Trouble on the Texas border

By David Sanders, Arkansas News Bureau: Texas' border with Mexico, more than 1,200 miles, renders the Lone Star State the front line in the battle to control illegal immigration. For Texas officials, waiting on Washington to come up with a comprehensive solution is not an option. . . . Violent crime committed by those who cross the border illegally is a harsh reality. According to the Texas governor's office, incidents of home invasion, extortion, torture, kidnapping and murder have increased in areas near the border and in cities like Houston, which has suffered dramatic increases in rapes and murders.

. . . Of the 135,035 illegal aliens apprehended in Texas in fiscal 2004 who were not of Mexican descent, 264 were "special interest aliens" or individuals from countries with known ties to terrorist organizations. The numbers were similar for fiscal 2005. What is a real threat for Texas and other border states is a real threat for the rest of the country. Washington is paralyzed. The White House and key players in the U.S. Senate are myopically focused on granting amnesty to the estimated 12 million illegal aliens who are currently in the country. The focus should be on sealing the border to stem the tide of illegal aliens and stop criminal elements. [Read More]

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Tags: border control, crime, David Sanders, illegal aliens, illegal immigrants, terrorist, Texas