year old, who may not have even been among the group throwing rocks? Of course not. But not much point in throwing around speculatory "may [not] have"s yet. I suspect video will be coming out eventually to shed more light on the situation. Couldn't we just, y'know, work with the Mexican government? Do they have any incentive to work with us? Have they shown any interest in doing so? If your idea of "actual solutions" means massive quantities of economic aid into their country, I'm sure THAT would be okay with them. That's just taking the position that we will absorb their economic problems into our economy one way or the other. Because that's the role we fill for them right now: a cash source and excess labor safety valve.

[Crappingbear]

Any of yall live on the border or in border states? If you don't or if you live in another country then you simly don't understand whats happening down here. I'm in Texas. I've been all along the border of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Mexico. We used to travel freely back and forth across the border to shop, work, party, have fun, vacation. No more: today the border towns are war zones and slaughterhouses. I was in Nogales awhile back in a park area and asked by the lady at the entrance if I was leaving before sunset. Nope. She asked if I was "prepared" (armed) and suggested I run a "cold camp" (no campfire and no lights). In the old days, Coyotes would run illegals through and everyone turned a blind eye. Today, the Coyotes hold them hostage wanting payoffs from Mexico. They also are killing ranchers on the border who see them. Its gotten Wild West all over again while the local law enforcement is hamstrung by Washington. You guys can think what you will, but untill you get on horseback and stare at the flood across the Rio Grande and encourage the immigrants not to raid your farm, you don't know how it is.

[slickwilly13]

Any of yall live on the border or in border states? If you don't or if you live in another country then you simly don't understand whats happening down here. I'm in Texas. I've been all along the border of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Mexico. We used to travel freely back and forth across the border to shop, work, party, have fun, vacation. No more: today the border towns are war zones and slaughterhouses. I was in Nogales awhile back in a park area and asked by the lady at the entrance if I was leaving before sunset. Nope. She asked if I was "prepared" (armed) and suggested I run a "cold camp" (no campfire and no lights). In the old days, Coyotes would run illegals through and everyone turned a blind eye. Today, the Coyotes hold them hostage wanting payoffs from Mexico. They also are killing ranchers on the border who see them. Its gotten Wild West all over again while the local law enforcement is hamstrung by Washington. You guys can think what you will, but untill you get on horseback and stare at the flood across the Rio Grande and encourage the immigrants not to raid your farm, you don't know how it is. What he said. I have had all I can stand of them.

[DjfunkmasterG]

Why doesn't the US just buy Mexico, make it the 52nd state (since Puerto Rico is more or less the 51st) and then immigration problem solved.

[darth los]

It seems as if it's time to send the military down there and kick some ass. Seriously.

[Tricky]

Why doesn't the US just buy Mexico, make it the 52nd state (since Puerto Rico is more or less the 51st) and then immigration problem solved. Would US taxpayers really want to splash out on bringing Mexico up to the standard of living most americans have though if that happened?

[Wyldwraith]

You know what, The U.S is in BAD SHAPE. It's NOT OUR JOB to solve the problems of other countries. Simple as that. Argue whatever else you want, but that's the truth. If you try to sneak into the U.S you are SCREWING US. I'm sick to death of all the PC-crap about integrating illegals, dumping tons of cash into social programs to help integrate them into our society...and all the other burdens shouldered by the taxpaying American Citizens because a less developed nation thinks they have a RIGHT to waltz into our country and basically raid our fridge and crash on our couch. I'm for the Old West solution. Ie: A Deadline. Mark a line on each side of the border with HUGE warning signs, and a seven-foot-wide line of red paint on the ground. Anyone who puts one stinking foot across the Deadline gets a high-powered rifle slug in their center mass, and are allowed 10 seconds to see if they can drag their ass back across their side of the Deadline. If they haven't done so in the allowed 10 Seconds, a second round to the head gets sent downrange. Problem SOLVED. Bullets ARE CHEAPER than absorbing non-citizens into our country. We DO have a right to say "This is our turf, trespass and die". It's the very DEFINITION of the term Sovereign Nation. If that doesn't do it, then we may have to resort to extreme measures and put in machine-gun/flamethrower pillboxes, land mines and roving sniper teams. Whatever it takes to pound home the message "Trespass And Die!"

[darth los]

If that doesn't do it, then we may have to resort to extreme measures And the other stuff you described is not extreme? ---------- Post added at 03:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:48 PM ---------- We DO have a right to say "This is our turf, trespass and die". It's the very DEFINITION of the term Sovereign Nation. Agreed. You see these pro illegal immigrant advocates speak like they actually have a right to be here and kicking them out is inhumane.

[AcesandEights]

Well, I'm all in favor for heavier militarization of the border and--as has been mentioned in previous conversation on the topic--the use of worker cards for non-citizens and the taxing of their wages/employers. Mexico has an employment problem and the US, even despite economic issues at hand, has a glut in the labor market of certain types of jobs that most US citizens just won't take. More importantly, the US has an issue with our tax load and the advance of age of the average citizen. As our baby boomers continue to age and retire and live longer on average than ever before, we need more taxpayers to help support this. Sure, a lot of people would say this would go farther towards turning the US into the equivalent of a gated community, but it would help both countries out. I know what some people want, a level playing field, but it's not going to happen...at least not for quite some time. It's going to get harder for the US and (the older member -countries of the) EU to maintain their respective current 1st world lifestyles, let alone bringing new countries up to that level, despite the EU basically promising to do so by it's inclusion of newer and newer member-countries. Anyway, the best bet is shoring up the holes in the border, being tougher about the sovereignty of those borders and putting the influx of Mexican citizens into this country to some, legal use and allowing both parties to gain something. But none of this is possible without strong enforcement.