ILLEGAL BORDER TRAFFIC DOWN?

The Deming Headlight reports today that illegal immigration through the Deming, which "used to be the second highest corridor in the nation," is down sixrty to seventy percent. The Border Patrol here bases that claim on their assertion that "apprehensions" are down, equating apprehensions with reduction.

But lowering apprehensions do not necessarily translate into fewer illegal crossovers. The basis for the claim of reduction is circumstantial only. Illegals crossing Southwest of Deming two mere years ago were simply strolling across the border singly or in packs, arrogantly and without perceptable interference.

A photograph accompanying the Headlight report shows a border barrier that will work well against invasion by motor vehicle, but is a border sieve as far as illegal strollers are concerned.

The Headlight reports

The intent of the El Paso sector, which covers West Texas and all of New Mexico, is to assure when immigrants realize passage through Arizona is no longer viable, they don't again turn to New Mexico, especially the Deming Corridor...That passage, especially through territory assigned to the Deming station, used to be the second-highest traveled in the nation.

If these assertions are moderately credible, they reflect a significant policy shift.

Walking across the border is not, however, the only method, manner or means illegals use to commit their petty (acting alone) or felonious (acting with others or repeat offenders) invasion of the U.S. The California and Arizona experiences long ago discovered sophisticated tunnel networks under-crossing the border.

And for uncommonly rich illegals--drug smugglers, e.g.,--consider that prop-driven aircraft can easily fly low beneath the radar.

Perhaps George Wallace had it right in the 1972 presidential campaign: station an armed National Guardsmen every foot along that border.

These days we could add an occasional Ack-Ack-gun emplacement.
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